At what age can you collect unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

You need to be at least 18 to file for unemployment benefits in Washington. The age requirement is tied to being legally able to enter into contracts and work authorization. Since you're 17, you won't be eligible until your 18th birthday.

Actually I think there might be some exceptions for emancipated minors or if you're married. But generally yeah 18 is the standard age requirement for UI benefits.

The age requirement exists because unemployment insurance is considered a contract between you and the state. Minors generally can't enter binding contracts. However, if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to get official confirmation about your specific situation, I used claimyr.com recently to get through to an actual agent. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals when I needed to clarify my claim status.

wait so if ur 17 u cant get unemployment at all??? that seems really unfair especially if you worked and paid taxes

I had this same question when my daughter got laid off at 17. Washington ESD told us she had to wait until 18 to file. The good news is if you turn 18 relatively soon after being laid off, you might still be within the timeframe to establish a valid claim based on your previous work history.

The Washington ESD website should have this information clearly posted but it's buried in their eligibility requirements. You need to be 18 AND meet all the other standard requirements like having sufficient work history and wages in your base period.

This whole system is so confusing. Why can't they just make the age requirement clear on their main page instead of making people dig through legal documents?

For anyone else struggling to get through to Washington ESD for questions like this, I mentioned claimyr.com earlier but wanted to add that they're especially helpful when you have time-sensitive questions about eligibility. Much faster than trying to call during peak hours.

Thanks everyone for the help! Sounds like I need to wait until I'm 18 but at least I know I can file right after my birthday. Going to bookmark that claimyr site too in case I have trouble getting through to confirm everything.

Actually wondering if there are any other age-related restrictions for unemployment. Like is there a maximum age or do seniors have different rules?

so basically if ur under 18 ur screwed even if u worked and paid into the system. makes total sense... NOT

I used to work in HR and we always had to explain this to teenage employees when they got laid off. The age requirement is standard across most states, not just Washington. It's tied to contract law and legal capacity issues.

Can confirm the 18 age requirement. My nephew tried to file at 17 last year and got denied immediately. Had to wait until his birthday and then refile.

One thing to remember is that even though you have to wait until 18 to file, you should still document your job search efforts if you're looking for work. Washington ESD requires job search activities and it's good to start that habit early.

The age requirement is actually pretty standard across government benefit programs. Social Security, unemployment, even some tax credits have age thresholds. It's all about legal capacity to participate in government contracts.

If you're really struggling financially while waiting to turn 18, you might look into other assistance programs. Some local organizations have emergency help for young people in tough situations.

Just wanted to mention one more time that if anyone needs to verify eligibility requirements or has specific questions about their situation, that claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work well for getting through to Washington ESD agents. The phone lines are usually swamped with these kinds of questions.

Bottom line - you gotta be 18 to file for unemployment in Washington. No exceptions for regular minors. Keep your pay stubs and file as soon as you turn 18 if you want benefits.

This thread was really helpful. I had no idea there was an age requirement for unemployment. Good thing I didn't waste time trying to file for my 16-year-old who just lost his job.

The whole unemployment system needs better documentation about eligibility requirements. Too many people find out about restrictions like this only after they try to file.