Can seasonal employees collect unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

Yes, seasonal employees can definitely collect unemployment in Washington! You're eligible as long as you earned enough wages during your base period and you're unemployed through no fault of your own. Since you're laid off due to lack of work, that qualifies. You'll need to file weekly claims and meet the job search requirements though.

I worked seasonal retail last year and collected UI during the off months. Washington ESD approved my claim no problem. Just make sure you report your seasonal work pattern when you file - they understand this type of employment.

Be aware that if you have a definite return date with your employer, Washington ESD might put you on standby status instead of regular unemployment. This can actually be better because you don't need to do job searches, but the requirements are different.

Yes, seasonal employees can absolutely collect unemployment in Washington! The key is meeting the base period earnings requirements. You need to have earned at least $1,144 in your base period and have worked in at least 680 hours. Your seasonal work counts just like any other employment.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my seasonal claim but their phone lines are impossible. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? This is so frustrating when you have questions about your specific situation.

Your coworker is wrong. I've collected unemployment between seasonal jobs multiple times. The Washington ESD system recognizes that seasonal work creates natural unemployment periods. Just make sure you file your weekly claims and document your job search activities.

wait so if im a ski instructor and get laid off every april can i collect unemployment even though i know ill be hired back in december?

This is exactly what I needed to know! I've been doing seasonal construction for years and never realized I could file for unemployment during the slow months. My contractor always made it sound like we weren't eligible.

One thing to watch out for - make sure your employer isn't classifying you as an independent contractor when you're really an employee. Contractors can't collect regular unemployment benefits.

I had to appeal my initial denial last year because Washington ESD didn't understand my seasonal work pattern. Eventually got approved but it took forever. Document everything about your employment history!

Does anyone know if you can collect unemployment between seasonal jobs? Like if I work at a ski resort in winter and then get hired at a summer camp?

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to ask about my seasonal claim last year. Kept getting busy signals or hung up on. Finally used claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.

The job search requirement is such a pain for seasonal workers. I'm looking for temporary work while waiting for my landscaping job to start back up, but most employers don't want someone who's leaving in a few months.

I work seasonal at a berry farm and collected UI last winter with no issues. Filed online, got approved within a week. Washington ESD seems pretty understanding about agricultural seasonal work.

Just wanted to add that you need to report any vacation pay or severance when you file. Some seasonal employers give a small payout at the end of the season that could affect your first week of benefits.

this thread is super helpful! ive been doing seasonal work for 3 years and never knew i could get unemployment. definitely filing next time im laid off

Wait, I thought seasonal workers were automatically disqualified because they're expected to return to their jobs? That's what happened to my brother in construction.

Does the seasonal nature affect how long you can collect benefits? I know regular unemployment has time limits.

Be careful about the timing though. If you file too early before your season actually ends, Washington ESD might consider you still employed. Wait until you're actually laid off or your season officially ends.

I've been doing seasonal work for 10 years and collecting unemployment between seasons. The system is set up for this exact situation. Just keep good records of your work dates and earnings.

Had a friend who worked at a resort and they told him he wasn't eligible because seasonal workers 'choose' to be unemployed. Total nonsense. Fight it if they try to deny you for that reason.

The Washington ESD website has a whole section about seasonal workers. Look under 'Special Situations' or something like that. It explains everything pretty clearly.

I was denied initially because they said I quit voluntarily, but I was actually laid off for the season. Had to get my employer to clarify the reason for separation. Make sure your employer codes the layoff correctly!

For anyone still reading this - here's the bottom line: seasonal workers CAN collect unemployment in Washington. File as soon as you're laid off, be honest about your work pattern, do your job searches (unless you're on standby), and keep good records. It's a legitimate benefit you've earned through your work.

Just filed my seasonal claim last week and got approved already. The key is having enough hours and earnings from your base period. My landscaping job paid well enough to qualify easily.

Make sure you understand the difference between seasonal and 'reasonable assurance' work. School employees have different rules because they have reasonable assurance of returning. Resort and landscaping workers usually don't.

I tried calling Washington ESD about my seasonal claim and spent 3 hours on hold before giving up. Ended up using that claimyr service someone mentioned and got through in 20 minutes. Definitely worth it when you need answers quickly.

Don't forget to register with WorkSource WA if you haven't already. It's required for unemployment benefits and they sometimes have seasonal job listings posted early.

The job search requirement is pretty flexible for seasonal workers. You can search for jobs that start when you need them to, not just immediate openings. Document everything though.

Been collecting unemployment between seasons for years. Never had an issue as long as I kept up with my weekly claims and job search log. The system recognizes seasonal unemployment patterns.

Quick question - do you have to report seasonal earnings differently than regular wages? I always get confused about the quarterly reporting stuff.

My seasonal employer actually gave me a packet about unemployment benefits when they laid me off. Apparently it's pretty common for seasonal industries to help workers understand the process.

If you worked for multiple seasonal employers, make sure Washington ESD has all your wage records. Sometimes smaller seasonal businesses are slow to report wages and it can delay your claim.

The benefit amount for seasonal workers is usually pretty decent since the wages are often compressed into fewer months. Higher weekly earnings mean higher benefit calculations.

One thing to watch out for - if you get offered work during your off-season that conflicts with your next seasonal job, you can refuse it without losing benefits. Just document the conflict.

Update on the claimyr thing - I used it again last month when I had questions about my benefit year ending. Super easy process and the agent was really helpful. Definitely recommend it if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

This is such valuable information! I've been doing seasonal work (landscaping in summer, snow removal in winter) for about 4 years now and had no idea I could collect unemployment during the transition periods between contracts. My employers always made it sound like seasonal workers weren't eligible, but reading through all these experiences gives me confidence to file when my current contract ends next month. The claimyr service mentioned here sounds like it could be really helpful too since I'll probably have questions about my specific situation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to help a lot of seasonal workers who didn't know their rights!

I've been working as a seasonal fishing guide in Alaska for the past 5 years and collecting Washington unemployment during the off-season since I'm a Washington resident. The process has been pretty smooth once you understand how it works. One thing I learned is that Washington ESD actually has experience with seasonal workers - they see a lot of claims from agriculture, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries. The key is being upfront about your seasonal work pattern when you file. I always include a note explaining that I work May through September and am unemployed October through April by the nature of the industry, not by choice. They've never questioned it. For anyone worried about the job search requirement, I focus on applying to other guide services, outdoor gear companies, and winter seasonal positions that fit my schedule. You don't have to take a year-round job that would prevent you from returning to your seasonal career. The system is designed to support workers in industries with natural unemployment periods.

I've been working seasonal jobs at a Christmas tree farm and summer farmers markets for the past two years, and I can confirm that Washington ESD absolutely allows seasonal workers to collect unemployment benefits! The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of my employment dates and wages. When I first filed, I was worried they'd deny me because the work is predictably seasonal, but the ESD representative I spoke to (through claimyr.com actually - saved me hours of phone calls) explained that seasonal unemployment is different from voluntary unemployment. As long as you're laid off due to lack of work and not because you chose to quit, you're eligible. My advice is to file immediately when your season ends, be completely honest about your work pattern, and don't let employers discourage you from applying. You pay into the unemployment system through your wages, so you've earned the right to use it during your off-season periods. The peace of mind during those gap months is worth the effort of filing and maintaining your weekly claims.

I've been working seasonal construction for the past 6 years - road crews in summer, snow plowing in winter - and I can definitely confirm that seasonal workers are eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington! The trick is understanding that there's often a gap between seasons where you're legitimately unemployed. I typically have 2-3 weeks between my road crew ending and snow plow contracts starting, plus another gap in spring. Washington ESD has always approved my claims during these transition periods. The key things that helped me: 1) Keep all your pay stubs and employment contracts showing the seasonal nature of the work, 2) File immediately when you're laid off - don't wait, 3) Be prepared to explain your work pattern if they have questions, and 4) Stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements. I usually look for other seasonal positions or temp work during the gaps. One year I actually picked up some holiday retail work during my winter gap which worked out great. Don't let anyone tell you seasonal workers don't deserve unemployment - you pay into the system and have every right to use it when you need it!