Washington ESD unemployment pay - what is unemployment pay exactly?

Oh wow, I didn't know my employer was paying into it too! That makes me feel better about applying. Do you know what the maximum weekly amount is right now?

The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington for 2025 is $999 per week. But most people get less than that depending on their previous earnings. You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an estimate.

Exactly! And you can collect benefits for up to 26 weeks in most cases, though it can be extended during economic downturns.

What does 'actively searching for jobs' mean exactly? Is there a minimum number of applications I need to submit?

Yes, you need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of your efforts. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking, etc.

That sounds really helpful! I've been dreading having to call them because I heard the wait times are crazy long.

How does that service work exactly? Do they charge you to make the call?

They handle the calling process for you and connect you when an agent is available. Check out claimyr.com for more info - it saved me hours of frustration when my claim got stuck in adjudication.

What's a base year? Is that just the past 12 months?

The base year is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in March 2025, your base year would be January 2024 through December 2024.

This is getting confusing with all these technical terms. Why can't they just make it simple?

Oh no! I hadn't thought about taxes. How much do they typically withhold?

They withhold 10% for federal taxes if you elect to have taxes taken out. You can change this option in your online account at any time.

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

I've tried everything - calling at 8am, during lunch, after work. The phone system is just broken.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr! They deal with all the phone system frustration so you don't have to. Seriously worth checking out if you're stuck.

Thank you! This is exactly the kind of simple explanation I needed. How long does it usually take to get your first payment?

If your claim is approved without any issues, you should get your first payment within 2-3 weeks. But if there are any problems or your claim goes into adjudication, it can take much longer.

I was laid off because the store was closing, so I think I'm good there. But what if I had quit for a really good reason like harassment?

There are some 'good cause' reasons for quitting that can still qualify you for benefits, but you'd need to prove your case. Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties.

Yeah but good luck proving that to Washington ESD. They deny claims for the smallest reasons and then you have to appeal everything.

That's actually more than I thought I might get! I was worried it would be like $200 a week or something.

Just remember you still need to actively look for work. The job search requirements are no joke - they check up on this stuff.

I lost my job about 3 weeks ago but haven't applied yet. Am I too late?

No, you're not too late, but you should apply ASAP. You can only backdate your claim up to one week in most cases, so you might lose some potential benefits.

Actually, you can backdate further than one week if you have good cause for the delay. But yeah, don't wait any longer!

Do I need to have all my old pay stubs and stuff? I don't think I kept everything.

You don't need pay stubs to apply, but having them helps if there are any questions about your work history. Washington ESD can verify your wages through employer reports.

I had a second job for a few months last year. Should I include that even though it was only like 10 hours a week?

Yes, definitely include it! Every bit of wages helps increase your benefit amount, and leaving out employers can cause problems with your claim.

That's really good advice. I'm not usually very organized with paperwork but I'll make sure to keep everything for this.

Yes! And take screenshots of your weekly claim submissions. I had a glitch where my claim didn't go through and having the screenshot helped prove I filed on time.

When do I file these weekly claims? Is it the same day every week?

Weekly claims open on Sunday and you have until Saturday to file. Most people file on Sunday or Monday. You'll answer questions about your job search activities and any work or income you had that week.

And don't forget to file even if you worked some hours that week! You might still be eligible for partial benefits depending on how much you earned.

Thank you everyone! This has been so helpful. I'm going to apply today and stop overthinking it. You've all made it seem much less scary.

Good luck! And remember, if you run into any problems getting through to Washington ESD, there are services like Claimyr that can help you actually reach a human being when you need assistance.

I bookmarked that site already just in case. Hoping I won't need it but it's good to know it's there!