Washington Unemployment
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Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
How to get approved for unemployment if you quit - Washington ESD requirements?
I had to quit my job last month because my supervisor was creating a hostile work environment and making discriminatory comments. I documented everything but I'm worried Washington ESD will automatically deny my claim since I wasn't fired or laid off. Has anyone successfully gotten unemployment after quitting? What kind of evidence do I need to show I had 'good cause' for leaving? I'm really stressed about this because I need the benefits to pay rent while I look for another job.
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Lost one of my two jobs - can I still file Washington ESD unemployment benefits?
I've been working two part-time jobs for the past 8 months - one at a retail store (25 hours/week) and another doing evening shifts at a warehouse (20 hours/week). The retail job just laid me off due to budget cuts, but I still have my warehouse job. Can I file for partial unemployment with Washington ESD? I'm not sure if having one job disqualifies me completely or if there's some way to get benefits for the lost income. My total weekly pay dropped from about $850 to $520, which is making it really hard to cover rent and bills.
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One more thing - when you file your weekly claims, make sure you're reporting the correct week. The claim week runs Sunday to Saturday, not whatever your normal work week is.
Good catch! I work Monday through Friday at the warehouse, so I need to think in terms of Sunday-Saturday weeks.
Exactly. It's a common mistake that can mess up your benefit calculations.
Thanks for posting this question! I've been wondering the same thing since I lost my second job last month. Going to file my claim this weekend based on all the helpful responses here.
Awesome! Glad my question helped other people too. Good luck with your claim!
Thanks! This thread has been way more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone.
Washington ESD unemployment - how do i collect benefits after losing my job?
Lost my job last week and really need to figure out how to collect unemployment benefits. I've never done this before and honestly have no idea where to start with Washington ESD. Do I just go online somewhere? What information do I need to have ready? How long does it take to get approved? I'm pretty stressed about money right now so any help would be appreciated.
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The whole thing is overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine it's not too bad. File your weekly claim, do your job searches, keep good records. Just stay on top of it.
Thanks everyone for all the help! I feel a lot more confident about getting started now.
Good luck! Don't hesitate to come back if you run into issues during the process.
One last thing - if you have any questions after you file, try the Washington ESD website chat first before calling. Sometimes that's faster than waiting on hold forever.
Didn't know they had chat support, that's good to know!
The chat is hit or miss though. For anything complicated you still need to talk to a real person on the phone.
How much does unemployment pay in Washington - just got approved
Finally got approved for unemployment after waiting 3 weeks for adjudication. Now I'm trying to figure out exactly how much I'll be getting each week. My previous job paid $4,200 per month gross and I worked there for 18 months. Washington ESD's website has all these formulas but I can't make sense of them. Does anyone know the actual calculation they use? I need to know so I can budget properly while job searching.
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One last tip - make sure you're filing your weekly claims on time. Missing a week can mess up your payment schedule and cause delays.
When are the weekly claims due? I want to make sure I don't miss any deadlines.
You can file starting Sunday for the previous week, and it's due by Saturday. Most people file on Sunday to stay on schedule.
Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread answered way more questions than I expected. Feel much more confident about my unemployment benefits now.
Glad we could help! That's what these forums are for - sharing knowledge and supporting each other.
Definitely! This community has been amazing. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
What happens if you don't pay unemployment back - Washington ESD consequences?
I got hit with a $2,800 overpayment notice from Washington ESD last month saying I need to pay back benefits from 2023. My financial situation is really tight right now and I'm wondering what actually happens if I can't pay this back or just ignore it? Has anyone been through this process? I know it sounds bad but I'm barely making ends meet as it is.
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If you're reading this and have an overpayment notice, don't do what I did and stick your head in the sand. Call them immediately, even if it takes forever to get through. Setting up a payment plan early saves you so much money and stress in the long run.
Wish I had known about that service when I was going through this. Would have saved me weeks of frustration.
Bottom line - they have way more collection tools than regular creditors and they will use them. Wage garnishment, tax intercepts, blocking future benefits. Don't test them on this.
Point taken. I'm convinced I need to deal with this head-on instead of hoping it goes away.
Smart choice. It's scary at first but once you have a plan in place, the stress level drops dramatically.
Thais Soares
Just to echo what others have said - discrimination and hostile work environment are definitely considered good cause for quitting in Washington. The fact that you tried to resolve it through HR first and documented everything puts you in a strong position. Don't let the stress get to you too much.
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Jake Sinclair
AuthorI'm feeling much better about my chances after reading everyone's advice. Time to get my documentation organized and file that claim!
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Nalani Liu
Best of luck! You've got this. The system isn't perfect but it does work when you have good cause and proper documentation. Keep us updated on how it goes!
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Jake Sinclair
AuthorWill do! Thanks again to everyone who took the time to help. This community is amazing.
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