What is the highest amount you can get from Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! So if I made around $21k in my highest quarter, I should get close to the max?

Yes, that should put you right at or very close to the $999 maximum. Washington has one of the higher benefit caps in the country.

Good to know! I have two kids so that would be an extra $50 per week.

Just make sure to claim them when you file your initial claim. You can't add dependents later without a lot of paperwork.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

That actually sounds really helpful. I'll check it out because I'm getting nowhere with the regular phone number.

Oh right, forgot about taxes. Do you know what percentage they typically take out?

Federal is 10% automatically. State is optional but I'd recommend having it taken out to avoid a big tax bill later.

I've been working full time for 3 years straight, so I think I should be good on that front.

Yeah you should be fine then. The base period is just the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something good. The job market seems decent right now.

Just remember you have to be actively looking for work and documenting your job search activities. Washington ESD is pretty strict about that.

That's still a decent amount. Better than I was expecting honestly.

Washington is definitely one of the better states for unemployment benefits compared to places like Florida or Texas.

Good point. I'll file right away when it happens. Do you file online or by phone?

Online is way easier. Use the Washington ESD website, not the phone system unless you absolutely have to.

I might get 2 weeks severance. Does that mean I have to wait 2 extra weeks to start collecting?

It depends on how the severance is structured. If it's paid as a lump sum, they'll allocate it over the period it's meant to cover. Best to ask Washington ESD directly about your specific situation.

Yeah the Washington ESD calculators are not great. When I had questions about my benefit calculation, I used Claimyr to get through to an actual agent who could look at my account and explain it properly. Way better than trying to figure it out from the website.

I keep hearing about Claimyr. Maybe I should try that instead of pulling my hair out with these online tools.

That's good to know. I was wondering what happens if you get a job and then lose it again quickly.

Just make sure to report any work and earnings on your weekly claims. Even part-time work needs to be reported.

Yeah I'm expecting to have to tighten the budget quite a bit. At least it's something though.

That's why it's important to have some savings if possible. Unemployment helps but it's not meant to fully replace your income.

Hopefully I won't need extensions, but good to know they exist if the job search takes longer than expected.

Extended benefits depend on state and national unemployment rates. They're not available right now as far as I know.

Good advice. I definitely prefer direct deposit anyway.

Yeah the debit card has ATM fees and other charges. Direct deposit is the way to go.

How did you know they calculated it wrong? Did you have to do the math yourself?

I used the formula from their website and got a different number. When I called to ask about it, they found the error and fixed it.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr when I had benefit calculation questions. Got through to someone who could actually look at my account and verify the numbers were right.

Right, I'll need to factor that into my tax planning. Thanks for the reminder.

If you have taxes withheld during the year it makes filing easier. Otherwise you might owe a chunk at tax time.

That doesn't apply to me since I'm not old enough for pension, but good to know for others.

It can also apply to some disability benefits, so definitely report any other income you're receiving.

That's really important advice. I'll make sure to stay on top of the weekly claims.

Set a reminder on your phone. I almost forgot one week and would have lost that week's benefits if I hadn't remembered at the last minute.

Good advice. I'll definitely keep copies of everything. Better safe than sorry when dealing with government agencies.

Screenshot everything and save confirmation numbers. You never know when you'll need to reference something later.

Glad we could help! Hope you don't need to use this information, but if you do, at least you know what to expect.

Best of luck with everything. The Washington ESD system isn't perfect but the benefits are decent compared to most states.