What is unemployment pay through Washington ESD - how much can I get?

Unemployment insurance (UI) is a temporary financial assistance program run by Washington ESD. It's not welfare - you and your employer paid into this system through payroll taxes while you were working, so you've already earned these benefits. The amount depends on your previous wages, typically 60-70% of your average weekly earnings up to a maximum weekly benefit amount.

Oh so it's like insurance that I already paid for? That makes more sense. How do I figure out how much I'd get?

Exactly! Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website where you can estimate your weekly benefit amount based on your recent earnings.

just to add to what the other person said - you have to be actively looking for work to keep getting payments. its not just free money, you have to file weekly claims and prove youre job searching

What kind of proof do they want for job searching? Do I have to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?

yeah you need to log your job search activities in WorkSourceWA. i think its 3 job contacts per week minimum but check the current requirements on the washington esd site

I was in your shoes 6 months ago and felt completely overwhelmed trying to navigate Washington ESD's system. The biggest challenge was actually getting through to someone on the phone when I had questions about my claim. After spending hours on hold and getting disconnected multiple times, I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me get connected to an ESD agent quickly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

Is that legit? I'm worried about scams right now since I'm already stressed about money.

I was skeptical too but it's completely legitimate. They just help you get through the phone queue faster - no personal info required beyond what you'd give ESD anyway.

I've heard of this service too, my cousin used it when her claim got stuck in adjudication.

The basic breakdown is this: Washington ESD unemployment benefits are designed to replace part of your lost income while you search for new work. You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks in most cases. The weekly benefit amount is calculated using your highest earning quarter from the past 18 months. There's also a waiting week requirement, though that was waived during COVID and I'm not sure if it's back in effect.

26 weeks seems like a decent amount of time. What happens if I don't find a job by then?

After regular unemployment runs out, there are sometimes extended benefit programs available during high unemployment periods, but those aren't guaranteed.

omg yes file asap! i waited like 2 weeks thinking i'd find something quick and that was stupid. the sooner you file the sooner you start getting paid

How long does it take to start getting payments once you file?

if everything goes smooth maybe 2-3 weeks for first payment but mine took longer cause they had to verify my employment history

To clarify the waiting week question from earlier - Washington state eliminated the waiting week permanently in 2023, so you should be eligible for benefits starting from your first week of unemployment if you meet all other requirements.

Thanks for the update! I wasn't sure about the current status of that policy.

That's good news at least. Every week counts when you have bills to pay.

Don't feel bad about not knowing this stuff. The unemployment system is needlessly complicated and Washington ESD doesn't do a great job explaining things clearly. I've been through this process twice and I still get confused by some of their requirements.

It does seem really complicated. I'm worried I'll mess something up and not get benefits.

Just take it step by step. The most important thing is to file your initial claim as soon as possible, even if you're not sure about all the details.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. You'll need dates of employment, employer addresses, and reason for separation for all jobs in the past 18 months. Having this info organized beforehand makes the application much easier.

Good tip! I'll gather all that information before I start the application.

yeah and keep records of everything. save emails, take screenshots, keep notes of phone calls. the system glitches sometimes and you'll need proof of what happened

The Washington ESD website has improved a lot over the past few years but it can still be confusing to navigate. Start with the 'Apply for Benefits' section and it will walk you through the process step by step. Make sure you're on the official .gov site and not some third-party site that might charge you fees.

What's the official website address? I want to make sure I'm on the right site.

It's esd.wa.gov - that's the main Washington ESD site. You'll create your account through SecureAccess Washington (SAW) to access your unemployment claim.

also heads up that if you worked in multiple states or for the federal government the rules might be different. but for regular washington jobs its pretty straightforward

I only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing since someone asked if it was legit - I ended up using their service three times when I had issues with my weekly claims and it saved me probably 10+ hours of being on hold. When you're already stressed about money, that kind of time savings is huge.

How much does something like that cost? If I'm unemployed I need to be careful about spending money.

I understand the concern about costs when money's tight. I found the value was worth it for the time and stress it saved me, but check their site for current pricing info.

Quick warning - don't lie or leave out information on your application. Washington ESD does verify employment and wage information and if they catch discrepancies it can delay or disqualify your claim. Better to be honest and potentially get a lower benefit amount than to risk getting nothing at all.

I wouldn't lie but what if I genuinely can't remember exact dates from a job I had over a year ago?

Do your best to get close. They understand people don't always remember exact dates. You can also contact previous employers for employment verification if needed.

Does anyone know if part-time work affects unemployment benefits? I might be able to get some freelance work while I'm looking for a full-time job.

Yes, you can work part-time and still receive partial unemployment benefits in Washington. You just need to report all earnings when you file your weekly claim. ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earned that week.

That's good to know. I was wondering about that too in case I find temporary work.

The job search requirements are actually pretty reasonable once you understand them. You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log in WorkSourceWA. This can include applying for jobs, networking activities, attending job fairs, or even informational interviews.

Is WorkSourceWA a separate website I need to sign up for?

Yes, it's a separate system but you'll use the same SecureAccess Washington login. It's where you track your job search activities and can also find job listings and career resources.

I wish someone had told me earlier that your benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter, not your most recent job. I took a lower paying job right before getting laid off and was worried it would hurt my benefits, but they calculate based on your best quarter in the past 18 months.

That's actually really helpful to know. My last job paid less than my previous one so I was worried about that too.

Exactly right. They use what's called your 'base period' which looks at the first four of the last five completed quarters to find your highest earnings.

just remember to file your weekly claims every week even if you havent gotten your first payment yet. if you miss a week you lose that weeks benefits permanently

Good reminder! When do you file the weekly claims? Is it the same day each week?

you can file starting sunday for the previous week. i always do mine sunday morning so i dont forget. theres a deadline each week but i cant remember what day - check when you set up your claim.

The whole system seems designed to be confusing honestly. I spent way too much time trying to figure out simple things that should have been explained clearly from the start. But once you get into the routine of filing weekly and doing your job search activities, it becomes much more manageable.

I'm hoping once I get through the initial setup it will make more sense.

It definitely gets easier once you've done it a few times. The first claim is always the most overwhelming.

One more thing - if your claim gets flagged for adjudication (which means they need to review something about your case), don't panic. It's pretty common and usually gets resolved within a few weeks. The hard part is getting through to someone at ESD if you have questions about the delay.

What would cause a claim to need adjudication?

Lots of things - if you were fired vs laid off, if there are questions about your availability to work, or if they need to verify employment information. Most of the time it's just routine verification.

This is exactly when Claimyr helped me the most. When my claim went into adjudication I needed to speak with someone to understand what was happening and provide additional information.

Thank you everyone for all this information! I feel much more confident about applying now. I'm going to gather all my employment records this weekend and file my claim on Monday.

Good plan! Don't hesitate to ask questions here if you run into any issues during the application process.

good luck! remember to file even if youre not 100% sure about something. you can always provide additional info later if needed

Thanks to everyone who helped explain this. This community has been really helpful during a stressful time.