Do I qualify for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD - confused about eligibility

That's helpful, thank you! I think I probably made enough since I was working full-time at the retail job. Do they count part-time work too?

Yes, all covered employment counts whether it was full-time or part-time. As long as your employers were paying into the unemployment insurance system, those wages will count toward your base period earnings.

This is good advice. I was in almost the exact same situation last year and got approved. The application process was pretty straightforward once I gathered my employment info.

That's encouraging to hear! I was worried they might say I didn't work long enough at one place or something.

Never heard of that service before but getting through to Washington ESD is such a nightmare. How much does something like that cost?

It was worth it for me just to avoid the phone runaround. They handle all the calling and waiting so you don't have to sit there for hours trying to get through.

Interesting, I might look into that if I can't get answers from the website. Right now I just want to make sure I'm not wasting my time applying.

There actually is a benefit calculator on their website, but it's buried pretty deep in the menu. You can find it under 'Benefit Information' if you dig around enough.

oh wow really?? ive been looking for something like that forever, thanks!

That sounds about right for someone with your work history. Make sure you have all your employer information ready when you file - company names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation.

Good point, I'll gather all that info tonight. Should I file online or over the phone?

Online is usually faster and you can do it 24/7. The phone lines get really busy during peak hours.

Oh I didn't know about the job search log requirement. Is there a specific format they want or can I just keep my own notes?

You can use their online WorkSourceWA system or keep your own detailed records. Just make sure you have employer names, contact info, dates, and what type of contact you made.

This job search stuff is such a pain but you have to do it or they'll disqualify you. I learned that the hard way when they audited my claim and I couldn't prove I was looking for work.

Sometimes there are issues with how wages are reported by employers or timing of when they're credited to your account. That's why it's important to keep your own records of employment and wages.

Yeah well they should make it easier to understand instead of all this bureaucratic garbage. Regular people shouldn't need a law degree to figure out if they qualify for benefits they paid into.

What do you mean about getting the first payment being hard? Is there usually a delay?

There's always a waiting week where you don't get paid, plus it can take a few weeks for them to process your claim if there are no issues. If your claim goes into adjudication, it can take much longer.

Adjudication is the worst. Mine was stuck there for 6 weeks because my former employer contested my claim. Eventually got approved but those were some stressful weeks.

Good to know! I was thinking about waiting a bit to see if they call me back for work but sounds like I should just file now.

Exactly. You can always stop claiming if you find work right away, but you can't go back and claim benefits for weeks before you filed.

That's really helpful, thank you. I still have my pay stubs from both jobs so I should be able to get all those details together.

Perfect! Pay stubs are great documentation to have. Also make sure you report any vacation pay or severance you received - that can affect when your benefits start.

You can combine wages from different states through the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan. You'd need to contact Washington ESD to set up a combined wage claim if you have wages from multiple states in your base period.

Thanks! That's more complicated than I thought but good to know it's possible.

That's encouraging! Were you able to get through to them easily when you had questions during the process?

Actually no, the phone system was a nightmare. Ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to talk to an actual person when I had questions about my weekly claims. Game changer honestly.

How would I know if an employer didn't report wages correctly? Is there a way to check that?

You can request a wage statement from Washington ESD that shows all the wages reported under your Social Security number. If something's missing, you'd need to contact the employer to get it corrected.

I understand the frustration, but once you get through the initial application it's pretty straightforward. The weekly claims only take a few minutes to file online.

i guess, just wish they made the whole thing more user friendly instead of all this confusing government speak

That's true, I have friends in other states who had much worse experiences. Washington ESD at least tries to pay claims in a reasonable timeframe.

Exactly. And the benefit amounts here are decent compared to most places. It's not going to replace your full salary but it helps cover basic expenses.

Good point! So I should file my weekly claims right away even if I haven't heard back about my initial application yet?

Yes, exactly. You file your initial claim and then start filing weekly claims the following week. The system will tell you when your next weekly claim is due.

This is really important advice. I missed my first two weekly claims because I thought I had to wait for approval first. Lost out on two weeks of benefits because of that mistake.

Thanks for the reassurance! I was worried because I've never had to file for unemployment before and didn't want to mess anything up. Feeling much more confident about applying now.

That's totally understandable. Most people are nervous their first time filing. Just be honest and thorough in your application and you should be fine.

That makes sense. In my case it was clearly a layoff due to slow business, so I should be good on that front. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!

You're welcome! Sounds like you have a solid case for benefits. Good luck with your job search and I hope the unemployment process goes smoothly for you.