Can you get unemployment after a seasonal job in Washington state?

Yes, seasonal workers can definitely qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington! The key is whether you earned enough wages during your base period. Since you just worked through January, your base period would likely include wages from previous quarters too. You'll need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base period to qualify.

I used to work seasonal jobs at ski resorts and filed for unemployment every spring. The process is the same as regular workers - you file online at esd.wa.gov and do your weekly claims. Just make sure you're actively looking for work and logging your job search activities.

Be careful about the 'able and available' requirement though. If you're only looking for seasonal work or have restrictions on when you can work, that might affect your eligibility. Washington ESD is pretty strict about being available for full-time work.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I filed last year - kept getting busy signals for weeks. If you run into phone issues, there's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when my claim got stuck in adjudication.

seasonal work is THE WORST when it comes to unemployment benefits. they make you jump through hoops and act like you're trying to game the system. been there, done that with landscaping jobs.

Just file as soon as possible! There's a waiting week before benefits start, so don't delay. The worst they can do is deny your claim, but from what you described you should be fine.

One thing to watch out for - if your seasonal employer reports that you have reasonable assurance of returning to work next season, that could affect your benefits. Make sure they're not marking you as 'seasonal with reasonable assurance' unless you actually have a guaranteed job next year.

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs. quitting. If the seasonal job ended because the season was over (which it sounds like), that's considered a layoff and you should qualify. If you quit early for personal reasons, that's different.

I worked at a pumpkin patch last fall and filed right after Halloween. Got approved within two weeks. The key is being honest about your work history and job search efforts. Don't overthink it!

Pro tip: set up your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account BEFORE you file. It makes the whole process smoother and you'll need it for weekly claims anyway.

I'm dealing with a similar situation but from summer camp work. Filed three weeks ago and still waiting for a decision - claim is stuck in adjudication. Anyone know how long that typically takes?

Does anyone know if you can file for unemployment if you're planning to do seasonal work again next year? Like if I know I'll probably work at the same Christmas tree farm next November?

IMPORTANT: Make sure you report any severance pay or vacation payout you might have received when the seasonal job ended. Washington ESD needs to know about all income sources.

The WorkSourceWA website integration is actually pretty helpful for tracking your job search activities. Don't sleep on using those resources - they have job postings and career planning tools.

One more vote for filing ASAP. I waited too long after my seasonal warehouse job ended and it delayed everything by weeks. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits if approved.

Just wanted to add that if you do run into any issues with your claim - like if it gets flagged for adjudication or you have questions about your eligibility - don't give up. I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when my seasonal claim had problems, and the agent was actually really helpful in explaining what I needed to do.

For what it's worth, I think seasonal workers actually have an easier time with unemployment claims because the reason for separation is so clear-cut. No questions about whether you were fired for cause or quit voluntarily.

Just remember that even if you're approved, you still have to file your weekly claims every week and do your job search activities. Don't get lazy about it or they'll stop your benefits.

Good luck with your claim! Seasonal work is legitimate employment and you've earned those benefits. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about filing.

Final thought - if your claim does get approved, remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld automatically or handle it yourself at tax time.