My advice is just file and see what happens. Even if the amount isn't huge, having some income while job hunting is better than nothing. Plus you've been paying into the system through your paychecks, so you might as well use it when you need it.

Based on your part-time work at $18/hour for 25-30 hours weekly, you'll probably qualify for a decent benefit amount. I was in a similar situation - worked part-time retail and got around $340/week from Washington ESD. It's definitely worth filing since you've been consistently employed. The calculation uses your highest earning quarters, so if you've been working those hours regularly, you should be fine. Just make sure to apply as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start.

Update us on how it goes if you don't mind! Always curious to hear how these multi-state situations work out for people.

One thing to add that might help - if you end up having to wait for interstate processing, consider looking into whether Washington has any emergency or expedited benefits available while your claim is being processed. Some states have temporary assistance programs for situations like this where there are processing delays through no fault of the claimant. It's worth asking about when you speak with them.

I went through this exact situation last year and it's scary, but you'll get through it. Here's what I learned: Start applying for SNAP and Apple Health immediately - the applications take time to process. Look into your local food banks and community resources now rather than waiting until you're desperate. Consider taking ANY work, even if it's not ideal - you can keep looking while earning something. Also, reach out to family and friends about potential opportunities - sometimes the best leads come from personal connections. The period between benefits ending and finding stable work is tough, but having a plan helps reduce the panic.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - my benefits end in 2 weeks and I'm terrified about what comes next. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening, especially about there being no automatic extensions anymore. I had no idea about programs like WIOA or the partial unemployment benefits if you're working part-time under the earnings threshold. It sounds like the key is to start applying for other assistance programs NOW rather than waiting until the benefits actually stop. Has anyone here had success with the WorkSource training programs that were mentioned? I'm wondering if that might be a viable path while I'm still job searching.

Still think they should just have a simple calculator on their website but at least now I understand how to do the math myself

Just wanted to add something that might help others - if you're having trouble gathering all your wage information for the base period calculation, you can request a wage statement from Washington ESD before filing your claim. This shows all the wages they have on record from different employers during your base period, which can help you double-check the calculation and make sure nothing is missing. You can request it through your SecureAccess Washington account or by calling them. It's especially useful if you worked multiple jobs or had any employers who might not have reported wages correctly.

The five types are good to understand conceptually but Washington ESD's determination process is more straightforward - they verify your work history, confirm you lost your job through no fault of your own, and ensure you're meeting ongoing requirements like job search. Focus on those practical elements rather than economic theory.

As someone who recently went through the Washington ESD process, I can confirm that understanding the five types (frictional, structural, cyclical, seasonal, institutional) is helpful for context but not essential for your claim. What matters most is being able to clearly explain your separation reason - in my case, I was part of a company-wide layoff due to budget cuts (cyclical unemployment). Washington ESD approved my claim quickly because it was clearly involuntary separation. The weekly certifications focus more on your job search efforts and any work performed rather than which economic category you fall into.