Washington ESD unemployment maximum weekly benefit amount - what is the max you can get for unemployment?

Thanks! That's higher than I expected. How do they calculate what you actually get?

It's based on your wages in the highest quarter of your base period. They take that amount, divide by 26, and that's your weekly benefit rate up to the maximum of $999.

Have you tried calling right at 8am? That's usually the best time to get through to Washington ESD.

tried everything, even tried calling at lunch time thinking less people would call then but still cant get through

never heard of that, is it legit? how much does it cost?

Yeah it's legitimate, you can check it out at claimyr.com. They don't publish pricing but it was worth it for me to actually talk to someone about my claim status.

I'm always skeptical of these third-party services but honestly the phone situation with Washington ESD is so bad I might try anything at this point.

Good point about the job search requirements. How many job contacts do you need per week in Washington?

It's usually 3 job search activities per week but can vary depending on your situation. Make sure you're logging them in WorkSourceWA.

That's the gross amount before taxes. You can choose to have federal and state taxes withheld or pay them later when you file your tax return.

Ah ok, so if you elect to have taxes taken out it's probably closer to $750-800 take home depending on your tax situation.

Adjudication can take forever unfortunately. Did you get any notice about what they're reviewing?

Nothing specific, just says they're reviewing my eligibility. I submitted all the documents they requested weeks ago.

This is exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr helped me. I was able to get through to an adjudication specialist who could actually see what was holding up my claim.

Do you know when they typically announce the new rates each year?

Usually around October or November for the following year. Washington ESD publishes it on their website.

Good to know. So even at $999/week, it's not unlimited - there's still a time limit.

Exactly. And the 26 weeks can go by faster than you think, especially if you're having trouble finding work in your field.

They combine wages from all employers in your base period, so having multiple jobs can actually help you qualify for a higher benefit amount if the total wages are high enough.

That makes sense. I was worried they'd only count one job or something.

What kind of technicality? I'm worried about something similar happening to me.

They said my resignation wasn't for 'good cause' even though I left due to a hostile work environment. Had to go through the whole appeal process.

This is why it's so important to document everything when you leave a job, especially if there are issues with the employer.

How much do they reduce it if you work part-time hours?

It depends on how much you earn, but generally they deduct about 75% of your earnings from your weekly benefit. So if you earn $100, they'd reduce your benefit by $75.

There actually is a benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website, but it's buried pretty deep in their site navigation.

Really? I couldn't find it when I looked. Do you have a direct link?

How long ago did you use it? I'm wondering if it still works well or if Washington ESD has changed their phone system.

This was just last month, so pretty recent. The agent was able to explain exactly how my benefit amount was calculated and what my maximum would be.

How do you check if your wages were reported correctly?

You can log into your eServices account on the Washington ESD website and view your wage history. Compare it to your paystubs to make sure everything matches.

This is really important advice. Wage reporting errors are more common than people think and can definitely impact your benefit amount.

You're welcome! Just remember to file as soon as you become unemployed - there's no waiting period to file and you can't get benefits for weeks before you file your initial claim.

Good point, I'll make sure to file right away if I end up needing to use unemployment benefits.