Confused about Washington ESD unemployment eligibility status - what does mine mean?

That makes sense. So if I worked a few hours one week and earned over the limit, that specific week would show ineligible?

Exactly. In Washington, you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 before it affects your eligibility. Anything over that makes you ineligible for that week.

I've seen that pending status before! How long does it usually take to resolve?

Pending can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on what they're reviewing. Job search verification is usually quicker than something like a work separation issue.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially.

It's worth it when you're stuck and need answers. Way better than spending hours calling and getting hung up on.

I'm skeptical of third-party services but if it actually works...

What exactly counts as 'actively seeking work'? I apply to jobs but sometimes don't hear back for weeks.

In Washington, you need 3 job search activities per week. Applications count, but so do networking events, job fairs, creating profiles on job sites, etc. Keep detailed records in WorkSourceWA.

Yes, if you're showing ineligible, you won't receive payment for those weeks. You need to figure out why you're ineligible and fix the issue.

How do I find out WHY I'm ineligible? The website doesn't give specifics!

This is exactly why I used Claimyr - they can get you to someone who can explain the specific reason for your ineligible status.

How did you get that fixed?

had to call and explain the situation, took forever to get through though

You typically have 30 days from when you receive a determination notice to appeal. Weekly eligibility issues are different from disqualification determinations though.

I never got any determination notice, just saw the status change online.

Because they're too busy to make things user-friendly. It's like they want us to struggle.

The information is there but scattered across different pages. I agree it could be organized better.

Ineligible weeks don't count against your total available weeks, but they also don't extend your benefit year. You just don't get paid for those weeks.

That's a relief! I was worried I was losing weeks permanently.

Good to know it doesn't ruin everything! Did you have to do anything special to get back to eligible status?

Just made sure to meet all requirements the following week. Status went back to eligible automatically.

Partial eligibility usually refers to when you work part-time and earn some money but still qualify for reduced unemployment benefits. Your weekly benefit gets reduced by the amount you earned minus $5.

So the status would still show eligible even with partial benefits?

Correct, as long as you're still entitled to some payment, you'd show eligible.

Let us know if it works for you. I'm still on the fence about using third-party services.

Will do. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get answers.

usually shows up pretty quick, like within a few hours of filing

Mine has been pending for 3 days now. Should I be worried?

Pending for several days usually means they're reviewing something. Could be random audit, job search verification, or wage verification.

YES! Or at least explain WHY the status changed. The lack of communication is the worst part.

Seriously, we're already stressed about money and they make everything so mysterious.

That's actually brilliant advice. Never thought about documenting it like that.

Learned it after a payment issue where they claimed I was ineligible but I knew I wasn't. Screenshots saved me.

State holidays can delay processing, but pending for a full week is unusual unless they're reviewing something specific about your claim.

I haven't changed anything about how I file. This is frustrating.

This is exactly when Claimyr helped me the most - when I was stuck in pending status with no explanation. They got me through to someone who could see what was causing the delay.

Sometimes I think you're right. The whole system feels like it's working against us.

While I understand the frustration, the system is complex because unemployment law itself is complex. More transparency would definitely help though.

Thanks for the simple breakdown! Sometimes I overcomplicate things in my head.

We all do when we're stressed about money. The key is understanding the basics and then figuring out the details as needed.

Good reminder. I tend to assume the system is always right even when something feels off.

The system makes mistakes too. Trust your instincts and advocate for yourself.

Update - tried Claimyr and finally got through to someone at Washington ESD. Turns out my ineligible status was due to a simple data entry error on their end. Fixed now!

That's really helpful to know! I hadn't considered how other income sources might affect eligibility status. Does this apply to things like rental income or investment dividends too? I'm trying to understand all the potential factors that could change my status from week to week.

Generally, Washington ESD only deducts certain types of retirement income like pensions, Social Security, and some retirement annuities. Regular investment income like dividends or rental income usually doesn't affect your weekly eligibility status the same way - those would typically be reported as wages if they're from ongoing business activities. But anything that Washington ESD classifies as "retirement income" gets deducted dollar-for-dollar from your weekly benefit amount. If you're unsure about a specific income source, it's worth asking them directly how it should be reported.