How do you know if you're eligible for unemployment in Washington state?

The main requirements for Washington ESD unemployment are pretty straightforward. You need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). You also need to have earned at least $1,230 in your highest quarter. Since you worked 8 months, you should meet the work history requirement. The other big thing is that you have to be unemployed through no fault of your own - getting laid off definitely qualifies.

You should definitely apply! The worst they can do is deny you, but from what you're describing it sounds like you'd qualify. When you apply online through the Washington ESD website, they'll tell you right away if you meet the basic requirements. Just make sure you have all your employment info ready - dates, employer names, addresses, and your gross wages.

I was in a similar situation last year and qualified even though I was worried I wouldn't. One thing to keep in mind is that you have to be able and available to work, and you have to be actively looking for work. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. But honestly, if you got laid off through no fault of your own and you want to work, you'll probably qualify.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my eligibility. Their phone lines are always busy and the website doesn't always give clear answers. I ended up using a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get my questions answered quickly instead of waiting weeks.

Don't overthink it - just apply! The Washington ESD system will automatically calculate if you meet the wage requirements when you enter your employment history. If you don't qualify, they'll tell you why. But working for 8 months sounds like you should be fine, especially if you were laid off.

Make sure you apply as soon as possible because there's a waiting week and benefits don't start immediately. Also, even if you think you might not qualify, it's worth applying because Washington ESD might have programs or exceptions you don't know about.

I'm going through this right now too. One thing I learned is that if you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you won't qualify. But layoffs, reduction in force, or getting fired for performance issues that aren't misconduct usually qualify you for benefits.

The Washington ESD website has an eligibility checklist that's pretty helpful. You can also call their customer service line, though good luck getting through lol. I spent hours on hold last time I tried.

Another thing to consider - if you worked in multiple states, you might need to file in the state where you worked most recently or earned the most wages. Since you mentioned working in Washington, you'd file with Washington ESD.

Just want to add that you need to file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed. Don't wait for approval - start filing those weekly claims right away or you could lose benefits for those weeks.

if you're not sure about your wages or work history, you can request a wage statement from washington esd. it shows all the wages that employers reported for you. might help you figure out if you meet the requirements before applying

I was part-time for a while too and still qualified. Washington ESD looks at your total wages earned, not just whether you were full-time or part-time. As long as you hit their minimum wage requirements during your base period, you should be good.

One more thing - if you get denied initially, don't give up! You can appeal the decision. Sometimes Washington ESD makes mistakes or doesn't have complete information. The appeal process gives you a chance to provide additional documentation or clarify your situation.

APPLY NOW! Seriously, stop overthinking it. The worst case scenario is they say no and you're in the same position you're in now. Best case, you get approved and start receiving benefits. There's literally no downside to applying.