What is unemployment compensation - confused about Washington ESD benefits

Oh that makes sense! So I did pay into this system already. How do I know how much I'd get?

Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website, but basically they look at your highest earning quarter from the past year and calculate from there.

26 weeks seems like a decent amount of time to find something new. Do I have to prove I'm looking for work?

Yes, you'll need to do job search activities and report them weekly when you file your claims. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week.

Actually it's more complicated than that - depends on your situation and local job market conditions.

Good point, I should probably just start the process. Is it hard to file the claim?

The online application isn't too bad, just have your employment history ready. But calling Washington ESD if you have questions is nearly impossible.

I had the same problem with calling! Ended up using Claimyr.com to get through to an actual agent. They have this service that calls for you and gets you connected. Check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ - saved me hours of frustration.

Exactly, there are a lot of misconceptions. You have to actively search for work and meet requirements to keep receiving benefits.

Plus you paid into the system when you were working, so it's your money anyway.

What kind of requirements? Like how many jobs do I have to apply to?

You need to complete 3 job search activities per week and be able and available for work. Keep detailed records because Washington ESD can audit your job search log.

This is super helpful! What does 'no fault of your own' mean exactly?

Means you were laid off, had hours reduced, or were fired for non-misconduct reasons. If you quit or were fired for misconduct, you might not qualify.

There are some exceptions to the quitting rule though - if you quit for good cause you might still qualify.

That makes sense. How long do most people usually collect benefits?

It varies a lot, but ideally you find work before your benefits run out. Some people find jobs in a few weeks, others take the full 26 weeks depending on the job market.

Oh wow, so it's not just one application? I have to do something every week?

Exactly! Every week you want benefits, you have to file a weekly claim and report your job search activities and any work you did.

And if you miss filing a weekly claim, you might not get paid for that week even if you were eligible.

It's really not that simple. There are eligibility requirements, work search requirements, and limits on how long you can collect.

Yeah this attitude is exactly why there's so much stigma around collecting unemployment benefits.

That's a great way to think about it! So it's really just using insurance I already paid for.

Exactly! You've earned the right to these benefits through your work history and tax contributions.

Wait, you can work part-time and still collect unemployment?

Yes, but they reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earn. There's a formula Washington ESD uses to calculate this.

The part-time work rules are confusing. I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD to understand them properly, but calling is such a nightmare. Finally used Claimyr to get through - they handle the calling process for you.

Thanks, that's reassuring. I think I was making it more complicated in my head than it needs to be.

Yep, just take it one step at a time. File your initial claim first, then worry about the weekly stuff after that gets processed.

Oh no, I didn't think about taxes! Should I have them withhold taxes then?

I'd recommend it, otherwise you might owe money at tax time. You can set this up when you file your initial claim or change it later.

Definitely withhold taxes! I owed like $800 when I filed my taxes because I didn't realize unemployment was taxable income.

This has been incredibly helpful everyone! I feel much more confident about filing my claim now. Thank you all for taking the time to explain this.

Good luck with your claim! The process can seem overwhelming at first but you'll get the hang of it.

If you run into issues with Washington ESD, don't hesitate to ask questions here. This community is pretty helpful for unemployment stuff.