How to know if your eligible for unemployment - Washington ESD eligibility requirements?

Basic requirements are you need to have worked enough quarters and earned enough wages in your base period. For Washington ESD, you typically need wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period and total wages of at least 680 times the state minimum wage. Since you worked 8 months, you should meet the work requirement. Being able and available means you're physically capable of working and actively seeking jobs.

You also have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. Getting laid off usually qualifies, but if you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might not be eligible. The job search requirement is real too - you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep records.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to get specific answers about your situation, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual agent. They have a system that handles the calling for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get my eligibility questions answered directly.

Don't forget about the monetary eligibility vs non-monetary eligibility distinction. Even if you worked enough (monetary), you still have to meet the non-monetary requirements like being available for work, not turning down suitable job offers, etc. Both have to be satisfied.

ugh the eligibility stuff is so confusing!! I thought I qualified but then they wanted all this documentation about my work history and I didn't save my paystubs properly 😭

One thing people miss is that you have to be registered with WorkSource Washington to maintain eligibility. It's not optional - it's a requirement. You can do it online but make sure you complete your profile and keep it updated.

The system is designed to deny people honestly. They'll find any reason to say you don't qualify. I had a friend who got denied because she didn't report working ONE DAY at a temp job months earlier. Be super careful about disclosing everything.

just went thru this process myself last month. took forever to get approved even though i clearly qualified. the whole system moves at a snails pace

Important reminder that there's a one-week waiting period for new claims. Your first week of unemployment won't be compensated - it's just how the system works. Plan your finances accordingly.

I've been on unemployment twice and both times the eligibility review took forever. They really scrutinize everything. Make sure your reason for separation is clear and you have documentation if needed.

Another tip - if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier is really worth it. I was going crazy trying to get through on my own and they got me connected to an agent in like 20 minutes. Saved me so much stress.

Don't assume you're not eligible! I thought I wouldn't qualify because I was only part-time at my last job, but I still had enough wages from my previous full-time position to meet the requirements. The base period calculation can work in your favor.

The able and available requirement trips people up. You can't be too restrictive about what jobs you'll accept, especially as time goes on. If you say you'll only work certain hours or only certain types of jobs, they might question your availability.

OMG yes the able and available thing is so stressful! Like what if I can only work certain days because of childcare? Does that make me not available enough??

Been there! The whole process is intimidating but most people who worked regular jobs and got laid off do qualify. Just be honest, keep good records, and don't overthink it too much.

One last thing - even if you think you might not qualify, it's usually worth applying anyway. The worst they can do is deny you, and sometimes people are surprised to find out they do meet the requirements. The application itself doesn't cost anything.

just make sure you apply as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. there's no retroactive benefits so every week you wait is money you lose even if you qualify

The WorkSource registration is super important! I forgot to do it and my claim got held up for weeks while they sent me notices about it. Don't make my mistake - do it right after you apply for benefits.

Final plug for getting actual human help if you need it - seriously check out Claimyr if you run into issues or have questions that the website can't answer. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person who knows the system, and they make that possible without the usual phone nightmare.

Good luck with your application! Sounds like you have a solid case for eligibility. Just take it step by step and don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you.