Washington ESD unemployment payment amounts - what is unemployment payment exactly?

So it's every week? That's good to know. Do they just automatically send it or do I have to do something each week?

You have to file your weekly claim every week by logging into your Washington ESD account. It's basically a short questionnaire about whether you worked, looked for jobs, etc. If you don't file your weekly claim, you won't get paid for that week.

What's a base period? Is that just how long I worked at my last job?

No, the base period is specific quarters from the past year that Washington ESD uses to calculate your benefits. It's usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at earnings from July 2023 through June 2024.

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

Yeah I've tried that too. Still can't get through. I heard there's some service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. Has anyone used that?

I used Claimyr last month when I was having issues with my adjudication. It actually worked - got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD in like 20 minutes. Check out claimyr.com, they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Oh man I didn't even think about taxes. So the $360 per week wouldn't be the full amount I get?

The $360 would be your full benefit amount, but if you have taxes withheld you'd get less. Like if you choose 10% federal withholding, you'd get about $324 per week but then you wouldn't owe as much at tax time.

It's actually job search activities, not just contacts. You need to complete at least 3 qualifying job search activities each week and keep a log. This can include applying for jobs, networking, attending job fairs, etc.

yeah whatever same thing basically. just make sure you do it or they'll cut you off

Regular unemployment benefits in Washington last up to 26 weeks, but it depends on your work history and earnings. Some people qualify for fewer weeks if they haven't worked long enough.

Yeah and if there's high unemployment in your area you might qualify for extended benefits beyond 26 weeks, but that's pretty rare these days.

What's a waiting week?

It's the first week of your claim where you file but don't get paid. It's like a one-week delay before payments start. But you still have to file that week to establish your claim.

Good to know! I definitely want to get paid as fast as possible.

Also sign up for the ReliaCard if Washington ESD offers it. It's like a debit card for your unemployment benefits and you get them faster than direct deposit sometimes.

Can you work part-time while getting unemployment? I might be able to pick up some shifts at my friend's restaurant.

Yes, but you have to report all earnings when you file your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits based on what you earn, but you can usually still get some unemployment as long as you're working less than full-time.

Yeah the whole base period thing is confusing. I worked seasonal jobs so my earnings were all over the place and it took forever for them to figure out my benefit amount.

Seasonal work can definitely complicate things. Sometimes you have to provide additional documentation to prove your earnings if you had multiple employers.

I got laid off because they didn't have enough work, so I should be okay right? I didn't quit or get fired for doing anything wrong.

Being laid off due to lack of work is usually a qualifying reason for unemployment. Just make sure you have documentation from your employer if possible, like a layoff notice or termination letter.

How much does that service cost? Is it worth it just to ask questions about payments?

I thought it was worth it because I was losing sleep worrying about my claim. It's way less stressful than trying to call Washington ESD directly and getting hung up on constantly.

That's for some states but I don't think Washington ESD uses that system. In Washington, payments typically process within 2-3 business days after you file your weekly claim, regardless of your SSN.

oh maybe i'm thinking of my sister in california then. thanks for the correction

Good point. Is there anywhere specific I should keep track of job searches? Like does Washington ESD have a system for that?

You can use WorkSourceWA to track some job search activities, but I'd also keep your own log with details about every application, networking contact, etc. Better to have too much documentation than not enough.

Yeah I learned that the hard way. Had to go to an eligibility review because I couldn't prove all my job searches and it was a nightmare trying to recreate everything.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I'm going to file my claim today and set up direct deposit right away.

Good luck! The first few weeks are always stressful but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes pretty straightforward.

This is so true. I had a payment issue that took 6 weeks to resolve because I kept thinking it would sort itself out. Wish I'd used something like Claimyr earlier to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Exactly. The automated systems only go so far. Sometimes you really need to talk to a human agent to get complex payment issues resolved.