Am I eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington - need help figuring this out

You should definitely apply! Based on what you described, you meet the basic requirements. You need to have worked and earned wages in Washington during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs qualify), and be able and available for work. Since you worked 8 months at decent hours, you probably earned enough in your base period.

You'll likely qualify based on what you described. Washington ESD looks at a few main things: you need to have worked enough hours and earned enough wages in your 'base period' (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), you must be unemployed through no fault of your own, and you have to be able and available for work. Since you were laid off due to restructuring, that should meet the 'no fault' requirement. With 8 months of work at 32 hours/week, you probably have enough work history.

8 months of work should definitely meet the earnings requirement. You need to have earned at least $5,265 in your base period and worked at least 680 hours OR earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period. At $18/hour for 35-40 hours weekly, you easily cleared both thresholds.

definitely sounds like you qualify to me, i got benefits after being laid off from a similar situation

Definitely apply through the Washington ESD website. Since you were laid off due to budget cuts, that's considered 'involuntary separation' which qualifies you. Just make sure when you file that you accurately describe the reason for separation. Don't say you quit or were fired for misconduct.

Before you file, make sure you have all your employment information ready - dates of employment, employer contact info, reason for separation, and your gross wages for each job in the last 18 months. You'll need this when filling out the initial application on the Washington ESD website. Also be prepared to start filing weekly claims immediately after your initial application, even while it's still being processed.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I applied last year. Spent hours on hold trying to check my claim status. If you run into that problem, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of frustration.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to check on my claim status after filing. If you run into issues reaching them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me get connected to an agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements before you start claiming. You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. They can audit this anytime so keep good records of where you applied, when, and any responses you got.

Make sure you apply ASAP! There's a waiting week in Washington but benefits are backdated to when you file your initial claim, not when you lost your job. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS A NIGHTMARE! I've been fighting them for months over a simple wage verification issue. They lost my paperwork twice and keep asking for the same documents over and over. File your claim but prepare for bureaucratic hell if anything goes wrong.

Based on your work history you should definitely be eligible. With 8 months of steady work you'll have way more than the minimum hours required. The key thing is making sure you file as soon as possible since there's no retroactive benefits - you can only get paid from the week you actually file your claim.

Don't forget you'll need to do job search activities once you start receiving benefits. Washington requires at least 3 job search activities per week and you need to keep a log of what you did.

just go ahead and file, worst case they say no but you're probably fine

I was in almost the exact same situation last year - worked retail, got laid off due to company restructuring, filed for unemployment and got approved within a couple weeks. Your situation sounds very straightforward for eligibility. Just make sure when you file that you accurately describe the reason for separation as 'lack of work' or 'layoff' rather than anything that might sound like it was your fault.

One thing to keep in mind is that your weekly benefit amount will be based on your wages during the base period. With part-time hours you might not get the maximum weekly benefit, but every bit helps while you're looking for new work. You can use the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get an estimate.

Don't overthink it - if you were laid off through no fault of your own and worked steadily for 8 months, you almost certainly qualify. The Washington ESD eligibility requirements are pretty straightforward for standard layoff situations like yours.

Just went through this whole process myself. One thing to watch out for - if Washington ESD needs additional information about your separation from work, your claim might go into adjudication. That can take several weeks to resolve, so don't panic if your claim gets held up.

When I filed my claim, I ran into some issues with the online system and needed to call for help. Regular Washington ESD phone lines were impossible to get through on. A friend told me about Claimyr which helped me actually reach an agent without spending hours on hold. Might be useful if you need to speak with someone during your claim process.

Also remember that once you start receiving benefits, you'll need to file a weekly claim every week to continue getting paid. This includes answering questions about your job search activities and any work or wages you might have had that week. Set a reminder so you don't forget!

i remember being super nervous about filing my first claim but it was actually pretty straightforward online, the washington esd website walks you through everything step by step

Quick question - do you have any other income coming in? Even part-time work can affect your benefits, so make sure you report everything accurately on your weekly claims.

The Washington ESD system can be really frustrating to navigate, especially when you're stressed about money. I remember feeling overwhelmed when I first applied. But once you get through the initial application, the weekly claims are pretty straightforward.

Based on everything you've shared, you're definitely eligible. Don't let the process intimidate you - Washington ESD has improved their online system a lot. The key things: file immediately, be completely honest about your separation reason, and keep good records of your job search activities once you start collecting.

One more tip - if you have any issues with your claim or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, try calling right when they open at 8am. The phone lines get crazy busy later in the day. I've also heard good things about that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier if you can't get through the regular way.

Make sure you have all your employment information handy when you apply - dates of employment, employer contact info, reason for separation, and your wages. Having everything organized will make the application process much smoother.

You sound like a perfect candidate for unemployment benefits. Layoff due to budget cuts, steady work history, decent wages - Washington ESD should approve your claim without any issues. Don't stress too much about it!

Just remember to file your weekly claims every week once you're approved, even if you haven't received your first payment yet. Missing a weekly claim can cause delays or gaps in your benefits.

Make sure you're prepared for the identity verification process too. Washington ESD uses ID.me now for identity verification, so you'll need to have your driver's license or state ID ready when you apply. The process can take a little time but it's necessary to prevent fraud.

One last tip - if your claim goes into adjudication for any reason, don't panic. It just means they need to review something about your claim more carefully. It can take a few weeks but most adjudication issues get resolved in favor of the claimant if everything was filed correctly.

Sounds like you've got good advice here! Just file the claim and see what happens. With steady work history and being laid off, you should be fine. Good luck with the job search too!