How am I eligible for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

You'll likely qualify! Washington ESD has specific requirements but 8 months of work should meet the base period requirements. You need to have earned at least $1,805 in your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters) and your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. Since you were laid off, that helps with the separation issue too.

Being laid off definitely helps your case since you didn't quit voluntarily or get fired for misconduct. That's one of the big eligibility requirements - you have to be unemployed through no fault of your own.

Don't stress too much about the calculations - Washington ESD's system will determine your monetary eligibility automatically when you file your initial claim. The main things you need to worry about are: 1) Having enough wages in your base period, 2) Being unemployed through no fault of your own, 3) Being able and available to work, and 4) Actively seeking work. Sounds like you meet the first two already.

I was in a similar situation last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about my eligibility. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to actual agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful when I could actually talk to someone.

make sure you file as soon as possible!! there's no waiting period in washington but you want to get your claim started right away. benefits are only paid from the week you file, not backdated to when you became unemployed

The system is so confusing honestly. I qualified but it took forever to figure out all the requirements. Make sure you register with WorkSource too - that's required for most people.

Don't let the website overwhelm you - the actual application process is pretty straightforward once you start. Just have your employment info ready (dates, wages, employer addresses) and be honest about everything.

ugh the washington esd system is such a pain. took me 3 tries to file my initial claim because the website kept timing out. but once you get it filed its not too bad

One more thing - make sure you're physically able to work and available for work when you file. If you have any restrictions or aren't available for full-time work, that could affect your eligibility. Also, you'll need to be registered to vote or have a social security number.

Based on what you've shared, you should definitely qualify. Restaurant layoffs are pretty common and Washington ESD handles them regularly. Just be prepared for the initial claim to take some time to process - they have to verify your wages and employment.

I'd recommend filing online rather than trying to call. The phone lines are always busy but the online system works most of the time, especially if you try during off-peak hours.

Don't forget you'll need to file weekly claims every week to get paid, even while your initial claim is processing. And you have to do your job search activities from week one.

If you run into any issues or have questions after filing, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helps. I used it twice when I had questions about my claim status and it saved me hours of trying to get through on the phone.

You sound like you'll qualify no problem. The restaurant industry has high turnover and Washington ESD is used to handling these types of claims. Just stay on top of your weekly claims once you start receiving benefits.

just a heads up - if you had any issues at your previous jobs (write-ups, attendance problems, etc) be honest about them. washington esd can contact your employer and lying about your separation reason will disqualify you

The eligibility requirements aren't as complicated as they seem on the website. Basically: worked recently, made enough money, lost job through no fault of your own, and willing to work. You check all those boxes.

Pro tip: when you file, have your most recent employer's information handy first. They'll ask for details about your last job first, then work backwards through your employment history.

You mentioned being 23 - that might actually help because you probably don't have a complicated work history that could cause issues. Straightforward cases usually process faster.

Quick question - are you a US citizen or authorized to work? That's another basic eligibility requirement I don't think anyone mentioned yet.

If your claim gets denied for any reason, don't panic. You can appeal most decisions and a lot of initial denials get overturned. But based on what you've described, I don't see why you wouldn't qualify.