How to be eligible for Washington ESD unemployment benefits - confused about requirements

Thanks! So the base period is looking back at my work history from before I got laid off? That makes sense. I should have plenty of earnings to meet those thresholds.

Just to add - you also have to be able and available for work, and you were separated from your job through no fault of your own. A store closure definitely counts as involuntary separation.

That's a relief! I was worried I needed to start applying for jobs before I could even file. Should I file my claim right away or wait?

File ASAP! There's a waiting week before you can receive benefits, so the sooner you file, the sooner that week starts. You can file online at esd.wa.gov or by phone, but the website is usually faster.

Never heard of that before but honestly anything that helps get through to Washington ESD sounds amazing. The phone system is absolutely terrible.

Is that legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They just help you navigate the phone system to reach a real person. Didn't have to give them any personal info or anything like that.

You've got it backwards! You CAN'T get unemployment if you were fired for misconduct. Layoffs, store closures, reduction in force - those all qualify you for benefits because it's not your fault.

Oh wow, I've been giving people completely wrong information. Thanks for clearing that up.

Yeah, 'involuntary separation' is the key term. As long as you didn't quit without good cause or get fired for misconduct, you should be eligible.

All covered employment during your base period counts! Washington ESD will look at wages from all employers, not just your most recent one. That part-time job will actually help boost your benefit amount.

Perfect! I'm feeling much more confident about filing now. Going to do it this weekend.

Good point! I'll gather all that stuff before I start the application.

And make sure you file for the week you actually became unemployed, not when you start the application. The system will ask for your last day of work.

I'll definitely look that up! It would be nice to have an idea of the benefit amount.

Just remember the calculator is just an estimate. Your actual benefit amount might be slightly different based on how they calculate your base period wages.

That's rough! If you think you might qualify, it's always worth trying to file. The worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised.

Yeah I should have pushed through it. Missed out on months of benefits because I was intimidated by the process.

What's adjudication? Should I be worried about that happening?

It's just when they need to review something about your claim - could be verifying your employment, checking your separation reason, etc. Usually resolves within a few weeks.

Mine took 6 weeks to get through adjudication but I got all the back pay once it was approved. Definitely keep filing those weekly claims!

That's reassuring to hear! Hopefully my claim goes through just as smoothly.

Store closures are usually pretty straightforward for unemployment. The documentation is clear and there's no question about fault.

So even after I'm approved, I have to do something every week? What's involved in the weekly claims?

Yep! Weekly claims are pretty simple - just answering questions about whether you worked that week, if you looked for work, etc. Takes like 5 minutes online.

And you have to file them by the deadline each week or you could lose that week's benefits. I think the deadline is usually Saturday night.

Three job contacts per week sounds manageable. Do they have to be formal applications or can they include things like networking?

They need to be legitimate work search activities - applications, interviews, job fairs, etc. Check the Washington ESD website for the full list of what counts.

Thanks everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about moving forward with my claim now.

Good luck with your claim! The process can seem overwhelming at first but it's really not too bad once you get started.

Good to know! Hopefully I won't need to appeal, but it's reassuring to know that option exists.

Appeals have pretty good success rates if you have legitimate grounds. The initial determination isn't always final.