What is the most unemployment pays in Washington ESD weekly benefits?

Thanks! That's actually higher than I expected. How do they calculate which quarter counts as your highest earning quarter?

They use your base period which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in March 2025, they'd look at October 2023 through September 2024.

Good to know about the minimum requirements. I should definitely meet those thresholds.

Yeah the minimum is pretty low compared to what most people earn. The maximum is what matters for higher earners.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got through in under an hour when I'd been trying for weeks on my own.

Really? That sounds almost too good to be true. How does it work exactly?

They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains it better than I can. Basically they handle all the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line.

Absolutely, I'm already updating my resume and reaching out to contacts. Just want to know what to expect if I do need to file.

Smart to plan ahead. The job market is tough right now but tech workers usually have better luck than other industries.

Good point, I hadn't thought about the tax implications. Better to have it withheld than get hit with a big bill later.

Definitely recommend having taxes withheld. A lot of people forget and then get surprised at tax time.

learned this the hard way last year... owed way more than expected

How long have you been receiving benefits? And how has the job search requirement been to manage?

About 3 months now. The job search requirement is 3 activities per week which isn't too bad. I use WorkSourceWA to track everything.

WorkSourceWA is actually pretty helpful for finding job postings too, not just tracking your search activities.

I might get a severance if I do get laid off. How do they determine what counts as wages versus what doesn't?

It depends on how the severance is structured. If it's paid as regular wages over time, it counts. If it's a lump sum for signing a release, it might not affect your benefits timing.

This is why talking to an actual Washington ESD agent is so important for complex situations like this.

It's actually calculated as your high quarter earnings divided by 25, but it can't exceed the state maximum which is currently $999. So if your calculation comes out higher than $999, you get capped at $999.

Ah that makes sense. So the percentage thing doesn't really apply in Washington state.

Right, some states use percentage of wages but Washington uses the quarter-based calculation.

Good advice. I'll make sure to file immediately if it happens. Is there anything I should gather beforehand to make the process smoother?

Have your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and your most recent pay stub ready. Also helpful to have employer contact information.

And make sure you have access to your personal email and phone since Washington ESD will use those to contact you about your claim.

What kind of issues typically cause adjudication delays?

Things like questions about why you left your job, if you're able and available for work, or if there are any discrepancies in your application. Most get resolved but it can take weeks.

The waiting is the worst part. I was in adjudication for almost a month before it got resolved.

I tried the callback feature but never got a call back. That's actually when I decided to try Claimyr since regular methods weren't working.

How was your experience with Claimyr? I'm getting desperate to talk to someone.

It worked great for me. They got me connected to an agent within a couple hours and I was able to resolve my claim issue. Way better than spending days trying to get through on my own.

That's good to know. I guess Washington state is relatively generous with unemployment benefits.

Yeah Washington is definitely on the higher end. The cost of living here is high too though so it makes sense.

True, $999 a week in Seattle doesn't go as far as it would in other places.

What exactly counts as a valid job search activity?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, skills training, interviews. You need 3 activities per week and they need to be documented with dates and contact information.

The WorkSourceWA website has a good breakdown of what activities qualify. It's worth checking out before you start claiming.

That's really good to know. So there's some flexibility to take on contract work or part-time jobs while collecting benefits.

Exactly, just make sure you report all earnings accurately when you file your weekly claims. They have a formula for how much they reduce benefits based on what you earn.

The partial benefit calculation can be confusing but it's definitely worth doing some work if you can find it.

You're welcome! Hope everything works out with your job situation.

Good luck with everything. The tech industry is volatile but there are still opportunities out there.

Keep us posted on how things go. This community is here to help if you need it.