What is the maximum unemployment benefit amount in Washington State?

Thank you! That's really helpful. Do you know how they calculate if I qualify for the full $999?

It's based on your highest quarter earnings during the base period. You need to have earned at least $7,992 in your highest quarter to get the maximum benefit. With your $85k salary, you should easily meet that threshold.

Good point about the taxes. I hadn't thought about that. Should I have them withhold federal taxes or just pay quarterly?

I'd recommend having them withhold 10% for federal taxes. It's easier than trying to calculate quarterly payments, especially if you find work partway through the year.

Yeah it's adjusted annually based on the state's average weekly wage. The $999 maximum is actually pretty good compared to a lot of other states.

That's reassuring. I was worried it would be much lower and I'd struggle to pay my mortgage.

26 weeks should hopefully be enough time to find something. What are the work search requirements exactly?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a detailed log. They can audit your search activities at any time, so keep good records.

Actually, if you're in a professional field like tech, you might be able to get approved for fewer contacts per week if you can show you're doing more targeted, high-level searches. But you'd need to get that approved by Washington ESD first.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an agent. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) and decided to try it. Worked like a charm - got connected within an hour.

I usually call right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hour around 12:30. Those seem to be the best times to get through without waiting forever.

The $999 is the absolute maximum for anyone in Washington. Your actual benefit amount depends on your earnings history. Part-time workers and people with lower wages will get less, calculated as a percentage of their average weekly wage during the base period.

That makes sense. So it's not like everyone automatically gets $999 - you have to have earned enough to qualify for that amount.

Exactly. The minimum weekly benefit in Washington is $295, so it ranges from $295 to $999 depending on your work history and earnings.

Good to know. I might do some freelance consulting while I'm looking for full-time work. Do I need to report that?

Yes, you absolutely have to report any income, including freelance work. They'll calculate how much to deduct from your benefit. Don't try to hide it - they cross-reference with tax records.

I learned this the hard way. Got hit with an overpayment notice because I didn't report some cash work I did. Had to pay back over $2000.

I'll check that out. Thanks for the tip!

That calculator is pretty helpful. Just remember to use gross wages, not net when you're entering your information.

I was planning to wait until I'd been looking for a few weeks, but sounds like I should file right away?

Definitely file right away. You can't backdate your claim, so every week you wait is a week of potential benefits you're losing. Even if you think you might find work quickly, file the claim.

This is correct. File immediately after your last day of work. If you find a job quickly, you can always stop filing weekly claims, but you can't go back and claim benefits for weeks you didn't file.

Having multiple jobs actually helps because Washington ESD looks at all your covered employment during the base period. They'll add up wages from all your employers to calculate your benefit amount.

That's good news! I was worried about having gaps between jobs.

As long as you were paying into the unemployment system at each job (which you should have been if they were regular W2 jobs), all those wages count toward your benefit calculation.

Yes, you can appeal your monetary determination if you think it's wrong. You have 30 days from the date of the determination to file an appeal. Make sure you have documentation of your wages during the base period.

I had to do this once. Took about 6 weeks to get it resolved, but they did correct my benefit amount and paid me the difference retroactively.

Good to know there's a process for fixing errors. I'll keep all my pay stubs just in case.

You mentioned Claimyr earlier too. Is it really worth it? I'm getting desperate to talk to someone about my claim.

For me it was worth it. I needed to get my adjudication issue resolved and couldn't afford to keep waiting. They got me connected the same day I used their service.

I tried calling on my own for two weeks straight and never got through. Used Claimyr and talked to an agent within an hour. Sometimes you just need to pay for convenience.

What counts as a valid job search contact? Just online applications or do I need to do more?

Online applications count, but you can also include networking contacts, job fairs, interviews, and contacting employers directly. Keep detailed records of dates, company names, and what you did.

I keep a spreadsheet with all my job search activities. Makes it easy to report when filing weekly claims and protects you if they audit your records.

That's a good point. I was thinking about taking some online courses while I'm between jobs. Do those count toward work search requirements?

Training and education can count toward your work search requirements in some cases, but you'd need to get approval from Washington ESD first. It's called 'Training Benefits' and has specific requirements.

Yes, if you're enrolled in approved training, you might be able to extend your benefits beyond the normal 26 weeks. But it has to be training that leads to employment in a high-demand occupation.

Glad we could help! Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions as you go through the process.

Same here - this has been incredibly helpful. I'll definitely file my claim this week instead of waiting.

Good luck with your claim! The process can be frustrating but the benefits really help while you're job searching.