Can I claim unemployment in Washington - basic eligibility question

Thanks! How do I know if I earned enough wages? I made about $1,200 per month for the past 8 months.

With $1,200/month for 8 months, you should meet the wage requirements. Washington ESD needs at least $3,850 in your base period, and you have way more than that. You'll need to file through their SecureAccess Washington portal.

What kind of questions did they ask about school? I'm only taking 2 classes right now.

they wanted to know how many hours per week, what days, if i could skip classes for work interviews, stuff like that. 2 classes shouldnt be a problem

3 job contacts per week sounds like a lot. What counts as a job contact?

Job applications, networking contacts, job interviews, career fairs, contacting employers directly - there's actually a pretty broad range. You'll log these in WorkSourceWA.com as part of your weekly claim filing.

Is that service expensive? I'm already tight on money.

It was worth it for me because I was spending hours trying to call and never getting through. At least this way I could talk to someone who could confirm my eligibility and walk me through the process.

Never heard of that but honestly if it works... I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my claim.

That's not really good advice. If you're not eligible and file anyway, you could create an overpayment situation that's hard to resolve later.

oh i didnt know that could happen, thanks for letting me know

Yes, you can work part-time while collecting unemployment! You just need to report all your earnings when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits based on how much you earn, but you won't lose benefits completely unless you earn more than your weekly benefit amount plus $5.

Exactly right. This is called 'partial unemployment' and it's actually encouraged because it keeps you connected to the workforce. Just be very careful to report your earnings accurately - even small amounts need to be reported.

I know right? The website has so much information but it's hard to find answers to specific questions.

thats why i ended up calling, but good luck getting through lol

I understand the frustration, but try to stay patient. If your claim is in adjudication, it means they're reviewing something specific about your case. Have you checked if there are any outstanding issues in your SecureAccess Washington account?

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - when you're stuck in adjudication hell, sometimes you need to actually talk to someone to find out what's holding things up.

Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still processing. Missing weeks can cause delays in payments.

And don't hesitate to ask questions here if you run into issues. This community is pretty helpful for navigating Washington ESD problems.

What's confusing about WorkSourceWA? I haven't set that up yet.

You need to register there and use it to log your job search activities. It connects to your unemployment account but the interface is pretty clunky.

Standby is for when you're temporarily laid off but expect to return to your job within a specific timeframe. Regular unemployment is for when your job separation is indefinite or permanent. Based on your original post, regular unemployment sounds right for your situation.

Ah that makes sense, thanks! Yeah I'm not expecting to go back to full hours anytime soon.

Yes, they will contact your employer to verify information about your separation. However, filing for unemployment when you're eligible is your legal right - your employer cannot retaliate against you for filing a claim.

That's reassuring. I guess I was overthinking it.

How long did it take to get your first payment after you were approved?

About 2 weeks after approval. They pay by direct deposit if you set that up, otherwise it's a debit card that takes longer.

Good tip! I'll start a folder for all unemployment-related documents.

This is excellent advice. Documentation is crucial if you ever need to appeal a decision or resolve discrepancies.

Are there specific types of jobs I need to apply for, or can I apply for anything in my field?

You need to apply for 'suitable work' which generally means jobs that match your skills and experience, though the definition can be flexible especially early in your claim.

That's great it worked out! I'm hoping my application goes through without any issues.

Maybe I should try that service too. I'm so tired of calling and getting nowhere.

Good to know there are options if something goes wrong. How long do you have to file an appeal?

I think it's 30 days from the date of the denial notice, but don't quote me on that. The important thing is to act quickly if you get denied.

Right? It's nice to hear from people who've actually gone through the process.

That's what this community is for! Don't hesitate to ask questions - we've all been there.

That makes sense. Even a partial benefit would help me cover some bills while I look for more work.

Exactly! And like others mentioned, you can still work part-time and collect partial benefits, which might be the perfect situation for your circumstances.

Congratulations on taking that step! Remember to file your weekly claims starting this week even though your initial application is still processing.

Great job! Keep us posted on how it goes. Your experience might help the next person in a similar situation.

awesome! hope everything works out for you