Do I get unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about eligibility requirements

You should qualify! Washington ESD looks at your earnings over the last 18 months (called your base period). If you made $18k in 8 months, you probably earned enough. You also need to be unemployed through no fault of your own, which sounds like your situation since you were laid off.

The basic requirements are: 1) You worked and earned wages in Washington, 2) You're unemployed through no fault of your own, 3) You're able and available to work, and 4) You meet the monetary requirements. Sounds like you check all the boxes.

I had a similar situation when I got laid off from my retail job. The hardest part was actually getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about my claim. Their phone lines are constantly busy and I kept getting disconnected. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

wait hold on - you need to make sure you file your application correctly. if you mess up the dates or earnings info it can delay everything

You'll file your initial claim online through the Washington ESD website. After that, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. Each week you'll report any work you did and wages earned.

ugh the whole system is such a pain. took me forever to get my first payment

Just to clarify the base period calculation - Washington ESD looks at the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at January-December 2024 for your earnings.

Make sure you understand the difference between being 'able and available' vs just being unemployed. You have to be ready to accept suitable work if offered, and you can't have restrictions that prevent you from working.

also don't lie about anything on your application. they cross-reference with your employer and if there's any discrepancy it can mess up your whole claim

Another thing about contacting Washington ESD - if you run into any issues with your claim or have questions, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier has been super helpful. I used them again when I had questions about my weekly claims and they got me connected to an agent who cleared everything up.

Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your highest earning quarter. With $18k over 8 months, you're probably looking at somewhere between $200-400 per week, but the exact amount depends on how your earnings were distributed across quarters.

One more tip - when you file your weekly claims, make sure you do it on time. There's a specific window each week (usually Sunday through the following Saturday) and if you miss it, you could lose that week's benefits.

honestly just file asap and see what happens. worst case they deny you and you appeal. but from what you described you should be fine

Good luck! Remember to keep detailed records of everything - your job search activities, any work you do while on benefits, and all communication with Washington ESD. Documentation is key if any issues come up later.

update us on how it goes! always curious to hear about other people's experiences with washington esd

Just one final reminder - if you do have any complications with your claim or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD directly, don't get discouraged by busy phone lines. There are ways to get through, and services like the one mentioned earlier can help if you're having trouble connecting.

You got this! Filing for unemployment can be intimidating the first time but it's really not that complicated once you get started.

One last thing to keep in mind - your benefits are taxable income, so you'll want to either have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or set aside money for tax time. You can choose to have 10% withheld when you file your claim.

Best of luck with your claim! You should be approved based on what you've shared. The restaurant industry has been hit hard so Washington ESD is used to processing claims from food service workers.

Feel free to come back and ask questions if anything comes up during the process. This community is great for getting real-world advice about dealing with Washington ESD!