How does unemployment work in Washington - completely lost and need help understanding the process

Thanks! What exactly is a base period? And do I need to wait until my last day of work to file?

Base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. You can file your claim the same day you're laid off - don't wait!

What counts as a job contact? Just applying online or do I need to actually talk to someone?

Online applications count, but they prefer you mix it up with networking, attending job fairs, or calling employers directly. Check WorkSourceWA too - they have good resources.

The job search requirements are annoying but take them seriously. I got a warning letter once for not having enough qualifying contacts.

That sounds really helpful! Did you have to pay for that service or is it free?

It's not free but honestly worth it when you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through the regular way. Saved me so much frustration.

Never heard of Claimyr but might check it out. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for 3 days about my claim status with no luck.

Oh no, 6 weeks?? What kind of issues cause adjudication? I was laid off due to lack of work so hopefully that's straightforward.

Lack of work should be fine. Adjudication usually happens when there's questions about why you left your job, like if you quit or were fired for misconduct.

Exactly right. Since you were laid off due to lack of work, your claim should process normally without adjudication issues.

3 months?! That's terrifying. What kind of documentation did they want from you?

they wanted pay stubs, separation notice, bank statements, proof of identity... just kept asking for more stuff every few weeks

That's unusual. Most people get approved within 2-3 weeks if there are no complications. Sounds like you had some specific issue with your claim.

That's actually more than I expected! I was making about $3,200 a month so hopefully I'll get something decent.

Yeah you should be in a similar range. The formula is complicated but generally higher earnings = higher benefits up to the maximum.

Wow that's expensive! Can you appeal overpayment notices or are you stuck paying it?

You can appeal but you better have good documentation. I didn't keep good records so I'm basically screwed.

Always appeal overpayment notices if you think they're wrong. You have 30 days from the notice date to file an appeal with Washington ESD.

Good point! I hadn't thought about taxes. Is there an option to set up the withholding when you file your initial claim?

Yes, there's a checkbox during the application process. You can also change it later if you want to start or stop withholding.

So if I file this week, I won't see any money for two weeks? That's going to be rough.

Right, the first week is unpaid and then there's usually a processing delay. Plan accordingly!

Actually they eliminated the waiting week during COVID and I don't think they brought it back. Double check that.

Multiple people have mentioned Claimyr now. Seems like it might be worth trying if I run into issues.

I was skeptical about paying for something like that but honestly it saved me weeks of frustration trying to get through to Washington ESD.

Thanks for the tip! I'll try logging on tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Yeah I learned that the hard way after trying for hours during the day and getting error messages.

My layoff is permanent - they closed our whole department. So I think I'd be filing for regular unemployment, not standby.

Yeah permanent layoff means regular UI. Standby is only for temporary layoffs with expected recall dates.

Good to know there's hope if things go wrong! Did you have to appeal or just keep calling?

had to appeal the denial and it took another month but finally got approved. worth fighting for

I'll check that out! Anything that makes the job search requirements easier sounds good to me.

They also have career counseling and training programs if you're interested in learning new skills while you're looking for work.

I've only worked in Washington for the past few years so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about starting the process now.

Glad it helped you too! We're both starting this journey at the same time.

Definitely recommend Claimyr if you run into any roadblocks. Made a huge difference for me when I was stuck.