Can I collect unemployment in Washington state - eligibility requirements?
I'm trying to figure out if I can collect unemployment benefits in Washington. I worked at a retail store for about 8 months before they let me go last week due to 'restructuring.' I've been reading about Washington ESD requirements but honestly it's confusing. Do I qualify? What do I need to do to apply? I've never filed for unemployment before and don't want to mess this up.
54 comments
Join the conversation
Ethan Wilson
You likely qualify if you were let go for restructuring - that's not your fault. You need to have worked and earned wages in Washington during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). Since you worked 8 months, you should meet the work requirements. File your claim online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•Thanks! Do I need any specific documents when I file? I have my last pay stub but not sure what else.
0 coins
Ethan Wilson
•You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates worked, and reason for separation. Having pay stubs helps but isn't required.
0 coins
Yuki Tanaka
Just make sure you file within the first week after losing your job. There's a waiting week in Washington so you won't get paid for the first week anyway, but you need to establish your claim date. The longer you wait, the more money you potentially lose.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•Good to know! I was planning to wait until next week but I'll file today instead.
0 coins
Carmen Diaz
•Actually there's no waiting week anymore in Washington - they eliminated it during COVID and never brought it back. You can get paid for your first week now.
0 coins
Andre Laurent
The hardest part isn't filing - it's getting through to Washington ESD if you have problems. Their phone system is absolutely terrible. I spent weeks trying to reach someone when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) which actually got me through to an agent. They have this demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much frustration.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•What's adjudication? Should I be worried about that?
0 coins
Andre Laurent
•Adjudication happens when Washington ESD needs to investigate something about your claim - like if there's a question about why you were separated from work. Most claims go through without issues, but if yours gets flagged it can take weeks to resolve.
0 coins
AstroAce
•Is Claimyr legit? Never heard of paying to call unemployment before.
0 coins
Zoe Kyriakidou
You'll also need to register with WorkSource Washington and do job searches every week. It's 3 job searches per week minimum. Keep detailed records because they can audit you anytime.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•3 job searches every week seems like a lot. What counts as a job search?
0 coins
Zoe Kyriakidou
•Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, informational interviews. Just make sure you document everything - employer name, position, date, method of contact.
0 coins
Jamal Brown
Don't stress too much about eligibility. If you worked 8 months and got laid off through no fault of your own, you almost certainly qualify. The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator where you can estimate your weekly amount.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•That's reassuring. I'll check out the calculator to see what I might get.
0 coins
Yuki Tanaka
•The calculator is pretty accurate. Your weekly benefit is roughly 3.85% of your average quarterly wages, up to the maximum which I think is around $999 per week now.
0 coins
Mei Zhang
ugh the whole system is such a pain. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment because they couldn't verify my identity for some reason. had to send in like 10 different documents
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•What kind of identity verification did they want? I'm worried about delays.
0 coins
Mei Zhang
•driver's license, social security card, birth certificate, utility bills. basically anything with your name and address. the ID.me thing was a nightmare
0 coins
Ethan Wilson
•ID.me has gotten better lately. Most people get verified pretty quickly now, especially if you have a smartphone for the selfie verification.
0 coins
Carmen Diaz
Make sure you understand the difference between being 'able and available' versus just available. You have to be physically and mentally able to work AND actively seeking work. If you're sick, in school full-time, or have other limitations, it affects your eligibility.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•I'm healthy and definitely looking for work, so I think I'm good on that front.
0 coins
Liam McConnell
•Also if you turn down suitable work they can disqualify you. 'Suitable' gets defined pretty broadly after you've been on benefits for a while.
0 coins
Amara Oluwaseyi
File online, not by phone. The online system works way better and you get confirmation numbers for everything. Plus you can file your weekly claims online which is much easier.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•Good tip, thanks. Is there a specific day I should file my weekly claims?
0 coins
Amara Oluwaseyi
•You can file weekly claims starting Sunday for the previous week. I always do mine Sunday morning to get it out of the way.
0 coins
CosmicCaptain
One thing they don't tell you upfront - if you do any work while collecting unemployment, even just a few hours, you have to report it. It might reduce your weekly benefit but it won't necessarily disqualify you completely.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•What if I do some freelance work occasionally? Does that count?
0 coins
CosmicCaptain
•Yes, any work including freelance, gig work, self-employment has to be reported. They have specific rules about how much you can earn before it affects your benefits.
0 coins
Zoe Kyriakidou
•The general rule is you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your payment. So if your weekly benefit is $400, you can earn up to $395 without reduction.
0 coins
Giovanni Rossi
Been through this twice unfortunately. Both times I qualified right away since I was laid off. The key is being honest on your application and keeping good records. Don't try to game the system because they will catch it eventually.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•Did you have any issues with your claims either time?
0 coins
Giovanni Rossi
•Second time they questioned some of my job search activities during an audit. Luckily I had kept detailed records so it was resolved quickly. Always document everything.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Maktoum
Don't forget about the tax implications. Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later, but don't forget about it come tax time.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•Oh wow, I hadn't thought about taxes. Should I have them withheld?
0 coins
Fatima Al-Maktoum
•I'd recommend having 10% withheld for federal taxes. It's better than getting hit with a big tax bill later.
0 coins
Andre Laurent
Going back to the Claimyr question - yes it's totally legit. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They basically automate the calling process so you don't have to sit there redialing constantly. Worth it when you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.
0 coins
Dylan Mitchell
•How much does it cost? I'm already tight on money obviously.
0 coins
Andre Laurent
•I'd rather not get into pricing here, but check their website. For me it was worth it to resolve my adjudication issue quickly rather than waiting weeks or months.
0 coins
Sofia Gutierrez
Something else to consider - if your former employer contests your claim saying you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily, you'll definitely end up in adjudication. Keep any documentation you have about the layoff just in case.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•They said it was restructuring and gave me a letter. Should I keep that?
0 coins
Sofia Gutierrez
•Absolutely keep that letter! That's exactly the kind of documentation you'd need if they contest your claim.
0 coins
Dmitry Petrov
The WorkSource registration is really important. You have to do it within a certain timeframe or they can hold up your benefits. It's not just about job searches - they also have training programs and other resources.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•When do I need to register by?
0 coins
Dmitry Petrov
•Usually within the first few weeks of filing your claim. The exact timing should be in your claim instructions.
0 coins
StarSurfer
Just wanted to add that Washington's unemployment system has gotten much better since COVID. The horror stories you hear are mostly from 2020-2021 when everything was overwhelmed. It's much more reliable now.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•That's good to hear. I was worried based on some of the older posts I found online.
0 coins
Ava Martinez
•Yeah the old stories were pretty bad but they've fixed most of the major issues. Still not perfect but way better than it was.
0 coins
Miguel Castro
One last tip - set up direct deposit when you file your claim. Getting paid by debit card has fees and limitations. Direct deposit is free and faster.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•Good call, I'll make sure to set that up. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
0 coins
Ethan Wilson
•You're welcome! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues during the process.
0 coins
Zainab Abdulrahman
Good luck with your claim! Sounds like you have all the info you need to get started. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•Thanks! Filing my claim right now actually.
0 coins
Connor Byrne
•Smart move. Let us know how it goes!
0 coins