What is the unemployment pay rate in Washington ESD - confused about my weekly benefit amount

Thanks! That makes more sense. So they look at my highest earning quarter, not my annual salary?

Exactly! They take your highest quarter from your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed) and divide by 26 weeks.

Did you ever get it sorted out? I'm worried about calling because I've heard the wait times are horrible.

You should definitely call if you think there's an error. I had a similar issue and used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. It's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

So if I made $15,000 in my highest quarter, that would be about $577 per week? That seems higher than what I got.

Close! It would be $15,000 ÷ 26 = $577, but remember there's also a minimum threshold. You need to have earned at least 680 times the minimum wage in your base period to qualify.

You can request a monetary determination breakdown from Washington ESD that shows exactly how they calculated your weekly benefit amount. It should show your base period wages by quarter.

How do I request that? Through the online portal or do I have to call?

Good point! When do I need to file my first weekly claim? I just got approved yesterday.

You should file your first weekly claim for the week ending after your claim was approved. So if you were approved on a Wednesday, you'd file for the week ending that Saturday.

Each state has different benefit amounts based on their wage bases and economic conditions. Washington actually has one of the higher maximum weekly benefits in the country.

maybe but the whole system is still a mess. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment

How complicated is the appeal process? Do I need to provide additional documentation?

You'll need to provide any wage documentation you have that shows your earnings during the base period. Pay stubs, W-2s, or employer wage statements work. If you need help navigating the process, calling Washington ESD directly is your best bet.

I wasn't planning to work while on unemployment. Do I have to report any income even if it's just a few hours?

Yes, you have to report ALL income when you file your weekly claims, even if it's just $20. Washington ESD has specific rules about how much you can earn before it affects your benefits.

Totally agree! The Washington ESD website has all this information but it's scattered everywhere and hard to understand.

The good news is once you understand your WBA, the weekly filing process is pretty straightforward. Just answer the questions honestly about your job search and any income.

That's frustrating! How long did you have to wait on hold each time?

Usually 45 minutes to an hour. The last time I used some service called Claimyr that called for me and got me connected faster. Saved me a lot of time sitting on hold.

How long is a benefit year? Is it 12 months from when I filed my claim?

Yes, exactly. Your benefit year is 52 weeks from the date you filed your initial claim. You can collect up to 26 weeks of benefits during that year, assuming you remain eligible.

Oh no, I didn't think about taxes! Can I have them withhold taxes from my weekly payments?

Yes, when you file your weekly claims there's an option to have 10% withheld for federal taxes. You can also make quarterly estimated payments if you prefer.

I know it's overwhelming at first, but once you get used to filing your weekly claims it becomes routine. The most important thing is just answering the questions honestly and filing on time.

yeah i guess. just wish there was a simple explanation somewhere of what everything means

How do you request a redetermination? Do you have to call or can you do it online?

I had to call to request it, but they might have an online option now. You'll need to provide documentation showing the wages they missed.

That's a helpful way to think about it! So if I made $50k in my base period, I'd get about $1,925 per week? That seems way too high.

No, you'd get 3.85% of $50k divided by 52 weeks, which is about $37 per week. But Washington ESD uses a different calculation - they take your highest quarter and divide by 26, which gives you a higher benefit amount.

I registered with WorkSource but haven't started job searching yet. How strict are they about the 3 contacts per week?

Pretty strict. You need to keep a log of your job contacts and they can audit your job search activities at any time. Make sure you're actually applying for suitable work.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr. It calls Washington ESD for you and holds your place in line, then calls you back when an agent is available. Super convenient and saves hours of waiting.

never heard of that before. does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legitimate. I've used it twice and both times got connected to an agent within about 20 minutes instead of waiting hours. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

How can I check if all my wages are included? I had two different employers during my base period.

Your monetary determination should list wages by employer and quarter. If you see any missing, you can provide additional wage documentation to Washington ESD for a redetermination.

That makes sense. I was hoping it would be closer to my actual salary but I understand it's based on a formula.

Right, it's meant to partially replace your lost wages, not fully replace them. The goal is to give you some income while you search for new employment.

Good to know it stays consistent! I was worried it might change week to week based on my job search activities.

nope, your WBA is fixed for your entire benefit year. just make sure you keep up with the job search requirements and report any income accurately