Can I collect unemployment if laid off - Washington ESD eligibility question
Just got laid off from my warehouse job yesterday after 2 years. Manager said it was due to reduced orders and they had to cut staff. I've never filed for unemployment before and honestly don't know if I even qualify. Do layoffs automatically make you eligible for Washington ESD benefits or are there other requirements I need to meet? Really stressed about how I'm going to pay rent next month.
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Gemma Andrews
Yes, being laid off typically makes you eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington. Since you were let go through no fault of your own (business downsizing), that meets the basic requirement. You'll need to file your initial claim on the Washington ESD website and meet the work history requirements - basically having enough wages in your base period.
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Lena Schultz
•Thanks! What's a base period? And do I need to file right away or can I wait a few days?
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Gemma Andrews
•File as soon as possible! Your base period is the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. Basically your work history over the past year or so. Don't wait - benefits don't backdate to when you lost your job, only to when you file.
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Pedro Sawyer
I was in a similar situation last year. Got the runaround trying to reach Washington ESD by phone for weeks. If you run into issues getting through to an actual person, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get connected to unemployment agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me tons of frustration.
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Lena Schultz
•Good to know there are options if I can't get through. Hopefully the online filing goes smoothly though.
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Mae Bennett
•I've heard mixed things about services like that. Are they legit or just another way to take advantage of people who are already struggling?
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Pedro Sawyer
•It's legit - they don't ask for any personal info, just help you get through the phone queue. But yeah, definitely try the regular channels first.
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Beatrice Marshall
Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search activities per week once you start receiving benefits.
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Lena Schultz
•What counts as a job search activity? Is applying online enough or do I need to do more?
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Beatrice Marshall
•Online applications count, but you can also do things like attend job fairs, networking events, or career workshops. WorkSourceWA has resources that can help. Keep detailed records of everything.
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Melina Haruko
been there man, layoffs suck. at least you should qualify though - i got fired for attendance issues and had to jump through hoops to prove it wasn't misconduct
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Lena Schultz
•Sorry that happened to you. Did you end up getting benefits approved?
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Melina Haruko
•yeah eventually but took like 6 weeks of back and forth with adjudication. layoffs are much cleaner - you shouldn't have those issues
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Gemma Andrews
One thing to remember - when you file your weekly claims, be completely honest about any work you do or money you earn. Even small amounts need to be reported. Better to be transparent than have them think you're trying to hide something.
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Lena Schultz
•What if I pick up some gig work while looking for a full-time job? Does that disqualify me completely?
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Gemma Andrews
•No, you can work part-time and still collect partial benefits. Washington ESD has formulas for how they reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn. Just report it all accurately.
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Dallas Villalobos
•THIS IS IMPORTANT! I know someone who got hit with an overpayment notice because they didn't report some cash work they did. Washington ESD doesn't mess around with fraud investigations.
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Reina Salazar
The whole system is a nightmare to navigate. I spent hours on hold trying to talk to someone about my claim status last month. Finally used that Claimyr thing someone mentioned and got through in like 20 minutes. Wish I'd known about it sooner.
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Lena Schultz
•Good to hear it actually works. I'll keep that in mind if I run into problems.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•How much does something like that cost though? Money's already tight when you're unemployed.
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Reina Salazar
•Honestly don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to not waste entire days calling and getting nowhere. They don't make you give them any personal information either.
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Demi Lagos
Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file - Social Security number, employer contact info, dates of employment, reason for separation. The online system will ask for all of this and it's easier if you have it organized beforehand.
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Lena Schultz
•Should I contact my former employer first or just file directly with Washington ESD?
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Demi Lagos
•File directly with Washington ESD. They'll contact your employer as part of the process to verify the information. You don't need to coordinate with your former employer first.
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Mason Lopez
ugh the Washington ESD website can be such a pain sometimes. crashed on me three times when i was trying to file my weekly claim last week
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Lena Schultz
•Great, that's not encouraging. Is there a better time to try using the site?
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Mason Lopez
•early morning seems to work better, like before 8am. avoid sunday evenings - thats when everyone tries to file their weekly claims
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Beatrice Marshall
Also important to know - your weekly benefit amount will be based on your earnings during your base period. Washington ESD calculates this automatically, but it's roughly about half of your average weekly wage up to the maximum benefit amount.
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Lena Schultz
•Do you know what the maximum is right now?
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Beatrice Marshall
•I think it's around $844 per week for 2025, but don't quote me on that. The exact amount gets updated annually and depends on the state's average wage calculations.
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Vera Visnjic
Just want to say hang in there. Lost my job in manufacturing last spring and it was scary at first but the unemployment benefits really helped bridge the gap until I found something new. The process isn't as bad as people make it sound if you're laid off.
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Lena Schultz
•Thanks, I really needed to hear that. How long did it take you to find a new job?
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Vera Visnjic
•About 4 months, but I was being picky about the role. Could have found something sooner if I'd been more flexible. The job market isn't terrible right now.
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Jake Sinclair
Whatever you do, don't ignore any notices or requests for information from Washington ESD. I made that mistake and it delayed my benefits for weeks while they sorted everything out.
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Lena Schultz
•What kind of notices should I expect?
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Jake Sinclair
•Mostly just confirmation of your employment details and maybe requests for additional documentation. Sometimes they need clarification on why you were laid off. Just respond quickly to everything.
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Brielle Johnson
The waiting week thing caught me off guard when I filed. Washington doesn't have a waiting week anymore but some people still think they do. You should get paid for your first week if you're eligible.
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Lena Schultz
•Good to know! I was wondering about that.
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Honorah King
•Yeah they eliminated the waiting week a few years back. One less thing to worry about.
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Oliver Brown
I had a nightmare experience trying to reach Washington ESD when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Finally someone told me about Claimyr and I got through to an actual person who could help me the same day. Game changer.
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Lena Schultz
•Seems like a lot of people have had success with that service. I'll definitely keep it in mind if I need it.
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Mary Bates
•What was wrong with your claim that you needed to talk to someone?
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Oliver Brown
•They needed additional verification of my employment dates and the automated system wasn't accepting my documents. Needed a human to override it.
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Clay blendedgen
Make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you haven't heard back about your initial application yet. Missing a week can cause delays in getting your benefits.
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Lena Schultz
•How do I know when to start filing weekly claims?
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Clay blendedgen
•The system will tell you when you can start filing weekly claims after you submit your initial application. Usually it's right away but sometimes there's a short delay.
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Ayla Kumar
Don't stress too much about the process. Being laid off is pretty straightforward compared to other separation reasons. You should be fine as long as you worked enough hours and earned enough wages in your base period.
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Lena Schultz
•Thanks for the reassurance. I worked full-time for 2 years so hopefully that's enough.
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Ayla Kumar
•Two years of full-time work should definitely meet the requirements. You'll be good to go.
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Lorenzo McCormick
One last tip - keep a record of everything. Screenshots of your online filings, confirmation numbers, any correspondence with Washington ESD. If there are ever any issues, having documentation makes resolving them much easier.
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Lena Schultz
•Great advice, I'll make sure to do that from the beginning.
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Carmella Popescu
•This is so important! I wish someone had told me this when I first filed. Would have saved me a lot of headaches later.
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