How do I qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about requirements

You don't need to work a full year to qualify for Washington unemployment benefits. The basic requirements are: 1) You must have worked in Washington state during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), 2) You must have earned at least $8,190 during your base period, 3) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs count, being fired for cause doesn't), and 4) You must be able and available for work. Being laid off definitely qualifies you.

I qualified with just 10 months of work history when I got laid off from my warehouse job. As long as you earned enough wages during your base period and weren't fired for misconduct, you should be good. The $28k you made sounds like it would meet the wage requirements.

You'll need to meet Washington's monetary and non-monetary requirements. For monetary, you need sufficient wages during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before filing). For 8 months of restaurant work, you should have enough wages if you worked decent hours. Non-monetary means you lost your job through no fault of your own - layoffs definitely qualify.

getting laid off definitely qualifies you but the application process can be a pain. make sure you have your social security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and reason for separation ready when you apply online

Actually, if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone for questions about eligibility or your claim, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

I had to apply for unemployment twice in the last few years and honestly the hardest part was getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. The website has most of the info but sometimes you need to talk to an actual person. I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to agents - there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made my life so much easier when my claim got stuck.

Don't forget about the job search requirement! Once you start receiving benefits, you'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. You also need to register with WorkSourceWA within 30 days of filing your claim.

wait so being laid off is different from being fired?? I thought they were the same thing

The basic requirements are pretty straightforward - you need to be unemployed through no fault of your own, have worked and earned wages in Washington, be able and available for work, and actively seek work. Since you were laid off from the restaurant, you should qualify easily. Just make sure you file your claim as soon as possible because there's a waiting period.

ugh the job search requirements are so annoying!! i get that they want people to look for work but having to document everything and submit it every week is such a hassle. at least the online system lets you save your activities now

been through this process multiple times unfortunately and the key thing is to be completely honest on your application. if you lie about anything or leave stuff out it can come back to bite you later during adjudication

One thing to keep in mind - your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on your highest earning quarter during the base period. With restaurant wages, it might not be huge, but every bit helps when you're between jobs. The maximum weekly benefit in Washington is currently $999 but most people get much less than that.

pro tip - when you file your weekly claims always do it on the same day each week. makes it easier to remember and you avoid missing deadlines. i always did mine sunday mornings

The wage requirement can be tricky. You need at least $8,190 in your base period AND you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period. Some people meet the dollar amount but not the two-quarter requirement.

Just apply! The worst they can say is no and you'll know for sure. The Washington ESD will calculate your eligibility based on your actual wage history when they process your claim.

Just wanted to add that if you have any issues with your claim getting approved or if it goes into adjudication, don't panic. I had problems with mine last year and ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get through to an agent. Really helped speed things up when my claim was stuck for 3 weeks.

Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Having W-2s or pay stubs handy helps too.

One thing to watch out for - if you received any severance pay, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers severance as wages for the period it covers.

Since you worked in a restaurant, make sure you report any tips you received accurately. Washington ESD counts tips as wages and they can affect your benefit calculation. Also, if you have any unused vacation pay or severance from your employer, that needs to be reported too as it might delay when your benefits start.

I applied right after getting laid off and got approved within 2 weeks. The key is filing as soon as possible since there's a waiting period before benefits start anyway.

Does anyone know if you can qualify if you were working part-time? I was only working 25 hours a week at my job.

honestly the whole unemployment system is such a mess. they make it so complicated when people are already stressed about losing their jobs. but you gotta jump through all their hoops if you want the benefits

Don't forget about WorkSourceWA registration. You'll need to create an account there within a few weeks of filing your claim. They have job search tools and sometimes you're required to check in with them depending on your situation.

make sure you keep good records of everything - when you applied, confirmation numbers, copies of your weekly claims, job search activities. if anything goes wrong youll want to have documentation

wait does anyone know if you can get unemployment if you quit your job? asking for a friend who hates their current workplace

Since you're new to this, I'd recommend reading through the Washington ESD handbook thoroughly before filing. It explains all the requirements, deadlines, and what to expect during the process. Knowledge is power when dealing with government agencies.

One last thing - if you end up having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone for any reason, definitely check out that Claimyr service. I can't stress enough how much time it saved me when I needed help with an adjudication issue. The phone lines are brutal otherwise.

You should be fine with a straightforward layoff from restaurant work. Just be patient with the process - sometimes it takes a few weeks to get your first payment even when everything goes smoothly. Don't stress if it's not immediate.

good luck with everything! being unemployed sucks but at least washington has decent benefits compared to some places

I had to appeal my initial denial because Washington ESD said I quit voluntarily, but I was actually laid off. Make sure the reason for separation is correct on your application because that can cause delays.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator that can give you an estimate of what you might receive if you qualify. It's under the 'Calculate Your Benefits' section.

ugh the washington esd phone system is absolutely terrible, took me 4 hours of calling to get through when I had questions about my claim

Don't forget you need to file your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still being processed. Missing weekly claims can cause you to lose benefits for those weeks.

I think there might also be additional requirements if you're a veteran or have other special circumstances, but the basic eligibility is what others have outlined.

The hardest part for me was understanding the base period calculation. I recommend calling Washington ESD to verify your eligibility before applying if you're unsure about your wage history.

Based on what you've described - being laid off after 8 months of work and earning $28k last year - you should definitely qualify for Washington unemployment benefits. Just make sure to apply soon since there can be delays in processing.