Can I claim unemployment benefit through Washington ESD - eligibility questions

You'll need to meet Washington ESD's base year earnings requirement first. Generally you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base year and meet the minimum earnings threshold. Since you worked 8 months recently, you should have enough quarters. The gap for caregiving shouldn't disqualify you as long as you were ready and able to work when you got laid off.

yeah you can probably claim it, i got mine approved pretty quick when i got laid off. just make sure you file right away because there's a waiting period

To be eligible for Washington ESD unemployment benefits, you need to meet several criteria: 1) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs qualify), 2) You must have sufficient earnings in your base year, 3) You must be able and available for work, 4) You must actively search for work each week. Since you mentioned being laid off, that covers the first requirement.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been trying to get answers about my claim for WEEKS and Washington ESD just keeps giving me the runaround. Good luck getting any real help from them.

File online at secure.esd.wa.gov - it's the fastest way. Have your Social Security card, driver's license, and information about your last employer ready. You'll need dates of employment, reason for separation, and your employer's address and phone number.

just file it, worst case they say no. took me like 20 minutes online

One important thing to note - if you have any issues with your claim getting stuck in adjudication or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your eligibility, their phone lines are notoriously difficult to get through. I've seen people recommend services like Claimyr that help you get connected to agents when the regular phone system is overwhelmed.

also make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week once you're approved. if you miss a week you lose that week's benefits

I remember when I first filed, I was so confused about everything. The good news is that once you get started, it becomes routine. Just make sure you answer all the questions honestly.

Since you mentioned being confused by the website, don't hesitate to reach out if you get stuck. When I had issues understanding my claim status, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helped me get through to someone who could explain things clearly. Sometimes talking to a real person makes all the difference.

One more tip - once you file, you'll get a monetary determination letter that shows your weekly benefit amount. Keep this safe as you'll need to reference it. Your benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter in the base year.

don't stress too much about it, the system will walk you through everything step by step

Good luck with your claim! Remember that you can always reopen this thread if you run into any issues during the process. The Washington ESD system can be confusing at first, but most people get through it just fine.