Can you claim unemployment in Washington - basic eligibility requirements?

That's good to know! What exactly is a 'base year' though? And how do I prove I'm actively seeking work if I already have a job?

Your base year is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. For actively seeking work, you'll need to make job search contacts even though you're employed - usually 3 job search activities per week unless you're on standby status.

Did you have any issues with the application process? I'm worried about messing something up.

The online application wasn't too bad, but I did have questions about my work history that took forever to get answered. Washington ESD's phone lines are always busy.

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check that out if I can't get through the normal way.

Wait, is that a paid service? Seems weird to pay money just to call Washington ESD.

It's worth it when you've been trying for days to get through. Saved me a lot of time and frustration honestly.

My manager said the hour cuts might be permanent depending on business. So I think I'd be filing as able and available then?

Yes, that sounds right. You'd need to do your job search requirements each week and report any work and earnings from your current job.

For partial unemployment claims, you typically put the date your hours were reduced as your 'last day of full-time work' or leave it blank if the system allows. Each situation is different though.

ok that makes more sense. why can't they just make this stuff clearer??

How do they calculate how much you can earn before you lose benefits completely?

There's a formula but I don't remember the exact numbers. I think you can earn up to a certain amount before they start reducing your benefits, and then there's a higher amount where you get nothing that week.

In Washington, you can generally earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing benefits. Earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount and you get zero that week.

What kind of job search activities count? Since I already have a part-time job, do I still need to look for other work?

Yes, you still need to do job searches even with partial employment. Things like applying for jobs, networking, going to job fairs, updating your resume, etc. Keep a log of everything.

Good idea! Do you remember what it's called or where to find it on their site?

I think it's called something like 'Am I Eligible' or 'Eligibility Tool' - should be on the main Washington ESD unemployment page.

What exactly is adjudication? That sounds scary.

It's just when they need to investigate something about your claim before approving or denying it. Usually involves calling you and your employer to verify information. It's frustrating but not necessarily bad.

If you do end up in adjudication and can't get Washington ESD on the phone to check status, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be helpful. I used it when my claim was stuck.

When do you file the weekly claims? Is there a specific day of the week?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week and you have until Saturday to file. I always did mine on Sunday mornings so I wouldn't forget.

How far back do they want wage information? I've been at this job 8 months but worked somewhere else before that.

They'll want information for your entire base year period, so probably both jobs. The system will tell you exactly what quarters they're looking at when you file.

Yes, all income including tips needs to be reported on your weekly claims. This is really important because not reporting tips can cause overpayment issues later.

Ugh that's what I was afraid of. So hard to track exact tip amounts every week.

That's reassuring! I was worried it would be complicated every single week.

Nope, the weekly claims are much simpler than the initial application. Just a few questions about your work and earnings that week.

Will Washington ESD contact my employer automatically or should I give them a heads up first?

Washington ESD will likely send your employer a notice about your claim, but I'd still mention it to your manager beforehand. Shows you're being transparent.

Good point. I'll start keeping better records of everything.

Yeah, it's better to have too much documentation than not enough when dealing with unemployment benefits.

I didn't know they had messaging! That might be easier than trying to call during work hours.

The messaging system is okay but I still think Claimyr is faster if you need to actually talk to someone. Really saved me when I had time-sensitive questions.

How long does it usually take to get the debit card after approval?

I think mine took about a week after my first payment was issued. You can track the status online once your claim is approved.

Yikes, that sounds expensive. I'll definitely be careful about reporting everything accurately.

Yeah, it's not worth trying to hide income. They have ways of finding out and the penalties are harsh.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about filing now.

You're welcome! Good luck with your claim. It can really help bridge the gap when your income gets reduced.

Feel free to come back here if you run into any issues during the process. This community is pretty good about helping each other navigate Washington ESD.