Can a full time student get unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

That's good to hear! Do I need to prove I'm looking for jobs that work around my class schedule?

Yes, you'll need to document your job search activities in your weekly claims. Make sure to apply for jobs that you could realistically take given your school schedule.

How did you handle the work search requirements? Did they understand you could only work certain hours?

I kept detailed records of applications to part-time positions and included notes about my availability. They were pretty reasonable about it during my phone interview.

Ugh yes the phone situation is terrible! I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. They have this system that calls for you and waits on hold. Check out claimyr.com - there's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That's interesting, I'll definitely look into that. I wasted so many hours trying to get through the regular way.

Good point. I can show them my work history and that I've always managed both successfully.

Exactly! And keep your old work schedule documentation if you have it. Shows you were balancing everything before.

That's a common misconception. In Washington, students CAN qualify if they meet the work availability requirements and were working before losing their job.

Oh wow, I had no idea! That's actually really helpful to know.

How long have you been waiting? I'm worried about delays if I apply.

It's been about 2 weeks in adjudication so far. From what I've read, student cases can take a bit longer to review.

Mine took about 3 weeks but eventually got approved. The waiting is stressful but hang in there.

I should have all my pay stubs saved. Is there a minimum amount I need to have earned?

Yes, there's a base period earnings requirement. Since you worked for 2 years part-time, you should be fine, but check the Washington ESD website for current amounts.

That's why I ended up using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Sometimes it's worth paying to actually talk to someone who can give you straight answers.

Yeah I might look into that. The website is pretty confusing about student eligibility.

Good reminder! I'll set up reminders on my phone so I don't forget during finals week or anything.

Smart idea. Missing weekly claims can really mess up your benefits.

What kind of documentation did they need for availability?

I think they had to show their class schedule and explain what hours they were available to work each day.

Absolutely, I plan to be upfront about everything from the start.

That's the right approach. Transparency is always better with Washington ESD.

Yes, I was hoping to pick up extra hours somewhere during break. Good point about mentioning that.

Definitely mention it. Shows you're committed to working when you have more availability.

It was a layoff due to slow business, not performance related. I have the termination paperwork that explains it.

Perfect, that should help your case. Performance-related terminations can be trickier to navigate.

Glad it helped! Just make sure you meet all the requirements before applying.

Will do. Going to gather all my documentation first.

Good to know! I was wondering about that since I do get some financial aid.

Yeah, only wages from work need to be reported. Financial aid is separate.

That's a great way to look at it! Hadn't thought about the networking aspect.

Exactly! Make the best of it while you're looking for something part-time.

Good luck! Feel free to update us on how it goes.

You've got this! The process isn't as scary as it seems once you get started.

And remember that Claimyr option if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about your student status!

That's such a smart approach! Creating a detailed availability calendar is brilliant - I'm definitely going to do that before I apply. It shows you're serious about working and have thought everything through logically. Thanks for sharing your experience as a fellow UW student!