


Ask the community...
One last piece of advice - if you do get approved, remember that you'll need to actively search for work and report your job search activities. Washington ESD has specific requirements about how many employers you need to contact each week.
Good luck with your claim! Sounds like you have a strong case based on what you've described. The childcare situation definitely works in your favor.
The job search requirements are something to keep in mind too. Even if you're working part-time, you still need to be actively looking for work and document your job search activities.
Just be prepared for the system to be slow and frustrating. I qualified easily but it took forever to actually get my first payment. Don't let it discourage you though - you deserve the benefits if you meet the requirements.
After you apply, you'll get a confirmation email with your application number. Screenshot this or write it down - you'll need it for reference if you have to call Washington ESD.
Just want to add that if your claim gets sent to adjudication (which happens sometimes), don't worry. It just means they need to review something about your claim. Answer any questionnaires they send you promptly and completely.
Could be anything - questions about why you left your job, wage discrepancies, identity verification issues. Most adjudications resolve in your favor if you provide the requested information.
I'd definitely recommend talking to someone at Washington ESD directly about your situation before filing, just to make sure you understand all the requirements. Better to get clarity upfront than deal with problems later.
Good advice, though like others mentioned, actually reaching Washington ESD by phone is really challenging. I ended up using Claimyr after trying for days to get through. They connected me with an agent who could answer my specific questions about eligibility requirements.
Just want to add that you should also check with your workers comp carrier if this was a work injury. Sometimes there are coordination issues between workers comp, unemployment, and disability benefits that you need to be aware of.
Good point! I do have an open workers comp claim too. This is getting complicated with all these different systems potentially overlapping.
Edison Estevez
One more thing - make sure you understand how your part-time earnings will affect your weekly benefit amount. There's a formula they use and you'll still get some benefits as long as your earnings are below a certain threshold. Don't assume you won't qualify just because you're still working some hours.
0 coins
Emily Nguyen-Smith
•Nope, that's exactly what partial unemployment is for! It's designed to help people whose hours have been reduced.
0 coins
Brian Downey
•Awesome, thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I'm going to apply this week and see what happens.
0 coins
James Johnson
Smart move applying sooner rather than later. The worst thing that can happen is they say you don't qualify, but at least you'll know for sure rather than wondering. And if you do qualify, you'll start getting benefits right away instead of missing out on weeks of payments.
0 coins
Brian Downey
•Exactly my thinking. Better to try and find out than assume I don't qualify and miss out.
0 coins