Can I qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington - need help understanding eligibility

You likely qualify! The main requirements are: you must have worked and earned wages in at least two of the last five quarters, you must be unemployed through no fault of your own (which sounds like your situation), and you must be able and available for work. Since you worked 8 months and were laid off, that checks the boxes. You'll need to file your initial claim on the Washington ESD website.

Definitely file as soon as possible! Even if you're not sure about eligibility, Washington ESD will determine that for you. The worst they can do is say no, but from what you've described, you should qualify. Make sure you have your social security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and bank account info ready when you apply online.

I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD on the phone to ask questions about my eligibility. If you need to talk to someone directly, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get my questions answered when I couldn't get through on my own.

make sure you file your weekly claims every week even while your initial claim is being processed!!! I made that mistake and it delayed everything

The Washington ESD system is so confusing for first-time filers. I remember being overwhelmed too. Just take it step by step - file your initial claim first, then worry about the weekly claims. You've got this!

Don't forget you'll need to do job search activities too. Washington requires you to look for work and keep a log of your job search efforts. Usually it's 3 job contacts per week but check what your specific requirements are.

I qualified with similar work history to yours. The key thing is making sure you earned enough in your base period. Since you worked 8 months consistently, you should be fine. The online application walks you through everything.

Just a heads up - if your claim goes into adjudication for any reason, that's when you might really need to call Washington ESD. I had to use Claimyr again when my claim got stuck and I needed to provide additional information. Worth knowing about if you run into complications.

File online at secure.esd.wa.gov - it's way easier than trying to do it over the phone. Have your last employer's information ready including dates of employment and reason for separation.

You mentioned you're stressed about finances - just know that even if approved, there will be a gap between filing and receiving your first payment. Plan accordingly and don't spend money you don't have yet expecting the unemployment to come through immediately.

Quick question - were you fired for cause or just laid off? That makes a big difference in eligibility. Being laid off due to restructuring should definitely qualify you.

I've been on unemployment twice and both times I qualified with less work history than you have. 8 months of steady work should easily meet the requirements. Don't stress too much about it.

One more tip - when you file your initial claim, you can backdate it to the day you became unemployed. Don't wait too long to file or you might miss out on benefits for those weeks.

The whole process seemed intimidating to me too but it's really not that bad once you get started. Washington ESD's website has step-by-step instructions that are pretty clear.

Make sure to set up direct deposit when you file - it's much faster than waiting for a debit card or check in the mail.

I used Claimyr last month when I had questions about my work search requirements and it was super helpful. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get clarity, and their phone lines are always so busy.

Don't forget to keep track of all your unemployment income for tax purposes. You'll get a 1099-G form next year but it's good to keep your own records too.

You've got great advice here. Just file your claim and let Washington ESD determine your eligibility. Based on what you've shared, you should definitely qualify. Good luck!

This thread was really helpful for me too! I'm in a similar situation and wasn't sure about eligibility. Thanks for asking the question OP.

Just wanted to add that if you run into any issues during the process, don't give up. The system can be frustrating but most people do get their benefits eventually if they qualify.