What is base period wages for unemployment Washington ESD calculation?

So they use ALL wages from those quarters, not just from the job I got laid off from?

Correct! They count wages from all employers during your base period quarters.

Thanks! That helps explain why my benefit estimate seemed lower than expected.

Wait, I thought it was based on your last job's wages? This is confusing.

How did you manage to get through? I've been trying to call for days and keep getting disconnected.

I used Claimyr actually - found it on claimyr.com. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and connects you when they get through. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made such a difference being able to actually talk to someone!

This is why I was so confused! I was thinking it was just my last year of work but it's actually specific quarters.

Exactly! And sometimes people think it's their last 4 quarters of work but it's actually calendar quarters which can be different.

They get wage reports from employers quarterly so they should have most of your wage information already. But sometimes there are delays or missing wages, especially from smaller employers.

good to know, my last employer was pretty small so might need to watch for that

Luckily I only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Good! That definitely makes it simpler. Interstate claims can be a real headache.

Where exactly do I find that? I've been looking around the site but haven't seen it.

Log into your SecureAccess Washington account and look for the unemployment services section. There should be an option to view wage and potential claim info.

I tried this but it said I didn't have enough wage information on file. Had to call to get it sorted out.

This happened to me! I had just started working again after being unemployed so my regular base period didn't have enough wages. The alternate base period saved me.

Yes, it's really helpful for people who had gaps in employment or just started working again.

I think it's because employers report wages quarterly and it standardizes the calculation across all states. Still confusing though!

Makes sense from an administrative standpoint I guess, just not user friendly

How do you know if an employer didn't report? Do you just compare it to your own records?

Yeah, compare your pay stubs to what Washington ESD has on file. If there's a discrepancy, you'll need to contact them to get it fixed.

This is where having a good way to reach Washington ESD becomes crucial. I had wage issues too and getting through on the phone was the only way to resolve it.

That's good to know! I had a lot of overtime in Q3 2024 so hopefully that helps my calculation.

It should definitely help! Washington ESD counts all wages reported by your employer, not just base salary.

How long did it take you to get through? I've been trying for weeks.

I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. It was worth it to avoid the endless busy signals and dropped calls. Made the whole process much less stressful.

I might have to try that. This calling situation is ridiculous.

All my work was as a regular employee so that shouldn't be an issue, but good to know for others.

Yeah, it's a common source of confusion for people who do gig work or freelancing.

Yes! That document is super important. I almost threw mine away thinking it was just another form.

It's basically proof of how they calculated your benefits. Definitely keep it in your unemployment file.

Glad we could help! The system is actually pretty fair once you understand how it works.

Just remember to keep checking your claim status and don't hesitate to call if something looks wrong with your wages or benefit calculation.