When does unemployment go up in Washington - trying to understand benefit increases

The unemployment benefit amounts in Washington are typically adjusted once a year, usually in the summer. It's based on wage data from the previous year. You don't need to do anything - Washington ESD automatically updates the benefit calculation if you qualify for a higher amount.

wait i thought unemployment went up during covid but that was different right? im so confused about all this

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about this same thing! Their phone lines are always busy and when I do get through I get disconnected. Has anyone found a good way to actually talk to someone there?

The benefit year maximum also goes up when they do the annual adjustment. Last year mine went from like $25k to around $27k for the year. It's all calculated automatically based on the state's average weekly wage.

ugh this whole system is so confusing. why cant they just make it simple and tell us when things change???

Just to clarify - if you're already on a claim when the annual adjustment happens, your benefit amount will automatically update if you qualify for more money. But if your wages from the base period don't support a higher benefit, it stays the same.

I remember when I was on unemployment in 2019, my benefit went up in July from $462 to $479. Not a huge increase but every little bit helped. The timing seems pretty consistent year to year.

does anyone know if working part time affects when your benefits go up? im doing some gig work and reporting it

The Washington ESD website has a section about benefit calculations but honestly it's pretty hard to understand. I've been trying to figure out if my benefit amount is correct but the formulas are confusing.

Just want to add that if you think your benefit amount is wrong, you can appeal the monetary determination. There's a deadline though so don't wait too long if you think there's an error.

My benefit amount went up last July but I didn't even notice for a few weeks because I wasn't paying close attention. The change isn't always announced very clearly.

this is why i hate dealing with government stuff. everything is so complicated and they never explain things clearly

Does the cost of living factor into the benefit increases at all? With inflation being so high lately it feels like the increases should be bigger.

I work for a company that does payroll and we see the Washington ESD wage reports that feed into these calculations. The data is usually about 6-9 months behind so there's always a lag between wage changes and benefit adjustments.

just a heads up that if youve been on unemployment for a long time, you might be getting close to your maximum benefit amount for the year. once you hit that you dont get any more money even if benefits go up

Update: I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and finally got through to Washington ESD! The agent confirmed my benefit amount is correct and explained when the annual adjustment happens. Definitely worth it after weeks of trying to call on my own.

For anyone still confused - the bottom line is that Washington unemployment benefits are adjusted once per year, usually in summer, based on state wage data. It happens automatically if you qualify for more money. No action needed on your part.

one thing to remember is that even when benefits go up, its usually not a huge increase. dont expect like $100 more per week or anything like that

The timing makes sense when you think about it. They need a full year of wage data to calculate averages, then time to process everything before implementing the changes. Government moves slow but at least this process is predictable.

Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread helped me understand way more than the Washington ESD website did. I'll keep an eye on my account around July to see if my benefit amount changes.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation - been collecting for about 2 months now and was wondering the same thing. It's reassuring to know that the increases happen automatically and are based on actual wage data rather than just random government decisions. I'll definitely be checking my eServices account regularly around July to see if there are any changes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge!