Does Washington have unemployment benefits - confused about eligibility requirements
This might sound like a dumb question but I'm really confused about whether Washington state actually has unemployment benefits? I just moved here from out of state and lost my job last week. My previous state had a pretty straightforward system but I can't figure out if Washington ESD offers the same kind of weekly unemployment payments. I've been looking at the SecureAccess Washington website but it's not super clear to me what the actual benefits are or how much you can get. Can someone explain if Washington does have unemployment and what the basic requirements are?
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Sofia Morales
Yes, Washington absolutely has unemployment insurance! It's administered through the Employment Security Department (Washington ESD). You can file claims online through their website and if approved, you'll receive weekly payments while you're looking for work. The amount depends on your previous earnings but it's usually around 60% of your average weekly wage up to a maximum.
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Dylan Cooper
•Oh thank god, I was starting to panic. Do you know what the maximum weekly amount is right now?
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Sofia Morales
•I think it's around $1,015 per week maximum for 2025, but don't quote me on that exact number. You should check the Washington ESD website for current rates.
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StarSailor
Yeah Washington definitely has UI benefits. I've been on unemployment twice in the past few years. The process is pretty standard - file your initial claim, then do weekly claims every week while you're unemployed. You have to meet job search requirements too, like applying for jobs and keeping a log.
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Dylan Cooper
•What are the job search requirements exactly? Do I need to apply for a certain number of jobs each week?
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StarSailor
•You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep records of what you did. Could be applying for jobs, going to job fairs, networking events, stuff like that.
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Dmitry Ivanov
Washington has one of the better unemployment systems in the country actually. The benefits last up to 26 weeks typically and the payments are decent compared to other states. You just need to have worked enough hours in your base period and lost your job through no fault of your own.
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Dylan Cooper
•What's a base period? Sorry, this is all new to me.
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Dmitry Ivanov
•Base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. Washington ESD uses this to calculate if you worked enough and how much your weekly benefit amount should be.
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Ava Garcia
•They also look at your reason for separation from work. If you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might not qualify.
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Miguel Silva
I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I first filed my claim. Spent hours on hold trying to get basic questions answered. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to an actual agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier once I could actually talk to someone.
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Dylan Cooper
•Really? How does that work exactly? I hate being on hold forever.
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Miguel Silva
•You go to claimyr.com and they basically handle the calling for you. They'll call the Washington ESD line over and over until they get through, then connect you to the agent. Saved me so much time and frustration.
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Zainab Ismail
•That sounds too good to be true. How much does something like that cost?
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Miguel Silva
•It's worth it for the time saved honestly. Way better than spending your whole day trying to get through on your own.
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Connor O'Neill
Welcome to Washington! The unemployment system here is pretty good once you get the hang of it. Main thing is to file your claim as soon as possible after losing your job because there's a waiting week before benefits start.
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Dylan Cooper
•A waiting week? So I won't get paid for the first week even if I'm approved?
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Connor O'Neill
•Exactly. The first week is unpaid but you still need to file your weekly claim for that week. It's just how the system works.
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QuantumQuester
Yes washington has unemployment but good luck actually getting it lol. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my claim to get out of adjudication. The system is backed up and understaffed.
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Dylan Cooper
•Oh no, what's adjudication? That sounds scary.
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Sofia Morales
•Adjudication is when they need to investigate something about your claim before approving it. Could be verifying your work history, looking into why you lost your job, stuff like that. It can take a while unfortunately.
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QuantumQuester
•Yeah and try calling them to ask about it - you'll be on hold for 3+ hours if you even get through at all.
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Yara Nassar
I'm on unemployment right now in Washington and it's been pretty smooth for me. Filed online, got approved within 2 weeks, been getting my weekly payments without any issues. The key is making sure you file your weekly claims on time every week.
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Dylan Cooper
•When do you have to file the weekly claims? Is there a specific day?
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Yara Nassar
•You can file starting Sunday for the previous week and you have until Saturday to get it in. Most people file on Sundays to get it out of the way.
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Keisha Williams
Make sure you set up your SecureAccess Washington account before you need it. That's how you access all the Washington ESD services. It can take a day or two to get verified so don't wait until the last minute.
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Dylan Cooper
•Good tip! I'll set that up today. Is that the same login for everything?
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Keisha Williams
•Yeah SAW is used for unemployment, paid family leave, and other state services. One login for everything which is nice.
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Paolo Ricci
Washington ESD also has some good resources for job searching. They connect with WorkSource which has job postings and career counseling services. It's actually helpful beyond just the weekly payments.
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Dylan Cooper
•That's good to know. Do I have to use WorkSource or can I job search on my own?
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Paolo Ricci
•You can search however you want, but WorkSource activities count toward your job search requirements and they have some exclusive postings.
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Amina Toure
One thing to know is that Washington has pretty strict job search requirements compared to some states. You really need to keep good records of your job search activities because they do audit them sometimes.
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Dylan Cooper
•What kind of records do I need to keep?
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Amina Toure
•Date, employer name, position applied for, method of contact, that kind of stuff. There's a job search log you can download from the Washington ESD website.
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Oliver Zimmermann
I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it really does work. I was having issues with my claim and couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD for weeks. Claimyr got me connected within a day and I got my issue resolved.
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Dylan Cooper
•That's reassuring to hear from multiple people. Definitely going to keep that in mind if I run into problems.
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CosmicCommander
•Same experience here. Worth every penny when you're dealing with urgent claim issues and can't wait weeks for a callback.
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Natasha Volkova
Don't forget about taxes! Washington unemployment benefits are taxable income federally. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later, but don't forget about it come tax time.
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Dylan Cooper
•Ugh I didn't even think about taxes. How much do they typically withhold?
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Natasha Volkova
•I think it's 10% federal withholding if you elect it. But talk to a tax professional about your specific situation.
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Javier Torres
Also be aware that if you do any part-time work while on unemployment, you need to report it on your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefits but you can usually still get partial payments if you're working limited hours.
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Dylan Cooper
•That's good to know. What if I forget to report some work? Can I go back and fix it?
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Javier Torres
•You should contact Washington ESD immediately if you made an error. It's better to fix it yourself than have them find it later during an audit.
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Emma Davis
The online system is pretty user-friendly once you get used to it. You can check your claim status, payment history, submit weekly claims, all through the website. Much better than having to call or mail things in.
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Dylan Cooper
•That's a relief. I was dreading having to deal with phone calls and paperwork for everything.
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Malik Johnson
One more tip - if your claim gets denied for any reason, you have the right to appeal. Don't just accept a denial if you think you qualify. The appeals process exists for a reason and you might win on appeal even if initially denied.
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Dylan Cooper
•How long do you have to file an appeal?
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Malik Johnson
•I believe it's 30 days from the date of the determination letter, but double check that timeline because it's strict.
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Isabella Ferreira
Thanks for all this info everyone! I feel so much more confident about filing my claim now. Going to get my SAW account set up and start the process this week.
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Sofia Morales
•Good luck! The system can be a bit overwhelming at first but you'll get the hang of it. Don't hesitate to ask if you run into specific issues.
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StarSailor
•You got this! Just stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements and you should be fine.
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Ravi Sharma
Welcome to the Washington unemployment club lol. It's not fun being here but at least the benefits are decent while you look for your next job. Hope you find something soon!
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Dylan Cooper
•Thanks! Hoping it's just a temporary situation but good to know there's a safety net while I search.
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