Can I apply for unemployment if I was laid off from my Washington job?

Yes, being laid off definitely qualifies you for unemployment benefits in Washington. You should file your claim as soon as possible since there's a waiting week. Go to esd.wa.gov and click on 'File a New Claim' - you'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your final pay stub.

Thank you! Do I need any paperwork from my employer or just my pay stubs?

Just your pay stubs and employment dates. Washington ESD will contact your employer directly to verify the layoff.

I got laid off in October and it took about 2 weeks to get my first payment. Make sure you file your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is being processed.

What happens if I miss filing a weekly claim? Can I make it up later?

You can file late claims but there might be delays. Better to just set a reminder every Sunday to file your weekly claim.

Actually you have until the following Saturday to file your weekly claim without it being considered late.

Been trying to call Washington ESD for 3 days straight about my claim status and can't get through! The phone system is absolutely terrible. Anyone else having this problem?

Same here! I've been calling since 8am every day and either get busy signal or hung up on after waiting an hour.

Try using Claimyr - I found out about it from someone on another forum. It's this service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. Check out claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but honestly I'm desperate at this point. Does it actually work?

Layoffs are one of the easiest reasons to get approved for UI benefits. Unlike being fired for cause, layoffs are considered 'no fault' separations. Your benefit amount will be based on your highest earning quarter in your base period.

What's a base period? This is all so confusing.

Base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024.

That makes sense. I was making good money this past year so hopefully my benefit amount will be decent.

UGH the Washington ESD website crashed on me 3 times while trying to file my claim! This system is from the stone age!

Try using a different browser or clear your cookies. Sometimes that helps with the technical issues.

Already tried Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Same problem on all of them.

Make sure you're actively looking for work and keeping track of your job search activities. Washington requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log.

Do I need to start looking for work immediately or can I take a week to decompress first?

You need to be able and available for work starting with your first weekly claim. I'd recommend starting your job search right away.

The job search requirement is 3 contacts per week but they can be online applications, networking, or even attending job fairs.

Filed my claim online Sunday night and already got my determination letter today via secure message. Pretty quick turnaround! Now I just need to wait for my debit card to arrive.

That's encouraging! How long did they say for the debit card?

Usually 7-10 business days. You can also sign up for direct deposit which is faster.

I'm confused about the waiting week thing. Does that mean I won't get paid for my first week?

Correct - there's a one week waiting period where you file a claim but don't get paid. Think of it as a deductible.

That's frustrating but I guess it's better than nothing. At least I'll get paid starting week 2.

Actually if you end up collecting benefits for at least 4 weeks total, they'll pay you for that waiting week at the end of your claim.

Just a heads up - make sure your employer coded your separation correctly as a layoff and not a quit. I had to appeal because HR messed up my separation reason.

How do I check what they reported?

You'll see it on your determination letter from Washington ESD. If it's wrong you have 30 days to appeal.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr to talk to someone at ESD directly. Had a similar issue with my separation reason and needed to get it sorted out quickly.

Does anyone know if severance pay affects your unemployment benefits? My company gave me 2 weeks severance.

Severance pay can delay your benefits depending on how it's structured. If it's paid as a lump sum it might not affect anything, but if it's paid as regular wages it could postpone your claim start date.

It's being paid out over 2 weeks like regular paychecks. Guess I should wait to file then?

File now but report the severance payments on your weekly claims. Washington ESD will figure out how it affects your benefits.

The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $999 for 2025. Your benefit will be roughly 50% of your average weekly wage up to that maximum.

That's actually higher than I expected. Good to know there's a decent safety net.

Yeah Washington has some of the better unemployment benefits compared to other states. Just make sure you don't work more than part-time hours or it affects your benefits.

Been on unemployment for 8 weeks now after my layoff. The system works but you have to stay on top of everything. File every week, keep looking for work, and respond to any requests from ESD immediately.

Any advice for someone just starting the process?

Keep detailed records of everything - your job search log, any communication with ESD, copies of your weekly claims. Organization is key.

This! I learned the hard way when they asked for verification of my job searches and I hadn't kept good records.

One thing to watch out for - if you have any side income or gig work you need to report it on your weekly claims even if it's just a few dollars.

I do some freelance work occasionally. Do I report gross or net income?

Report gross income before taxes. Any income over $5 per week will reduce your benefits dollar for dollar.

The online system is actually pretty user friendly once you get used to it. Just make sure to file your weekly claims between Sunday and Saturday each week.

I always file mine Sunday morning with my coffee. Making it a routine helps me remember.

Good idea! I'll probably do the same thing - Sunday morning filing session.

If your claim gets stuck in adjudication for any reason, that's when you really need to talk to someone. The automated system can only help so much.

Exactly why services like Claimyr are worth it. I was stuck in adjudication for 3 weeks until I finally got through to someone who could actually help resolve the issue.

What kind of issues cause adjudication? Want to avoid that if possible.

Usually it's when there's any question about your separation reason, work availability, or income reporting. Most get resolved but it takes time.

Bottom line - yes you can definitely file for unemployment after a layoff. It's literally what the system is designed for. Don't overthink it, just file your claim and follow the instructions.

Thanks everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. Going to file my claim tonight.

Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims every week and you should be fine.

Welcome to the club nobody wants to be in! But seriously, the benefits help a lot while you're looking for your next job.