What is the maximum you can collect on unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! So even though I made good money, I'm capped at $999? That's still decent I guess.

Wait, is that before or after taxes? Do they take taxes out automatically?

How do I find out what my quarterly wages were? Is that on my pay stubs?

You can check your wage history on the Washington ESD website once you create your account. It shows all reported wages by quarter.

The phone lines are absolutely swamped. I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual Washington ESD agents. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

never heard of that but will check it out. anything is better than calling 200 times a day

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, and some training activities all count. Has to be documented properly though.

I got disqualified for not doing enough job searches. Make sure you keep good records!

You can choose to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claims. I'd recommend it unless you want to deal with quarterly payments or a big bill in April.

Good to know, thanks. I'll make sure to select that option when I file my first weekly claim.

What happens after 26 weeks if I still haven't found a job? Are there other programs?

You might qualify for Extended Benefits if unemployment rates are high enough, but that's not common. Otherwise you'd need to look into other assistance programs.

That makes sense. So I need to figure out what my highest earning quarter was to estimate my benefit amount.

Exactly. And remember it's based on your base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.

That's encouraging to hear. I'm hoping to find something in my field rather than settling for less.

Just make sure you're documenting your job search properly. Washington ESD is pretty strict about the requirements.

Same problem here! I tried Claimyr after someone mentioned it and finally got through to an agent who helped sort out my benefit amount. Totally worth it when you can't reach them any other way.

I'll have to look into that. This is so frustrating trying to get basic information about my own claim.

So even if I qualify for $999 per week, I won't get anything for the first week?

Correct. Week 1 is the waiting week, then you start getting benefits from week 2 onward if everything is approved.

Yeah, some states cap it way lower. I have friends in other states who get like $400 max.

That's terrible. At least Washington has a decent maximum even if it doesn't fully replace a high salary.

So if I get $999 per week, my total maximum would be around $26,000 for the year?

Exactly, assuming you collect for the full 26 weeks. But hopefully you find work before then!

I'll look for that on their website. Would be nice to have an idea before I actually file.

The calculator is pretty accurate as long as you have your wage information correct.

Good point. I might do some consulting work so I'll need to understand how that affects my benefits.

Definitely report any earnings when you file your weekly claims. Being honest upfront prevents problems later.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. Feeling much more prepared to file my claim now.

Good luck with your claim! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues during the process.