What determines your unemployment amount - Washington ESD benefit calculation confusion

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was $15,200, that would be about $585 per week? That seems way higher than what I got.

Actually, you divide by 26 weeks, not multiply. So $15,200 divided by 26 would be about $585, but then Washington ESD applies their percentage formula which brings it down significantly.

It's not based on your last job's pay at all. Washington ESD looks at ALL your covered employment during your base year period. If you only worked one job, then yeah, it's basically that job's earnings, but if you had multiple jobs they count all of them.

oh wow i had no idea they looked at all jobs! that actually might help me since i had two part time jobs for a while

Never heard of Claimyr before. Is it legit? I'm desperate to talk to someone at Washington ESD about this.

Yeah it's legitimate. They basically help you get through the phone queue to reach actual Washington ESD staff. Worth it when you need answers about complex stuff like benefit calculations.

Just checked out that video demo - pretty helpful explanation of how the system works even if you don't use their service.

Wait, there are dependency allowances? I have two kids under 18. Does that increase my weekly amount?

Yes! You can get additional weekly benefits for qualifying dependents. You'll need to file the dependency form with Washington ESD and provide documentation like birth certificates or tax returns.

My letter just shows the quarters and amounts but doesn't explain the calculation steps. It's like they expect you to just know the formula.

typical government bureaucracy - give you numbers without explaining what they mean

The calculation is: (Highest quarter earnings ÷ 26) × benefit percentage. The percentage varies based on your earnings level but it's usually around 50-60% of your average weekly wage.

Overtime counts the same as regular wages for unemployment purposes. If it was reported as covered employment on your W-2, Washington ESD includes it in their calculation.

ok good to know. then something else must be off with my calculation

Oh wow, that might explain it! I had a big promotion and raise in late 2024 but if they're not counting that quarter, my calculation would be based on my old salary.

Exactly! That's why sometimes people are surprised by their benefit amount. The base year period might not reflect their most recent earnings.

can you request to use alternate base year if your recent earnings were higher?

Yes, Washington ESD has an alternate base year option if you don't have enough earnings in the regular base year or if using the alternate base year would result in higher benefits. You usually need to request this when you file your initial claim.

wait what if you only worked for 3 months but made good money? you still wouldn't qualify?

Correct. Washington ESD requires earnings in at least two separate quarters during your base year. It's designed to ensure you have a substantial work history, not just a brief period of high earnings.

While the formula is complex, it's actually designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wages up to the maximum amount. The complexity comes from trying to be fair across different earning patterns and work histories.

50% still seems low when you're trying to pay bills and find a new job

it's supposed to be temporary assistance not full salary replacement. still sucks when you have rent due though

How did you know the wage information was wrong? Did you have to provide pay stubs or something?

I compared my monetary determination letter to my W-2s and noticed one employer's quarterly wages were way off. Had to submit wage protest form with documentation to get it corrected.

how long do you have to contest wage information if it's wrong?

You typically have 30 days from when you receive your monetary determination to file a wage protest. After that it gets much harder to change.

I definitely need to ask about dependency benefits then. Two kids should qualify for something extra.

dependency benefits can really add up especially if you have multiple kids. worth pursuing for sure

Mine just shows the quarters and total wages but not the actual calculation steps. How do you know if the final amount is correct?

Take your highest quarter amount, divide by 26, then multiply by roughly 0.5 to 0.6 depending on your earnings level. If your actual benefit is significantly different, something might be wrong.

that math still doesn't work out for mine. maybe i need to call them after all

So even if you qualify for the maximum weekly amount, you might not get the full 26 weeks if your base year wages weren't high enough?

Exactly. Some people exhaust their benefits before the 26 weeks are up if they didn't have enough total earnings during their base year.

Actually, most states use similar base year calculations. Using just your last job's pay wouldn't be fair to people with variable income or seasonal work patterns.

i guess that makes sense but it's still confusing as hell

Thanks everyone for all the info! I'm definitely going to gather my W-2s and try to get through to someone at Washington ESD to go over my calculation step by step.

If you can't get through the regular way, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work for getting past the phone queue. Good luck!