Can you get Washington ESD unemployment while in college - confused about eligibility

That's helpful! My classes are only Tuesday/Thursday mornings, so I should be available most of the time. Do I need to mention my student status when I file?

Yes, be honest about your student status. Washington ESD will evaluate your specific situation. They look at your class schedule and whether it restricts your job search.

Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Did you win your appeal?

Actually yes, but it took forever to get through to anyone at Washington ESD to explain my situation properly.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD, I recently discovered Claimyr at claimyr.com - they help you get through to agents when the phone lines are jammed. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

What counts as 'suitable work'? Would it have to be in my field or just any job?

Generally work similar to your previous job in terms of hours, pay, and skills. Since you worked retail, other customer service or retail positions would likely be considered suitable.

It's a common misconception. Washington ESD evaluates each case individually based on your availability to work, not just your student status.

Yeah I was confused about this too when I was in school. Turns out it really depends on your schedule and how it affects your job search.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - they specialize in getting through Washington ESD's phone system. Saved me hours of frustration when I needed to discuss my adjudication.

The phone system is absolutely terrible. I must have called 50+ times before getting through to a human.

That's encouraging! Are you full-time or part-time student? And do you have to do the job search requirements even while in school?

Part-time, 9 credits. Yes, still have to do job search activities and report them on WorkSource. The requirements don't change because you're a student.

Exactly right about the job search requirements. Being a student doesn't exempt you from actively seeking work.

That's because each case is evaluated individually. A student taking evening classes has different availability than someone in a full-time day program.

That makes sense. I guess I need to be really clear about my specific schedule when I apply.

Good point. I'd probably have to be willing to drop classes if I got a full-time job offer, right?

Potentially yes, depending on the job and your benefit eligibility. It's something to consider before filing.

How did you provide that - just a copy of your schedule from the college?

Yes, I printed out my official schedule from the student portal. Showed class times and days clearly.

Tell me about it. I spent weeks trying to get a straight answer about my situation.

That's why having a way to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD is so important. The written guidelines don't cover every situation.

I'm definitely going to check that out. I need to talk to someone about my specific situation before I file my claim.

Is that a paid service or something? How does it work exactly?

Yeah there's a cost but honestly worth it when you consider the time saved. The demo video explains it better than I can - https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

Interesting, I'm just taking general education classes though, not vocational training.

Yeah, that's different then. General ed classes are evaluated more strictly on the availability criteria.

That makes sense. Work search has to come first, school second.

Exactly. And you need to be able to demonstrate that through your job search activities and availability.

Yeah, I think I'm going to apply too. Worst case they deny it and I can appeal if needed.

Just be completely honest about your student status and availability. Don't try to hide it - that will only cause problems later.

Good reminder. I'll definitely keep them updated if anything changes with my classes.

Yes, failing to report changes is a good way to get hit with an overpayment later.

Good luck! This thread has been super helpful for me too.

Happy to help. Feel free to follow up if you run into any issues with your application.

True, I'll need to be mindful of that if I decide to take more classes next semester.

Yeah, what works for 12 credits might not work for 18 credits, especially if they're all day classes.

Agreed! Way more helpful than the official Washington ESD website explanations.

The real-world experiences shared here are invaluable. Official guidelines don't always tell the whole story.

Definitely. Not a blanket yes or no, but worth exploring if you genuinely are available for work.

And be prepared to document everything - class schedules, job searches, availability. Washington ESD likes their paperwork.

Good luck! I'm planning to apply this week too. This thread gave me the confidence to try.

Please do update us! It's always helpful to hear how these situations actually play out.

That's awesome that you took the leap! I'm curious - did you mention your student status upfront in the application, or did you wait to see if they asked about it? Still trying to figure out the best approach for when I apply.