What would unemployment pay in Washington - need to know benefit amounts before filing

Thanks! So if I was making around $720 per week, I might get about $430 weekly in benefits? That would actually help a lot.

That sounds about right, but it depends on your earnings over the entire base period. The calculation looks at your best quarter and divides by 26.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the time between filing and getting paid.

Mine took about 3 weeks to process, but I didn't have any complications. Make sure you file your weekly claims even while it's processing.

This is really helpful! I'll try to gather my pay stubs from the past year to get a better estimate.

Just a heads up - you don't need to provide pay stubs when you file. Washington ESD gets your wage information directly from employers through quarterly reports.

Interesting, I've never heard of that service. Is it free to use?

No it's not free but it was worth it for me when I couldn't get through on my own. They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an agent.

I used Claimyr too when I had questions about my benefit amount calculation. Much easier than spending hours on hold.

I know it's frustrating, but the calculation is actually pretty straightforward once you understand the base period concept. The key is looking at your earnings from the right time period.

but which quarters count? i started my job in march so im worried i wont qualify for much

Good to know about those minimum amounts. I should definitely qualify based on those numbers.

Yep, working retail at $18/hour for almost 2 years, you should be well above the minimum requirements.

That's good to know! So there's no advantage to waiting to file if I think I might make more money in the next few months?

Right, waiting won't help because they still use your base period earnings, not your most recent earnings. Plus you can't get benefits for weeks before you file.

Yes, they count all covered employment regardless of whether it was full-time or part-time. It's all based on your actual earnings.

Thanks! I was worried I wouldn't qualify since I've only been working 25-30 hours per week.

Unemployment benefits are taxable income, but Washington ESD doesn't automatically withhold taxes. You can request 10% federal tax withholding when you file your weekly claims.

Good to know, I'll definitely request the withholding so I don't get stuck with a big tax bill next year.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm experiencing! The calculator seems buggy or maybe I'm just not understanding how to use it properly.

I ended up just calling Washington ESD directly to get my exact benefit amount. It was worth the wait time to get accurate information.

How does that service work exactly? Do they stay on the line with you or just get you connected?

They handle the calling and waiting, then connect you directly to the Washington ESD agent. You have a private conversation with the agent just like a normal call.

Thanks for the warning! I'll definitely remember to file weekly claims right away.

Yeah the system is not intuitive at all. You have to keep filing even when it says 'pending' or 'under review' otherwise you lose those weeks forever.

That's actually pretty close to what I was hoping for. How long did your benefits last?

you get up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits in washington. i found a new job after 14 weeks so didnt use them all

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

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, interviews, even some online job search activities count. There's a list on the Washington ESD website.

You're right, there's definitely more to it than just the money. I should read through all the requirements carefully.

The Washington ESD handbook explains everything pretty well. Take some time to read through it before you file your claim.

I'm actually planning to quit my job to look for something better, so I'm trying to understand if I'd qualify for benefits.

Ah, that's different. If you quit voluntarily, you generally don't qualify for unemployment benefits unless you have good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment.

This is really important - quitting without good cause makes you ineligible. You might want to look for a new job while still employed.

Absolutely, I'm viewing it as a bridge to help me find something better, not a long-term solution.

That's the right attitude. The job search requirements actually help keep you focused on finding work.

That range is really helpful for planning purposes. Thanks for breaking it down!

No problem! Just remember the exact amount depends on your specific earning history during the base period.

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

Yeah, having everything organized makes the initial filing much smoother. The system will ask for a lot of details about your work history.