I was laid off can I get unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

Yes, you should definitely be eligible for unemployment benefits since you were laid off through no fault of your own. You need to file your claim with Washington ESD as soon as possible. Go to esd.wa.gov and click on 'Apply for Benefits' - you'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and your bank account info if you want direct deposit.

File ASAP because there's a waiting week before you can start receiving benefits. Also make sure you have all your previous employers' info ready - they ask for like the last 5 quarters of work history.

Been through this process twice. The online application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready. After you submit, you'll get a determination letter in about a week telling you if you're approved and how much your weekly benefit will be. Then you have to file weekly claims every Sunday to actually get paid.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone (which happens a lot), I recently discovered this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really saved me when I needed to ask questions about my claim status.

OMG YES file immediately!! I waited like 3 days after I got laid off and I'm pretty sure that delayed everything. Also FYI you have to do job searches every week - 3 per week minimum. Keep track of everything you apply to because they can audit you.

Same thing happened to me 6 months ago. Manufacturing is rough right now. The Washington ESD process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week or you'll miss payments.

Don't forget you'll need to register with WorkSourceWA too - it's required for getting benefits. They have job search workshops and career counseling that's actually pretty helpful.

Make sure you have your last pay stub when you apply. They need to verify your wages and sometimes the employer info doesn't match up perfectly with what Washington ESD has on file.

The system is SO much better than it was during COVID. Back then it was a nightmare but now the website actually works and you can get through most of the process online without calling.

One thing to watch out for - if your employer contests your claim saying you were fired instead of laid off, it could delay your benefits. But since you said it was a layoff due to reduced orders, you should be fine.

I'm going through the same thing right now! Filed my claim last week and still waiting for my determination letter. The waiting is the worst part.

If you run into any issues with your claim getting stuck in adjudication or anything like that, definitely try calling Washington ESD. Though be prepared for long wait times. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually worked for me when I couldn't get through - they got me connected to an agent in like 20 minutes.

Just a heads up - you can't collect unemployment and work full time, but you can work part time and still get partial benefits. Might be worth looking into temporary or gig work while you job search.

File today if you can! The sooner you get your claim in, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. And remember, your first payment won't come until after the waiting week, so it might be 2-3 weeks before you see money.

Also keep in mind that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return next year.

The manufacturing industry has been hit hard lately. Lots of companies doing layoffs. At least Washington state has decent unemployment benefits compared to other places.

Make sure you keep copies of everything - your application, determination letter, weekly claims, job search activities. You never know when you might need them for reference.

Don't be discouraged if the process feels overwhelming at first. Thousands of people go through this every week and Washington ESD has gotten pretty good at processing claims efficiently.

If you need help with your resume or job search strategies, WorkSourceWA has free workshops and one-on-one counseling. Might as well take advantage of all the resources available.

Good luck with everything! Being laid off sucks but at least you have unemployment benefits to help bridge the gap while you find something new. You've got this!