Can you get unemployment for seasonal jobs in Washington?

That's a relief! Do I need to show that I'm looking for work even though I know I'll be going back to landscaping in May?

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements unless you have a definite recall date from your employer. You'll need to document your job search activities each week you claim benefits.

Good to know! Did you have any issues with Washington ESD questioning whether your layoff was legitimate?

Nope, they see seasonal layoffs all the time. As long as you weren't fired for misconduct, you should be fine.

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically call Washington ESD for you and connect you when they get through. Saved me probably 10+ hours of calling myself.

Might need to check that out if I run into issues. Thanks for the tip!

The landscaping company I work for is pretty understanding about it. They know we all file during the winter months.

Yeah my boss at the Christmas tree farm actually encouraged us to file. He said it helps him keep good workers since we don't have to scramble for temporary jobs.

Yes, if it's a seasonal restaurant that closes for winter and you're laid off due to lack of work, you can file for unemployment. Seasonal layoffs count as involuntary job separations.

omg this changes everything!! ive been working retail jobs all winter when i couldve been getting benefits

That's good to know. I had a part-time job at a sporting goods store between seasons last year, so hopefully that helps my benefit amount.

Exactly! Washington ESD looks at all your covered employment during the base period, so every little bit helps.

Good point about filing right away. I was thinking I should wait until I'm sure I won't get called back early.

Nah, file immediately. If you get called back early, you just stop claiming benefits. But if you wait to file, you lose out on benefits for those weeks.

You still need to meet the work search requirements unless you have a definite recall date from your employer. You can look for temporary or part-time work, but you need to be genuinely available for work.

That makes sense. I guess I can look for temporary work or even other seasonal positions during my search.

What kind of documentation should I keep?

Layoff notices, emails from your employer about seasonal closure, anything that shows the layoff was due to lack of work and not your fault.

Same here! I work at a beach resort and never thought about filing for winter unemployment. This could be a game changer.

Right? I've been doing odd jobs all winter when I could have been getting benefits and focusing on other stuff.

All my seasonal work has been in Washington, so I should be good there.

Perfect! Then you'll definitely want to file with Washington ESD. They're pretty good about handling seasonal claims.

Is that service free or do they charge you?

There's a cost but it was worth it for me. Saved me so much time and frustration trying to reach them myself.

What's standby status? Is that different from regular unemployment?

It's for workers who have a definite recall date. You don't have to do job searches but you also can't work for other employers. Ask your seasonal employer about it.

Thanks for saying that. I was feeling a bit guilty about filing, but you're right - I've been paying into unemployment insurance for years.

Exactly! That's what the system is for. Seasonal workers are a huge part of Washington's economy and unemployment benefits help stabilize that workforce.

If it's been less than a year since your last claim ended, you can usually just reopen your existing claim. If it's been over a year, you'll need to file a new claim.

Good to know! My last claim was only 8 months ago, so I should be able to reopen it.

That's encouraging! I'm going to file tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

Good luck! The worst part is just getting started. Once you're in the system, it gets much easier.

I keep seeing people mention this service. Might be worth bookmarking for when I inevitably have issues with my claim.

Yeah, it's one of those things you hope you don't need but are glad it exists when you do.