What is a good rate of unemployment in Washington - confused about benefit amounts

Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest earning quarter from the past year. For someone making $22/hour full time, you're probably looking at around $600-700 per week depending on your exact earnings history. The state unemployment rate doesn't affect your individual benefit amount - that's based on your wages.

The unemployment rate you hear on news is about the whole economy, not your benefits lol. Washington's rate has been around 4-5% lately which is considered pretty good. But like the other person said, your benefits depend on what YOU earned, not what everyone else is doing.

Just went through this process myself last month. Washington ESD has been pretty backed up with claims so expect some delays. Make sure you file your weekly claims on time even if your initial claim is still processing. The job search requirements are 3 job contacts per week now, not the old 5 they had during COVID.

Had major issues getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to speak to someone about my claim status. Spent literally hours on hold just to get disconnected. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an agent in like 15 minutes. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Honestly saved my sanity.

The unemployment rate thing is confusing but basically when it's 'good' (low) that means more people have jobs. Bad news is it might be harder to find work. Good news is Washington ESD processes claims faster when there aren't as many people filing. Right now we're in a decent spot compared to a few years ago.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I filed 2 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything back from Washington ESD. Should I be worried? My account just says 'claim under review' and I don't know what that means exactly.

Been unemployed 3 times in the past 5 years and honestly Washington ESD has gotten better each time. The online system is way more user-friendly now and the weekly claims are super quick to file. Just make sure you're available for work and actively searching or they'll flag your claim.

For what it's worth, Washington's unemployment rate of around 4.5% is considered really healthy by economists. Anything under 5% is generally seen as 'full employment' meaning most people who want jobs can find them. Doesn't help when you're the one without work though!

Make sure you apply for jobs through WorkSource too - Washington ESD likes to see that you're using their preferred job search site. Counts toward your weekly job contact requirements and they track it automatically.

One thing to watch out for - if your employer contests your claim, it can really slow things down. Had a friend whose boss tried to say he was fired for cause when he was actually laid off. Took months to sort out through the appeal process.

Quick tip - file your claim on Sunday or Monday mornings if possible. The Washington ESD system tends to be less busy then and processes faster. Also make sure you have all your employment info ready going back 18 months.

The 'good' unemployment rate stuff is all relative anyway. What matters for you is getting your claim processed smoothly. Focus on having accurate info about your work history and wages. Washington ESD is pretty efficient if you give them clean data to work with.

Following up on my earlier comment about Claimyr - just used them again yesterday to check on a friend's claim status and it worked perfectly. If anyone's having trouble getting through to Washington ESD, seriously consider it. Way less stressful than the endless hold times.

Washington's unemployment rate being 'good' actually means it might take you longer to find a new job since there's more competition. But the benefit amounts here are pretty decent compared to other states, so at least you'll have some cushion while you search.

Don't stress too much about the process. Washington ESD has gotten pretty streamlined over the past couple years. Just file your weekly claims religiously every week and keep looking for work. The money will come through as long as you follow the rules.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit right away when you file your claim. Getting physical checks in the mail adds unnecessary delays to an already slow process. The electronic payments are much more reliable.

The good news is Washington state has some of the better unemployment benefits in the country. Both in terms of weekly amounts and duration. So even though losing your job sucks, you're in a relatively good state to be dealing with it.

One more thing - if you do end up needing to call Washington ESD and can't get through, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit. Used it myself when I had an overpayment issue that needed sorting out. Got connected to an agent same day after weeks of trying on my own.

Honestly, don't get too caught up in economic statistics. Focus on your personal situation - file your claim, follow the requirements, and start job hunting immediately. The unemployment rate will take care of itself.