How to apply for furlough unemployment benefits with Washington ESD

Yes, you can definitely apply for UI benefits during a furlough! Washington ESD treats temporary layoffs the same as regular unemployment. You'll need to file a new claim through their website and indicate that it's a temporary layoff situation.

i went through this last year when my retail job furloughed us. the key thing is to apply right away, don't wait. benefits are backdated to when you first became eligible but there can be delays in processing

For furlough situations, you'll want to select 'lack of work' as your separation reason when filing. Make sure you're available for work and actively seeking employment even though you expect to return to your job. You still need to complete your weekly claims and job search requirements.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I was furloughed. Spent literally hours on hold trying to get clarification about my claim status. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!! I've been trying to get answers about my furlough claim for WEEKS and nobody at Washington ESD knows anything. They keep transferring me around and hanging up on me.

One thing to be aware of - if your furlough gets extended or becomes permanent, you'll need to update Washington ESD. Don't assume they'll automatically know if your situation changes.

my sister went through this exact thing last month. she said the hardest part was keeping track of all the weekly claim deadlines while dealing with the stress of not knowing when she'd go back to work

Here's a step-by-step for your situation: 1) File your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov, 2) Complete your weekly claims every week during the furlough period, 3) Keep records of your job search activities, 4) Notify Washington ESD immediately when you return to work. The process is really straightforward once you get started.

Just want to add that you should keep all documentation from your employer about the furlough. Washington ESD might ask for it during the claims process, and it's good to have everything organized from the start.

does anyone know if you can work part time somewhere else during a furlough and still get unemployment? my hours got cut to zero but technically i'm still employed

The timing of your application really matters. I made the mistake of waiting a week after my furlough started to apply, thinking I'd hear back from my employer first. Don't do that - apply as soon as you know you're being furloughed.

Update on the Claimyr thing - I actually used them again last week when I had questions about returning to work after my furlough ended. Got through to a Washington ESD agent in about 10 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. Definitely worth it when you need answers quickly.

Quick question - if the furlough is only supposed to last 6 weeks, do I still need to register with WorkSource? That seems like overkill for such a short period.

The hardest part for me was understanding the difference between being furloughed and being laid off. Apparently it doesn't matter much for Washington ESD purposes - you file the same way either way.

Make sure you understand what happens when your furlough ends. You need to report your return to work immediately or you could end up with an overpayment situation that you'd have to pay back later.

i'm in the same boat but my company hasn't given us a definite end date for the furlough. they just said 'at least 6 weeks but possibly longer.' should i apply differently?

PSA: Don't forget that unemployment benefits are taxable income! You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them later, but plan accordingly.

For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD by phone, I'll second the recommendation for Claimyr. Used it twice now and both times got connected to an agent within 15 minutes. Way better than the hours I used to spend on hold getting nowhere.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I feel so much more confident about applying now. Going to start my claim application tonight.

One last tip - screenshot or print everything during your application process. I've had the website time out on me multiple times and lost my progress. Having records of what you submitted can save you time if you need to start over.