Can a waitress get unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Yes, you can definitely get unemployment as a waitress! Your tips do count as wages for unemployment purposes. When you file your claim with Washington ESD, you'll need to report both your hourly wages and your tip income. The restaurant should have been tracking your tips for tax purposes, so that information should be on your paystubs.

I was in the same situation last year. Restaurant work definitely qualifies for unemployment. Just make sure you have your paystubs ready when you file - Washington ESD will want to see your wage history including tips.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about your claim, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me connect with an actual agent. They have a system that calls for you and gets you through the queue. Check out claimyr.com - there's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me from spending hours on hold.

Restaurant workers are definitely eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington. Your tip income will be included in the calculation of your weekly benefit amount. Just be prepared to provide documentation of your earnings - both wages and tips - when you file your claim.

Make sure you file your claim as soon as possible! There's a waiting period before benefits start, so don't delay. And yes, tips definitely count - I learned that when I was laid off from my bartending job.

Just went through this myself. The main thing is making sure your employer reported your tips correctly to Washington ESD. If there's a discrepancy, it could delay your claim.

Don't forget you'll need to do job searches while collecting unemployment. For restaurant work, this includes applying to other restaurants, catering companies, hotels with food service, etc. Keep good records of your job search activities.

I was a server for years and collected unemployment twice when restaurants closed. Your tips are absolutely counted in your benefit calculation. The process is pretty straightforward once you get started.

The restaurant industry has high turnover, so Washington ESD is very familiar with processing claims for servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff. Your situation is definitely covered under unemployment benefits.

Just want to add - if you run into any issues with your claim or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD directly, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I used it again last week to check on a payment issue and got through to an agent in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours.

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off and being fired for cause. If you were laid off due to slow business, that's definitely covered. If you were fired for misconduct, that could disqualify you from benefits.

Been there! Restaurant work is tough with the ups and downs. Your unemployment benefits will be based on your total reported wages including tips. Make sure you have your Social Security card and ID ready when you file - they'll need those for verification.

The key thing is to file your weekly claims on time every week once your claim is approved. Missing a week can cause delays in your payments. Set a reminder on your phone or calendar.

Just a heads up - your first payment might take a few weeks to arrive even after your claim is approved. There's a waiting week, and then processing time. Budget accordingly if you can.

If your restaurant was participating in a tip-sharing program or had automatic gratuity for large parties, make sure that's all documented properly. Washington ESD needs to see the full picture of your wages.

Good luck with your claim! As a former restaurant manager, I can tell you that server unemployment claims are very common and usually processed without issues. The system is set up to handle tipped employees.

One more thing - if you get another restaurant job while collecting unemployment, you can still work part-time and collect partial benefits. Just make sure to report all earnings on your weekly claims.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I had questions about working part-time while on unemployment. Really helpful to talk to an actual person at Washington ESD instead of trying to navigate their website. Definitely recommend it if you need to clarify anything about your claim.

Don't stress too much about the process. Washington state is pretty good about processing restaurant worker claims since it's such a common industry here. Your tips will be included in the benefit calculation, and you should be able to get approved without major issues.

As someone who just went through the unemployment process as a restaurant worker myself, I can confirm everything others have said - you absolutely qualify! Your tip income is crucial for calculating your benefits, so make sure you have documentation ready. One tip I'd add: when you create your online account, save your login info somewhere safe. You'll be logging in weekly to file claims, and it's frustrating if you get locked out. Also, don't be discouraged if the website is slow or crashes sometimes - it happens, especially on Sundays when everyone is filing their weekly claims. Just try again later. The whole process was less scary than I expected once I got started.