Washington ESD unemployment pay amounts - how much should I expect?

Thanks! How do I find out what my highest quarter was? Is that in my online account somewhere?

Yes, once you file your initial claim it will show your base year wages and quarterly breakdown in your SecureAccess Washington account.

It's not half your regular pay, it's calculated differently. The system looks at your earnings over a specific base year period.

oh ok that makes more sense why mine was so low then

That's really helpful! So if I made $12,000 in my best quarter, I'd get about $461 per week?

Exactly right! And you can collect for up to 26 weeks if you have sufficient wage credits.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains how it works. Saved me hours of calling!

Try calling right at 8am when they open, that's usually the best time to get through.

Yes, all wages including overtime are counted in your base year earnings. That could actually help boost your weekly benefit amount.

Good to know! That might put me in a higher bracket then.

I agree it's not enough but it's temporary assistance, not meant to replace your full income.

Still doesn't make it any easier to survive on though

At least Washington is better than some states. I have friends in other places getting way less.

Oh I didn't know that! How do I request tax withholding?

You can set it up in your online account or call Washington ESD to have them withhold 10% for federal taxes.

What are wage credits exactly?

Wage credits are based on your earnings during the base year. You need at least $3,850 in your base year and wages in at least two quarters to qualify.

I'll check that out, thanks!

Yeah that calculator helped me figure out if it was worth filing or not.

How often do you have to file the weekly claims?

Every week, usually due by midnight on Saturday. You can file online through your SecureAccess Washington account.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr when I had calculation issues. Way easier than spending days trying to get through their phone system.

Good to know. What's the threshold for that?

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 without any reduction. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar.

No waiting week currently in Washington. You can get paid for your first week if you're eligible.

That's good news at least!

What counts as a job search activity?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, informational interviews, etc. Keep a log of everything.

Usually takes 2-3 weeks to process if there are no issues. You'll get a monetary determination letter with your benefit amount.

Thanks, I'll keep watching for it then.

That's why the online calculator exists, but I agree the whole process could be more transparent.