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The job search requirement thing is no joke. They randomly audit people and if you can't prove you were looking for work, they'll make you pay back benefits. Keep detailed records of everything you do.
Bottom line - if you filed correctly and your employer doesn't contest it, you'll start getting paid within 2-3 weeks of filing. First payment might take a little longer but after that it's pretty regular. Don't panic if it doesn't happen immediately.
Just remember to keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim is pending. You can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you didn't file, even if you're eventually approved.
Hope this all works out for you! The Washington ESD system can be confusing but most people who worked regularly do end up qualifying for something.
Thanks everyone for all the help! I feel much more confident about applying now that I understand it's about wages not hours.
And remember, if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, Claimyr can really help with that. Good luck!
Washington ESD should automatically send you information about what happens when your benefits end. If you haven't received anything yet, you might want to call them or use one of those services like Claimyr to make sure there isn't something you need to do on your end.
I'll probably try Claimyr if I don't hear anything in the next week or two. The phone situation with ESD is just impossible otherwise.
Bottom line - if you only have self-employment income, you can't get regular unemployment benefits. If you have W2 wages during your base period, you might qualify based on those wages alone. The tricky part is figuring out if you have enough qualifying wages and meeting the availability requirements.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Sounds like I need to look up my exact W2 wages from last year and possibly talk to Washington ESD directly to see if I qualify.
One more thing - even if you qualify, your weekly benefit amount will only be based on your W2 wages, not your total income including self-employment. So the benefit might be lower than you expect.
AstroAdventurer
How long do you get the maximum benefits for? Is it still 26 weeks?
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Omar Hassan
•In Washington, you can receive up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits, but the exact number depends on your earnings during the base period. Higher earners typically qualify for more weeks.
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AstroAdventurer
•Ok so it's not automatically 26 weeks for everyone. Good to know.
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Andre Dupont
Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread has been super helpful for understanding how the benefit amounts work.
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StarStrider
•Agreed! Way more helpful than trying to navigate the ESD website on your own.
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Andre Dupont
•Seriously, this community is great for getting real answers to these questions.
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