What does Washington ESD unemployment pay - need to know weekly benefit amount

Thanks! So if my highest quarter was like $15,000 that would be around $577 divided by 26 which is about $22 per week? That seems really low.

No you're doing the math wrong. It's $15,000 divided by 26 = $577, then you get 3.85% of your total wages up to the max. Look up the Washington ESD benefit calculator online.

This is confusing me even more. I made $48k last year, what would that come out to roughly?

For $48k annually, you'd probably get somewhere around $350-450 per week depending on how your earnings were distributed across quarters. The exact amount depends on your specific wage history.

I had the same problem until I found claimyr.com - it's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an agent. Worked for me after trying to call myself for days. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

How much extra do you get per kid?

I think it's like $25 per week per dependent but don't quote me on that. Check the Washington ESD website for current rates.

This is so true. My claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks and I still don't know what I'll get.

Adjudication delays are frustrating but they don't change your benefit calculation. Once it's resolved you'll get backpay for the weeks you were eligible.

You can work part time but they reduce your weekly benefit dollar for dollar over a certain amount. I think you can earn like 1/3 of your weekly benefit before they start deducting.

I feel you. Been paying into the system forever and when I actually need it, it's not nearly enough to cover basic expenses.

I tried that calculator but it asked for so much detailed info about quarters and wages. I don't have all my pay stubs from last year.

You can use your tax return or W2 to get the basic info. It won't be exact but gives you a ballpark figure.

Wait really? I thought unemployment was tax free.

Nope, it's taxable income. You can have taxes withheld or pay quarterly estimated taxes to avoid owing at the end of the year.

Tech jobs usually pay well so that makes sense. The benefit is tied to your previous wages up to the maximum.

The base year is the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at January 2023 through December 2023 for most people.

I tried calling at 7:30am when they open and still couldn't get through. The lines are always busy.

I need to know roughly what to expect so I can figure out if I need to find temporary work or if the benefits will cover my basic needs.

Mine took over a week to show up and then it was wrong. Had to call and get it corrected.

How many job contacts do you need per week? I heard it was 3 but someone told me it's 5 now.

It's 3 job search activities per week for most people. But check your specific requirements because some programs have different rules.

Good point. That letter also tells you how many weeks of benefits you're eligible for, which depends on how much you worked.

That's really helpful, thanks! That would cover most of my basic expenses so I wouldn't be completely screwed.

Yeah it's not great but it's something. Just make sure to file your weekly claims on time every week or you'll lose benefits.

Their website is terrible. Half the links don't work and the other half take you to pages that don't answer your question.

Yeah there's things like standby status for certain industries. The benefit calculation might be different for those programs.

Thanks everyone for the help! Going to file my claim this week and see what happens.