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Make sure you have all your employment history ready when you file. They ask for details about your last 18 months of work including dates, wages, reason for leaving, etc.
Just to follow up on my earlier comment - I ended up needing to use Claimyr again when I had questions about my benefit amount calculation. Still works great for getting through to actual Washington ESD staff when you need real answers.
The WorkSourceWA registration requirement is important too. You have to create an account and upload your resume within 4 weeks of filing or they'll disqualify you. Don't put this off because it can take a few days to get approved in their system.
Honestly the best way to know for sure is just to file and see what happens. The online application walks you through everything and will tell you if there are obvious eligibility issues. Based on what you described - 8 months restaurant work plus part-time retail, laid off due to business reasons - you should definitely qualify for benefits.
Bottom line: Unemployment Insurance (UI) = the official name for unemployment benefits in Washington. File your initial claim online, then do weekly claims to get paid. Keep looking for work and document your job search. That's basically the whole program in a nutshell.
glad this thread helped clear things up for you! the terminology definitely trips people up at first but once you realize UI just means unemployment benefits it all clicks. good luck with your claim!
Just to add some specifics since I dealt with this recently - when you file, you'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and your last employer's information. Having all that ready makes the process go much faster.
I've seen people stress about this deadline question a lot. The truth is Washington ESD wants people to file and get benefits if they're eligible. They're not trying to create arbitrary deadlines to trip people up. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start getting help.
Leslie Parker
If your claim gets stuck in adjudication for any reason, don't panic. Sometimes they just need to verify information and it takes a few weeks. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to check on my status and it saved me a lot of worry.
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Zane Gray
•I'll definitely keep that option in mind if I run into any delays. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Sergio Neal
•Yeah adjudication can be nerve wracking but usually it works out fine in the end.
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Savanna Franklin
One last thing - if you have any questions about your specific situation, Washington ESD has some good FAQ pages on their website. Not everything requires a phone call.
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Zane Gray
•I'll check those out before I file. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
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Savanna Franklin
•Good luck with your claim! Sounds like you've got a solid case for approval.
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