How to know if you're eligible for Washington ESD unemployment benefits - confused about requirements

Washington ESD looks at your earnings during your 'base year' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. Since you worked full-time earlier and part-time recently, you'll likely qualify if you earned at least $1,005 in your highest quarter and your total base year wages are at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. The 'able and available' requirement means you're physically capable of working and actively seeking employment, but you don't have to accept just any job - it has to be suitable work.

i was in similar situation last year, the earnings thing is confusing but basically they want to see you had steady work income. if you made 18k total you should be fine. the hard part is actually getting through to someone at washington esd when you have questions

The key eligibility factors for Washington ESD are: 1) Sufficient wage credits in your base year, 2) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs, reduction in force qualify), 3) You must be able and available for work, 4) You must be actively seeking work. Since you lost your job due to budget cuts, that's definitely qualifying separation. Your wage history sounds like it meets the monetary requirements too.

WAIT A MINUTE - are you sure about the base year thing? I thought they used the most recent quarters, not older ones? This is exactly why the Washington ESD system is so frustrating. Nobody gives you straight answers!

Don't stress too much about eligibility - if you've been working and paying into the system, you probably qualify. The Washington ESD will calculate everything for you when you file your initial claim. Just make sure you have all your employment information ready: employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation.

lol the whole system is a mess anyway. i qualified but still took 6 weeks to get my first payment because of 'adjudication' whatever that means

Since you mentioned being confused about the Washington ESD website, here are the specific eligibility requirements: You need to have earned wages in at least 2 quarters of your base year, with total base year wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter, AND earnings of at least $1,005 in your highest quarter. You also need to have lost your job through no fault of your own and be able/available for work.

One thing to keep in mind - even if you're eligible, make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you haven't been paid yet. Missing a week can mess up your benefits. Also, report any work or income during your weekly certification.

just want to mention again that claimyr service i used - it was honestly a lifesaver when i needed to talk to someone at washington esd about my claim status. way better than sitting on hold for hours

The 'suitable work' definition is important too. You don't have to take jobs that pay significantly less than your previous work or are outside your skills/experience, especially in the first few weeks of your claim.

make sure to keep records of EVERYTHING - every job application, every contact with washington esd, every employer conversation. if they ever question your eligibility or job search efforts, you'll need documentation

Reading all this makes me realize how complicated the system is. I went through something similar and ended up calling Washington ESD multiple times to clarify my eligibility. Actually used Claimyr to get through their phone system faster - they have this demo video that shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Really helped when I was stressed about my claim.

Don't forget about the work search requirement! You'll need to register with WorkSourceWA and complete your job search activities each week. It's not optional.

honestly the whole eligibility thing stressed me out so much but it turned out i was overthinking it. if you've been working and paying taxes, you probably qualify. the washington esd will figure out all the calculations

Final tip: when you file your initial claim, be completely honest about your work history and reason for separation. Any discrepancies between what you report and what your employer reports can delay your claim and trigger adjudication.

The fact that you lost your job due to budget cuts is actually ideal for unemployment eligibility - that's clearly not your fault. Combined with your earnings history, you should have no problems qualifying.

Just wanted to add - if you do run into any issues with your claim or need to speak with Washington ESD about your eligibility, services like Claimyr can help you actually get through to someone. Much better than the endless hold times trying to call directly.

Based on everything you've described, you should definitely qualify. $18K in earnings with a mix of full-time and part-time work, plus an involuntary separation - that checks all the boxes for Washington ESD eligibility.

Good luck with your claim! The eligibility requirements seem scary at first but most people who've been working qualify without issues. Just make sure to file your weekly claims on time once you get started.