Washington ESD unemployment how much will i get - need to calculate my weekly benefit

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was around $13,000, that would be about $500 per week? That's actually better than I expected.

Yes, that sounds about right. Just remember you'll need to file weekly claims and meet the job search requirements to keep receiving benefits.

You need at least $3,850 in your highest quarter and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your high quarter amount to qualify for Washington ESD benefits.

I definitely meet those requirements since I was working full-time for 2 years.

How much does that service cost? I'm already going to be tight on money.

It's worth it when you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Much better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

I'll keep that in mind if I run into issues with my claim. Hopefully the online calculator gives me a good estimate.

I tried looking for that but couldn't find it. Do you have a direct link?

It's buried in their site somewhere. Try searching for 'benefit calculator' on the Washington ESD homepage.

That's unusual. The formula is pretty straightforward - highest quarter divided by 26. Did you maybe include overtime or bonuses in your calculation?

Maybe that was it. I had a lot of overtime in my highest quarter.

Good point about overtime. I didn't have much overtime so hopefully my calculation is more accurate.

That range sounds reasonable. I was pretty consistent with my pay so no big fluctuations quarter to quarter.

Also remember you can collect for up to 26 weeks in Washington state, assuming you keep meeting all the requirements.

Yeah I'm planning to file this week. Just wanted to get an idea of what to expect first.

Smart to plan ahead. The first payment can take a few weeks to come through so budget accordingly.

Thanks for sharing your actual numbers! That helps me feel more confident about my estimate.

No problem. Also make sure you understand the job search requirements - you'll need to log 3 job search activities per week.

Good to know. I'm already starting to look for new jobs so that shouldn't be too hard.

Oh right, I forgot about taxes. Should I have them withhold taxes from my weekly payments?

I'd recommend it. Better to have them withheld than owe a big tax bill next year.

Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Might be worth looking into if I run into issues.

I was skeptical about using a service like that but honestly it saved me so much time and frustration trying to reach Washington ESD.

I haven't looked into training programs yet. Is that something I should consider?

depends on your field. if you need new skills it might be worth it. plus you can sometimes get extended benefits while in training.

When do I need to file my weekly claims? Is it the same day every week?

You file for the week ending on Saturday, and you can file anytime Sunday through the following Saturday. Most people file on Sunday to get it out of the way.

I always file mine first thing Sunday morning. Set a reminder on your phone so you don't forget.

Definitely planning to be completely honest. Not worth the risk of having to pay money back.

Good attitude. I've seen people get in trouble for not reporting part-time work or lying about their job search.

Thanks! I'm hoping for a smooth process. I have enough savings to last about a month so hopefully that's enough time.

That should be plenty of time. Most straightforward claims get processed pretty quickly these days.

Should I keep copies of job applications I submit?

Yes, and also keep track of networking activities, job fairs you attend, interviews, etc. The WorkSourceWA website has tools to help you track everything.

I'll check out WorkSourceWA. Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone!