What does 'not 3x WBA' mean for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks for explaining! So this won't affect my current benefits then? I'm still getting paid each week.

Right, if you're already receiving benefits then you met the basic monetary requirements. The 3x WBA is just one of several tests Washington ESD uses to determine eligibility.

That's reassuring to hear from someone who had the same experience. Did you ever find out why it showed up?

I think it was because I had inconsistent earnings - some high quarters and some low ones. But I still qualified under the alternate base period rules.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that service before. How quickly were you able to get through to someone?

Much faster than calling directly. The Washington ESD phone lines are impossible to get through on your own, but this actually worked.

Is there a cost for using that service? Sounds too good to be true.

That makes perfect sense now. So it's not a problem, just indicates which test I qualified under. Thank you!

This is exactly right. I work in HR and see this all the time when employees file for UI. Most people qualify one way or another.

I agree the system could be more user-friendly. These codes are mostly for internal processing but they do show up on claimant accounts unfortunately.

yeah exactly. like just tell me if im eligible or not, dont make me guess what some random code means

Super helpful to know what the acronym actually stands for. Makes the whole thing less mysterious.

Same here, I was worried when I first saw it on my claim. Turns out it's not a big deal if you're already getting benefits.

50 times?! That's exactly why I posted here instead of trying to call. The phone system is impossible.

Yeah it was ridiculous. I was calling first thing in the morning, during lunch, whenever I could. Finally got through on like attempt 47 or something.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - saves you from having to make 50+ calls just to get a simple question answered.

It only affects the initial eligibility calculation. Your benefit duration is still based on your total base period earnings, not which test you qualified under.

Good to know, thanks. I was worried it might mean shorter benefit period or something.

That would be incredibly helpful. Most of these codes are leftover from their old system and weren't really meant to be visible to claimants.

Or at least have a glossary on their website. Seems like basic customer service.

That's really reassuring to hear from someone who's been dealing with it long-term. Thanks for sharing your experience.

No problem! I remember how stressed I was when I first saw it. Turns out it's just administrative notation.

No, unemployment benefits are taxed the same regardless of which eligibility test you qualified under. The IRS doesn't care how Washington ESD calculated your eligibility.

Perfect, that's what I was hoping to hear. Thanks!

That's exactly what I need - someone who can actually explain these system codes. Might have to check it out.

Yeah, the agent I spoke with was really helpful. Much better than trying to guess what these cryptic messages mean.

How much does something like that cost though? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to understand our own claims.

Good advice. I was definitely overthinking it. Thanks to everyone who explained what this means!

Exactly! These system codes look scary but they're usually just administrative notes that don't affect your actual benefits.

Glad we could help clarify things! The Washington ESD system definitely needs better user documentation.

And remember, if you ever have other confusing questions about your claim, services like Claimyr can connect you directly with ESD agents who can give you official answers.