How to apply for unemployment for IHSS workers in Washington - Washington ESD process?

Yes, IHSS workers can definitely qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington! Since you were receiving wages and likely had taxes withheld, you should be eligible. You'll need to file your initial claim through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. Make sure you have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and any pay stubs or tax documents from your IHSS work.

i filed for UI after my ihss job ended last year and it was pretty straighforward. just make sure you report all your wages correctly on the washington esd application

I had to use Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my IHSS unemployment claim. The phone lines are always busy but their service helped me connect with an actual agent who could explain the process. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

The Washington ESD system is SO confusing for IHSS workers!! I spent hours trying to figure out how to report my wages correctly. Make sure you understand the difference between gross and net pay when you're filling out the application.

IHSS workers have the same rights as any other employee when it comes to unemployment benefits. Washington ESD treats you like any other worker as long as you meet the wage and work requirements. You'll need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base period and worked in at least two quarters.

just a heads up - you'll need to do weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. washington esd makes you certify that you're looking for work and available to work. dont forget or you'll lose your benefits for that week

One important thing for IHSS workers - make sure you report the reason for separation correctly. Since your client moved to assisted living, that would be considered a layoff due to lack of work, which shouldn't affect your eligibility negatively.

The Washington ESD website has a whole section for domestic workers and caregivers. I'd recommend reading through that before you file your claim. It explains a lot of the specifics that apply to our type of work.

Another thing - if you have any issues with your claim or it goes into adjudication, don't panic. IHSS cases sometimes need extra review but that doesn't mean you won't get approved.

I work for multiple IHSS clients and when one ended I was able to get partial unemployment benefits while still working for the others. Washington ESD has provisions for partial claims if you lose some but not all of your work.

Ugh the job search requirements are such a pain when you're trying to find specific caregiving work. I had to apply to so many random jobs just to meet the weekly requirement even though I only wanted IHSS positions.

If you run into any problems with Washington ESD not understanding IHSS work arrangements, I'd definitely recommend using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. They helped me explain my situation to an actual Washington ESD representative who knew about domestic worker benefits.

Make sure you file as soon as possible after your last day of work. There's no waiting period in Washington but you want to get your claim started right away to avoid any delays in receiving benefits.

Don't forget you'll need to register with WorkSource too if you want to receive benefits. It's part of the job search requirements in Washington.

IHSS workers sometimes have their claims flagged for verification because the work arrangement can look unusual to the automated system. If that happens, just provide any documentation you have about your employment.

The weekly benefit amount for IHSS workers is calculated the same as any other job - based on your highest earning quarter in the base period. With 8 months of work, you should get a decent weekly amount.

Good luck with your claim! IHSS workers definitely deserve unemployment benefits just like everyone else. The process might seem complicated but it's really not too bad once you get started.

One more tip - if you end up getting another IHSS position while on unemployment, you can work part-time and still collect partial benefits as long as you report your earnings properly on your weekly claims.

The most important thing is to be completely honest on your application and weekly claims. Washington ESD takes fraud seriously, but as long as you're truthful about everything, you shouldn't have any problems as an IHSS worker.

Just wanted to follow up one more time about Claimyr - if you do run into any issues where you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about your IHSS work situation, that service really does make a huge difference. The phone system is impossible otherwise.