Can you still get unemployment benefits in Washington state right now?

Yes, regular unemployment insurance (UI) is definitely still available through Washington ESD. The pandemic programs like PUA and PEUC ended, but standard unemployment benefits for people who lose their jobs are still running normally. You should definitely apply if you lost your job through no fault of your own.

I filed last month after getting laid off and my claim was approved within 2 weeks. Way faster than I expected based on all the horror stories from a few years ago. The weekly claim filing is pretty straightforward too.

Just a heads up - if you have trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone for any reason, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to agents. Check out claimyr.com, they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling when I had questions about my claim status.

Current Washington ESD benefits are definitely available but make sure you understand the requirements. You need to have worked enough hours in your base period and meet the monetary eligibility requirements. With 8 months of retail work you should be fine as long as you were working decent hours.

Don't wait too long to file! You want to get your claim in as soon as possible because there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start, and delays in filing just push everything back further.

yeah unemployment is still a thing lol, not sure why you'd think it disappeared. the website works fine now, used to be super glitchy but they fixed most of the problems

The current UI system in Washington is functioning well. Weekly benefit amounts range from $295 to $999 depending on your past wages. Make sure you're ready to start your job search immediately because you'll need to report your activities each week when you file your weekly claim.

I'm currently on unemployment and it's working fine. The only annoying thing is having to file every week but once you get in the routine it's not bad. Just don't forget to file or you'll miss your payment for that week.

One thing to be aware of - if you get called for any kind of interview or verification process, don't ignore it. I know someone who had their benefits stopped because they missed a phone interview they didn't know was scheduled.

THE SYSTEM IS STILL BROKEN IMO. Sure it works better than 2020 but trying to reach anyone by phone is still a nightmare. I spent 3 hours on hold last week just to ask a simple question about my work search log.

Just filed my claim two weeks ago after being let go from my warehouse job. The whole process was pretty smooth online, got my first payment last week. Definitely worth applying if you're eligible.

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs fired for cause. If you were terminated for misconduct or poor performance, you might not be eligible for benefits. But if it was just a layoff or downsizing, you should be fine.

i was on unemployment for 6 months last year and it was fine, got my payments every week as long as I did the job search stuff and filed my weekly claims on time

The Washington ESD website has gotten much better. I remember trying to file in 2020 and it would crash constantly. Now it actually works like a normal website should. Don't let old stories scare you away from applying.

Quick tip - when you file your initial claim, have your employment information ready including dates of employment, reason for separation, and employer contact info. Makes the process go much faster.

Yes unemployment is definitely still available in Washington. I work in HR and we process separation paperwork for people who get laid off all the time. The state system is working normally now. Just be honest about why you left your job and you should be approved if you meet the work history requirements.

Don't overthink it - just apply! The worst they can do is say no, but if you worked 8 months and got laid off through no fault of your own, you'll almost certainly qualify. The sooner you apply the sooner you can start getting benefits.

One more thing - if you do run into any issues or have questions about your claim, don't hesitate to call Washington ESD. Yes the wait times can be long, but the agents are generally helpful once you get through. Or use that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier if you want to skip the hold time.

Just wanted to add that as someone who recently went through this process, the key is to be patient but persistent. I filed in March after getting laid off from my manufacturing job and everything went smoothly. The online system walks you through each step pretty clearly, and as long as you keep up with the weekly filing and job search requirements, you should be fine. The benefits really do help bridge the gap while you're looking for new work. Good luck with your application!