How do you know if your eligible for unemployment - Washington ESD eligibility check

Washington ESD has specific eligibility requirements you need to meet. First, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). Your total wages need to be at least 680 times the state minimum wage, which is currently around $11,340 for 2025. You also need to have earned wages in one quarter that are at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings, OR have total wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter AND have worked in all four quarters of your base period.

The 'able and available' requirement just means you're physically and mentally capable of working and actively looking for work. You don't have to be available 24/7, but you do need to be genuinely seeking employment and accept suitable work offers. You'll need to register with WorkSourceWA and complete job search activities each week.

I had trouble reaching Washington ESD to get my eligibility questions answered too. The phone lines are always busy and their online messaging system takes forever to get responses. I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to an agent who could review my work history and confirm my eligibility before I filed. They have this demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Way easier than spending hours on hold.

You also need to be unemployed through no fault of your own. Since you said they let you go due to slow business, that should qualify as a layoff rather than termination for cause. Make sure you have documentation about why you were let go.

the whole system is so confusing!! i worked two jobs last year too and had no idea they look at it in quarters instead of just total income. took me 3 tries to file my claim correctly because i kept messing up the wage information

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week once you start receiving benefits. Keep detailed records because they do audits and will ask for proof.

Based on what you described, you probably qualify. Restaurant worker for 8 months plus part-time retail should give you enough work history and wages. The layoff reason sounds legitimate too. I'd say go ahead and file your claim - worst case they deny it and you can appeal if you think they made an error.

I was in a similar situation last year - worked at a coffee shop and also did some freelance work. The key thing is making sure all your employers reported your wages correctly to Washington ESD. Sometimes small businesses don't file their quarterly reports on time which can mess up your base period calculations.

The system is designed to make it hard to qualify honestly. They'll find any excuse to deny claims these days. But if you really did work those jobs and got laid off legitimately, you should be fine. Just be prepared for bureaucratic nonsense.

Quick eligibility check: worked in WA in the past 15 months? Made at least $11K+ total? Lost job through no fault of your own? Able to work and actively looking? If yes to all, you probably qualify. File your claim and let them determine the details.

I used Claimyr when I had questions about my eligibility too. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible - constant busy signals and disconnections. Claimyr got me through to an actual person who could access my account and explain exactly what wages they had on file and whether I qualified. Worth it to avoid the phone headache.

Make sure you file your claim as soon as possible! Benefits don't pay retroactively to when you lost your job - they start from when you file the claim. So even if you're not 100% sure about eligibility, it's better to file and let them sort it out.

been through this whole process twice now and the eligibility requirements are pretty straightforward once you understand them. your situation sounds like a clear case for approval assuming your wage info checks out. the restaurant industry has high turnover so washington esd is used to processing these types of claims

One thing to watch out for - if you had any gaps in employment during your base period, make sure you can explain them. Washington ESD sometimes questions whether you were truly available for work during those times, especially if the gaps were voluntary.

The WorkSourceWA registration requirement is important too. You have to create an account and upload your resume within 4 weeks of filing or they'll disqualify you. Don't put this off because it can take a few days to get approved in their system.

Honestly the best way to know for sure is just to file and see what happens. The online application walks you through everything and will tell you if there are obvious eligibility issues. Based on what you described - 8 months restaurant work plus part-time retail, laid off due to business reasons - you should definitely qualify for benefits.