Can you file for unemployment if you get laid off - Washington ESD eligibility question

That's a relief to hear. Do I need to wait until after my last day to apply or can I file beforehand?

You need to wait until after your employment ends to file your initial claim. Washington ESD won't process applications for future unemployment.

Oh man the phone situation is terrible! I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication issue.

Have you tried Claimyr? I found them when I was having the same problem reaching Washington ESD agents. They help you get through to actual people at the unemployment office. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Never heard of that but definitely wish I knew about it when I was going through my mess!

What kind of job search requirements? I thought unemployment was just filing weekly claims.

You have to actively search for work and log your job search activities. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records.

Wait is it 3 or 5? I thought they changed the requirements recently...

How would I know if they're doing that? Should I be worried about this?

You'll get documentation from your employer about the termination. Keep all paperwork and if Washington ESD questions the reason for separation, you can appeal with your evidence.

That sounds frustrating! What does adjudication mean exactly?

Adjudication is when Washington ESD reviews your claim to verify eligibility. It can take several weeks especially if there are any questions about your separation from work.

I used Claimyr to finally talk to someone about my adjudication delay. Turns out they needed additional documentation that I never got notified about. The agent was able to tell me exactly what to submit to speed things up.

How do they calculate the actual dollar amount? Is there a formula?

Washington ESD takes your highest earning quarter and divides by 26. Then they factor in your total base period wages. There's a minimum and maximum benefit amount too.

Good to know! So I need to file the claim right away and then do weekly claims after that?

Exactly. File your initial claim first, then you'll file weekly claims every Sunday for the previous week. Don't skip weeks or you'll lose those benefits.

That sounds really stressful. Have you tried appealing the overpayment determination?

I tried but the appeal process is just as confusing as everything else with Washington ESD

That's smart advice. Sounds like things can get complicated even for straightforward layoffs.

Did you have any issues with the application process? How long did it take to get approved?

Mine was pretty straightforward since it was obviously a layoff. Got approved within 2 weeks and started receiving benefits right away.

I think they mentioned severance but I don't know the details yet. How does that work exactly?

Severance payments can delay when your unemployment benefits start. Washington ESD treats it as wages for the period it covers, so you might have to wait until the severance period ends.

What's WorkSourceWA? Is that separate from Washington ESD?

It's the state job search assistance program. Washington ESD requires most people to register with them as part of the job search requirements.

This is why services like Claimyr exist though. Sometimes you just need to pay for help getting through to the right person at Washington ESD instead of wasting hours trying to navigate their system yourself.

True, wish I had known about options like that when I was dealing with my claim issues

That's reassuring. I was worried there might be a lot of hoops to jump through even for layoffs.

Nope, layoffs are exactly what unemployment insurance is designed for. Just be thorough with your application and stay on top of your weekly claims.

Good thinking! I'll definitely do that to protect myself.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll set up a weekly reminder so I don't forget.

Actually I think you have until Tuesday to file weekly claims, not Sunday. Let me double check that...

You might be right about Tuesday but I always file on Sunday to be safe. Better early than late with Washington ESD.

Thank you! This thread has been really helpful for understanding what to expect.