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Don't let anyone tell you that you 'haven't worked long enough' to qualify. That's not how it works with Washington ESD. Your total earnings during the base period are what matter, not how long you've been at any single job. File your claim and let them make the determination.
Update us on how it goes! I'm in a similar situation and would love to hear about your experience with the application process.
If you run into any issues reaching Washington ESD after filing, I had good luck with Claimyr too. Sometimes you need to talk to someone about adjudication delays or claim issues and the regular phone lines are impossible. Worth having as a backup option.
Remember that filing is just the beginning. You'll need to keep filing weekly claims and doing work searches to continue receiving benefits. But don't worry about all that right now - just focus on getting that initial application submitted!
Bottom line - if you lost your job through no fault of your own and worked for a decent amount of time in the past year and a half, you probably qualify. The application is free and only takes about 30 minutes. Just do it and stop worrying about it.
Just to add one more thing - if you do get approved, make sure you understand your weekly benefit amount and how long you can collect. In Washington it's usually up to 26 weeks but can be extended during high unemployment periods. Plan your job search accordingly.
Thanks everyone for explaining the unemployment spell concept. This thread has been more helpful than anything I could find on the Washington ESD website!
One last tip - if anyone needs to speak with Washington ESD about their unemployment spell or any other claim issues, that Claimyr service really does work. Saved me from spending entire days trying to get through on the phone.
Jean Claude
One last thing - if you do get denied for any reason, you can appeal the decision. Don't just give up if you think you were wrongly denied. The appeal process exists for a reason.
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Roger Romero
•How long do you have to file an appeal if needed?
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Jean Claude
•I think it's 30 days from the date of the determination notice. But hopefully you won't need to worry about that with a straightforward layoff situation.
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Charity Cohan
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This thread has been way more useful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website on my own. Feeling much more confident about the process now.
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PaulineW
•Glad we could help! Come back and update us on how it goes.
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Anna Kerber
•Good luck with everything! Remember to file that claim as soon as you're officially laid off.
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