How do I know if I can get unemployment benefits in Washington?

The basic eligibility requirements for Washington ESD unemployment are: 1) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs qualify), 2) You must have earned enough wages during your base period, 3) You must be able and available for work, and 4) You must actively search for work. Your base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.

Since you were laid off, that's considered being unemployed through no fault of your own, so you should be good on that requirement. The wage requirement is where it gets tricky - Washington ESD looks at your earnings over a specific 12-month period called the base period to determine if you qualify and how much you'll get.

I went through this same confusion last year! The easiest way is to just apply online at esd.wa.gov and let them calculate everything for you. They'll tell you right away if you qualify and what your weekly benefit amount would be. Even if you're not sure, it doesn't hurt to try - they'll either approve or deny you based on your work history.

I was in a similar situation and couldn't get through to Washington ESD on the phone to ask questions. Spent literally hours trying to call them. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD who could explain my eligibility. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process so much easier.

Wait hold up, you said you worked 8 months full-time at $18/hour plus 6 months part-time before that? That's definitely enough work history. At $18/hour full-time that's like $2,880 per month, so 8 months would be over $23,000. You're way above the minimum wage requirements.

Just make sure you understand the ongoing requirements too. Once you're approved, you have to file weekly claims, do job searches, and keep detailed records. Washington ESD requires 3 job search contacts per week and you have to log them in your WorkSourceWA account.

The whole system is confusing AF. I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months and still don't understand half of what they want. Just apply and see what happens, honestly.

Let me break down the math for you since you gave specific numbers. If you worked 8 months at $18/hour full-time (40 hours/week), that's $18 x 40 x 4.33 weeks/month x 8 months = about $25,000. Plus your part-time work before that. You're definitely above the $6,240 minimum threshold.

I qualified with way less work history than you have. Been getting benefits for 2 months now. The application process is pretty straightforward once you get started.

What's adjudication? Should I be worried about that?

Just want to add - make sure you apply as soon as possible. Benefits are only paid from the date you file your claim, not from when you became unemployed. So if you wait another week to apply, that's a week of benefits you can't get back.

The Washington ESD website has an eligibility tool that might help you figure things out before applying. It's under the 'Am I Eligible' section. Though honestly, with your work history, you should be fine.

One thing to keep in mind - if you had any issues at your previous job like attendance problems or if you quit for any reason, that could affect your eligibility. But layoffs are usually pretty straightforward.

I had trouble reaching Washington ESD when I had questions about my eligibility too. Ended up using Claimyr to get through to someone who could help. Really glad I did because I had some complicated stuff with my work history that needed explaining.

Don't forget you'll also need to be actively looking for work and able to accept a job if offered. That's part of the ongoing eligibility requirements.

The system is honestly pretty user-friendly once you get into it. I was intimidated at first but the online application walks you through everything step by step.

Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months when you apply. Having everything ready makes the process go much smoother.

I was in almost the exact same situation as you last year. Applied online, got approved within a few days, and started receiving benefits the following week. With your work history, I really don't think you'll have any problems.

Quick question - are you planning to look for work in the same field or are you open to other types of jobs? That might affect your job search strategy.

Just wanted to say good luck with your application! Based on everything you've shared, you should definitely qualify. Don't let the complexity of the system intimidate you - most people who meet the basic requirements get approved without any issues.