Can you get Washington ESD unemployment if you never worked before?

That's what I was afraid of. So there's literally no way to get any help from Washington ESD without having worked first?

Correct for regular UI benefits. However, you might want to look into other assistance programs through DSHS or WorkSource offices for job training and placement help.

Ugh that's so frustrating. How are young people supposed to survive while looking for their first job?

I feel you on this. The whole system assumes you already have work experience. It's like you need a job to get a job.

Wait, so even if someone worked just a little bit they might not qualify? Like what if you only made $500 total?

Exactly right. You need substantial earnings to qualify. Just working a few shifts wouldn't cut it - you'd need consistent work history with decent wages.

This is so discouraging. The people who need help most can't even get it.

I hadn't thought about calling them directly. Is it worth it even if I probably don't qualify?

It's worth asking because they might know about other programs or resources. Plus they could tell you exactly what you'd need to do to qualify in the future.

Never heard of claimyr before but getting through to ESD is definitely a nightmare normally. Might be worth checking out.

I mean... you're not wrong. It does feel pretty hopeless sometimes.

chill out man, the system has problems but yelling about it won't help anyone

No, I didn't do any work study. I was focusing on school and didn't realize I should have been working part-time too.

Don't beat yourself up about it. Lots of people focus on school first. You're still young and have plenty of time to build work history.

Thanks for the suggestions. Did you eventually find work? How long did it take?

It took about 6 months of serious job searching, but I did find something. The key was applying to literally everything, even jobs I thought I wasn't qualified for.

This is good advice. Cast a wide net and don't be picky about your first job. You just need to get that initial work history started.

That's actually really smart. I should learn about this stuff now so I'm prepared.

Absolutely. Understanding how unemployment works before you need it is much better than trying to figure it out during a crisis.

You're thinking of disability benefits through Social Security, which is completely separate from unemployment insurance. Those have different requirements and are administered by SSA, not Washington ESD.

oh ok that makes sense, i always get those mixed up

I don't have a car unfortunately, but maybe there are other gig opportunities I haven't thought of.

You could try Instacart shopping or other delivery services that don't require your own vehicle. Some let you work on foot or bike in certain areas.

Yeah, it's like the system assumes everyone has the same opportunities. Not everyone can work while in school.

True, but at the same time unemployment insurance is literally insurance that you pay into through payroll taxes. You can't collect on insurance you never paid premiums for.

How much does that service cost? I'm obviously pretty tight on money right now.

It's worth checking their website for current pricing, but for me it was worth it to avoid hours of trying to get through on my own. Sometimes getting the right information quickly is worth the investment.

You're absolutely right. I need to stop looking for shortcuts and just focus on finding work. Thanks for the reality check.

Don't give up! Everyone starts somewhere. That first job is always the hardest to get, but once you have some experience it gets easier.