Washington ESD unemployment weekly pay - how much and when do payments come?

Thanks! So it's the same amount every week as long as I keep filing my weekly claims?

Yes, as long as you're eligible and file your weekly claims on time. The amount stays consistent throughout your benefit year.

I have direct deposit so that's good to know. Do I file every Sunday?

You can file anytime during your claim week, but most people do it Sunday when the new week opens up on the Washington ESD website.

How does that work exactly? Is it legit?

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They basically handle the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold. When an agent becomes available, they connect you directly.

Interesting, might try that if I run into issues with my payments.

I worked full-time for about 8 months before getting laid off, so hopefully that helps with the calculation.

That should give you a decent weekly benefit amount. The base year calculation looks at your highest earning quarters.

Oh I didn't know about WorkSourceWA. Is that separate from the Washington ESD site?

Yes, it's a different website. You have to register there and log your job search activities. It's required to keep getting benefits.

The job search requirement is 3 activities per week, and they need to be logged in WorkSourceWA within 7 days of doing them.

What happens if you miss filing a weekly claim? Can you go back and file it?

you can file late claims but there's a process and it takes longer to get paid. better to just file on time every week

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, even some training courses can count. The WorkSourceWA site has a full list of approved activities.

Okay that makes me feel better. I thought it was just job applications.

It's because the calculation is based on your specific work history. Everyone's situation is different so there's no one-size-fits-all amount.

I guess that makes sense but it's still frustrating when you're trying to budget.

I did set up direct deposit when I first applied. How long does it usually take to show up in your account?

Usually 2-3 business days after filing your weekly claim, sometimes faster depending on your bank.

Oh wow, I didn't think about taxes. Can you have them withhold taxes from your weekly payments?

Yes, you can request 10% federal tax withholding when you file your weekly claims. There's an option for it on the claim form.

Definitely do the tax withholding. Owing money at tax time when you're unemployed is not fun.

What's the limit on working hours while on unemployment?

You can work part-time but if you earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you won't get any unemployment pay that week. There's a formula they use to calculate partial benefits.

Was it expensive to use?

Not really, especially when you consider the time it saves. Way better than spending your whole day trying to get through on the phone.

Good point, I should double-check that in my account.

I'm going to set a reminder on my phone so I don't forget.

That's smart. Missing a week really throws off your payment schedule.

Sometimes holidays can delay payments by a day, but usually not longer than that. The Washington ESD website usually posts notices about holiday schedules.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for those notices.

That's good to know! I had a better paying job about a year ago so maybe that will help.

Any other tips for someone new to the system?

keep good records of everything - your job search activities, any work you do, all your correspondence with esd. helps if you ever have issues

That's reassuring! I was worried about how long I'd have to wait for payments.

Yeah, the approval process takes time but once you're approved the weekly payments are pretty quick.

Good to know there's a backup option if I need to talk to someone. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

You're welcome! Feel free to ask if you have more questions as you go through the process.