What is taxable wage base for unemployment insurance Washington ESD - confused about employer reporting

So if I made $65k, my employer only paid UI taxes on $62,500 of it?

Exactly. Any wages above that amount aren't subject to unemployment taxes, but your benefit calculation is based on different factors anyway.

No, that's not how it works. Your benefit amount is calculated using the wages in your base year, not the taxable wage base limit. Two totally different things.

Where exactly do I find the monetary determination? I've been looking through my ESD account but can't locate it.

It should be under 'View Claim Status' then look for 'Monetary Determination' or sometimes it's called 'Benefit Year Determination'. If you can't find it, you might need to call ESD.

Good luck getting through to ESD on the phone! I've been trying for weeks. Actually found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone.

Does Washington have one of the higher wage bases compared to other states?

Yeah, Washington's is pretty high. Some states have much lower wage bases, which can affect their UI funding. Washington tries to keep the system well-funded.

I know it seems complicated, but once you understand the basic concepts it makes more sense. The wage base is really just about employer taxes, not your benefits directly.

This is super helpful, thank you! So I shouldn't worry about it affecting my claim?

Correct. Focus on making sure your wages are reported correctly in your base year - that's what determines your benefit amount.

what if your employer didnt report wages correctly though? that happened to my friend

Did you have any issues with wages not being reported correctly?

No issues for me, but I know people who had to contact ESD to fix wage reporting errors. That's where services like Claimyr can help since getting through to ESD directly is so difficult.

That's why some employers try to avoid layoffs - it affects their future tax rates.

Exactly. It's designed to make employers think twice about unnecessary layoffs.

It's based on wages from all employers during your 'base year' - usually the first four of the last five completed quarters. Much more complex than just your last job.

no wonder people get confused filing claims

How much does something like that cost?

They focus on the value of actually reaching someone rather than cost. When you're dealing with benefit delays or wage discrepancies, getting through to ESD quickly is worth it.

That makes sense! So the limit is per employer, not per employee total.

Right! Each employer has their own $62,500 limit for each employee.

Yeah HR departments often mention it because it affects their payroll tax calculations, not because it directly impacts your benefits.

How did you get ESD to fix the wage reporting issue?

Eventually got through by phone but it took multiple attempts over several weeks. This was before I knew about services that help you reach agents faster.

Yeah, that's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr when I had wage discrepancies. Saved me probably hours of redialing and getting disconnected. Their demo video really shows how much easier it makes the whole process.

That's the right approach. The wage base is really background information - what matters for your claim is accurate wage reporting and meeting the other eligibility requirements.

Agreed, this thread cleared up a lot of confusion for me. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain.