How to eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

That's a relief! So they count both jobs when calculating eligibility?

Absolutely! Washington ESD looks at all your covered employment during the base period, so both your warehouse and retail jobs count toward your qualification.

What counts as a job search contact? Just applying online or do I need to do more?

Online applications count, but so do networking contacts, job fairs, interviews, even calling employers directly. Mix it up to show you're really looking.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be expensive.

It's way cheaper than missing weeks of benefits because you can't get through to file your claim. The value is definitely there when you're dealing with Washington ESD's phone system.

I've heard of services like this but wasn't sure if they were legit. Good to know it actually worked for someone.

Yeah it was definitely a layoff, they cut like 15 people due to slow business. Should I get some kind of documentation from my employer?

If you can get a layoff letter or termination notice that shows it wasn't your fault, that's helpful but not required. Washington ESD will contact your employer anyway to verify.

Wait, so I need to keep filing weekly even before I know if I'm approved?

Exactly! File every single week from your first week unemployed. If you're approved, you'll get paid for all those weeks. If you don't file, you won't get paid even if you're later approved.

This is super important advice! I made this mistake and lost 3 weeks of benefits because nobody told me this.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - the phone system is impossible. They got me through to someone in like 20 minutes.

I keep hearing about these callback services. Are they actually worth it or just another way to take money from desperate people?

I was skeptical too but when you're dealing with adjudication issues or claim problems, sometimes you just need to talk to a real person. It worked for my situation.

Good to know! What if I pick up some gig work like DoorDash or something?

Report all of it! Gig work, cash jobs, everything. Washington ESD has ways of finding out and overpayments are a nightmare to deal with.

That's reassuring. I'm just worried because the retail job was only part-time and didn't pay much.

Doesn't matter how much each individual job paid, it's the total during your base period that counts.

Of course! I definitely want to do this right the first time.

Smart approach. I've seen people get in trouble for tiny discrepancies that weren't even intentional lies.

What if I have a job interview out of town? Does travel for job searching count as available?

Yes, job search related travel is usually fine. Just document it well in case they ask questions later.

I had to provide proof once when I traveled for an interview - saved all my emails and travel receipts just in case.

Oh good, I was wondering about that! So no waiting period at all?

Nope, they eliminated the waiting week a few years ago. File as soon as you're unemployed.

Is there a way to estimate what I might get per week?

Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website, but basically it's roughly 3.85% of your highest quarter earnings, up to the maximum weekly benefit.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! Feeling much more confident about applying now.

Good luck with your claim! The process can be overwhelming at first but it gets easier once you understand the routine.

Easier said than done with Washington ESD's phone system though. I spent literally hours trying to get through.

That's why services like Claimyr exist - when you really need to reach someone, sometimes you need help getting through the phone maze.

Good point, I'll start a file right away with everything related to my unemployment claim.