How can you draw unemployment benefits in Washington - eligibility requirements?

Thank you! What counts as enough wages during the base period? I made about $28,000 last year working full time.

That should definitely be enough. Washington ESD looks at your highest quarter earnings and total base period wages. With $28k annually you should easily meet the minimum requirements.

This is so true! I've been trying to call them for 2 weeks about an issue with my weekly claim and can never get through.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It's been a lifesaver for actually reaching someone when I need help.

Never heard of that but honestly anything that helps get through their phone system sounds worth trying.

Do I need pay stubs or can I just provide the information from memory?

You don't need to upload pay stubs when you first apply, but it's good to have them handy in case Washington ESD needs to verify your wages later. They can request documentation during the adjudication process.

What counts as a job contact? Does applying online count or do you have to talk to someone?

Online applications count as long as you're applying for suitable work. You can also attend job fairs, contact employers directly, or use WorkSourceWA. Just make sure to document everything in your job search log.

The job search requirement can be waived in certain situations too, like if you're on temporary layoff and expect to return to work within a certain timeframe.

Good point! I was wondering if I should wait a week or two to see if they call me back to work. Sounds like I should file now.

Exactly, file now. Even if you get called back to work, you can always stop filing weekly claims. But you can't go back and get benefits for weeks you didn't file.

That's way more than I expected! How long can you draw benefits for?

Regular unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks in Washington, but it depends on your base period wages and how much you've already collected.

The amount varies a lot though. If you made $28k last year, your weekly benefit will be much less than $844. It's based on your actual wages, not the maximum.

I didn't think about taxes. Is it better to have them withhold taxes or pay later?

Depends on your situation, but I usually recommend having them withhold 10% for federal taxes so you don't get surprised at tax time.

Yeah, it's been really slow. I went from 40 hours a week to maybe 15, then they had to let me go completely.

Same thing happened to me at my restaurant job. The good news is that layoffs due to lack of work definitely qualify for unemployment benefits.

What's adjudication? That sounds scary.

It's not scary, just means they need to review something about your claim before approving it. Could be verifying your wages, the reason you left your job, or your eligibility. Just be patient and respond quickly if they request any information.

If you do run into issues during adjudication and need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, that's another situation where Claimyr can really help. Sometimes you need to speak with an adjudicator directly and their phone lines are always busy.

How do you file the weekly claims? Is it online too?

Yes, you can file weekly claims online through the Washington ESD website. You can also do it by phone, but online is usually faster and easier.

That's good to know. I might be able to pick up some catering shifts here and there.

Perfect! Just report those hours and earnings when you file your weekly claim. Washington has a pretty generous partial benefit formula.

Good advice! I'm usually pretty disorganized with paperwork but this seems important.

It really is important. Even if everything goes smoothly, you might need to reference something months later for tax purposes or if you have to verify your work history for a future job.

That's reassuring. I was worried it would be super complicated.

It's designed to be user-friendly for the most part. The hardest part is usually just getting through on the phone if you need help, but the online system works pretty well.

I'll definitely check that out. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!

Good luck with your claim! Feel free to ask if you run into any issues during the process.