Can you apply for unemployment as a student in Washington state?

That's such a relief to hear! I was worried they'd automatically deny me. Do I need to provide my class schedule or anything like that when I apply?

You don't need to submit your schedule upfront, but Washington ESD might ask about your availability during the adjudication process. Just be honest about when you can work - if you worked evenings and weekends before, show you're still available for those same hours.

Six weeks?? That seems like forever. Did they eventually approve your claim or did you have issues?

They approved it but wow was it stressful waiting. I ended up using Claimyr to actually get through to someone at Washington ESD to check on my claim status. Found them at claimyr.com and they have this demo video that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Never heard of Claimyr before but that sounds useful. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for two weeks about my claim and can never get through to a real person.

Oh wow I hadn't thought about that. I do get Pell grants. Should I talk to my school's financial aid office?

Definitely worth a conversation with them. Every school handles it differently and they'll know your specific situation best.

There's a lot of confusion about this. Students CAN get benefits if they meet the same requirements as everyone else - mainly that they're able and available for work. Your friend might have been denied for other reasons like not having enough work history or wages in their base period.

Hmm maybe that was it. She was only working like 10 hours a week for a few months before she got laid off.

Yeah that sounds like a wage issue, not a student issue. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base period and meet Washington ESD's other wage requirements regardless of student status.

You should definitely apply! Even if there are some extra questions because we're students, we still paid into the system through our paychecks just like everyone else.

True, seeing those ESD deductions on every paycheck and never thinking I'd need to use it. Going to start my application tonight.

That's a great point! My school has a career center that does resume workshops and networking events. Those would count toward my job search activities?

Absolutely! WorkSourceWA accepts a wide range of activities. Career fairs, resume building, even LinkedIn profile updates count. Just make sure to log everything properly.

Wait, LinkedIn counts? I had no idea. I've been spending so much time applying to jobs online thinking that was the only thing that counted.

Good catch! I do have a small work study job in the library. Even though it's only like $200 a month I need to report it?

Yes, report everything. Even small amounts. It's better to be over-cautious than to deal with an overpayment notice later.

That's so frustrating! Three months is ridiculous. Did you ever figure out what was causing the delay?

some BS about needing to verify my identity even though I'd already sent in all the documents they asked for. then they wanted more documents. just endless bureaucracy

That's encouraging! I'm hoping my case will be straightforward since I have clear employment records from my retail job.

Retail jobs usually have very clear wage records which helps. Just make sure you have your pay stubs handy in case they need additional verification.

Someone else mentioned Claimyr earlier in this thread! How exactly does it work? Do they just keep calling until someone answers?

Yeah basically they handle all the calling and waiting so you don't have to. When they get someone on the line, they conference you in. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you want to see how it works. Super helpful when you actually need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

That makes sense. I was worried they'd expect me to be available 40 hours a week or something unrealistic while I'm taking classes.

Nope, they base it on your previous work pattern. If you were working 20 hours a week while going to school before, they'll expect you to be available for similar work now.

Don't wait! Apply as soon as you're eligible. Your benefit year is based on when you file, and delaying could cost you money. Plus, if you were working during the school year, that establishes your pattern of availability.

Good point, I'll apply this week then. Thanks for the advice!

Clinical schedules can be tricky because they're often irregular. Just make sure you're clear about your availability when you file your weekly claims. If your clinicals change week to week, that might require some explanation.

Yeah my clinical days vary by rotation. I'll make sure to be really detailed about my availability each week.

You need to register with WorkSourceWA within 4 weeks of filing your initial claim. I'd recommend doing it sooner rather than later since you'll need to use it for logging your job search activities anyway.

Perfect, thanks! I'll get that set up this weekend.

I'm majoring in business so I guess that gives me pretty broad options for what kinds of jobs to apply for. Probably better than being super specialized.

Exactly, business opens a lot of doors. Retail management, office work, customer service - lots of options that would make sense given your background and education.

Good luck! Remember to keep detailed records of everything - your application, weekly claims, job search activities, any correspondence from Washington ESD. It all helps if you need to reference anything later.

Will do! This thread has been incredibly helpful. Glad to know I'm not the only student dealing with this situation.