If I get laid off can I collect unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Yes, if you get laid off through no fault of your own you should be eligible for Washington ESD unemployment benefits. You'll need to file your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. The basic requirements are that you worked enough hours in your base period and are able and available for work.

Getting laid off definitely qualifies you for UI benefits as long as you meet the work requirements. You'll file online through the Washington ESD website. Make sure you have your social security card, ID, and employment info for the last 18 months ready when you apply.

I got laid off last year and it was pretty straightforward to file. The hard part was actually getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim. Took me weeks of calling before I could talk to an actual person.

Just make sure you file right away! There's a waiting week before benefits start and any delay in filing just pushes everything back further. Also be ready to start doing your weekly claims immediately.

The job search requirements are pretty strict too. You have to be actively looking for work and document it. I think it's 3 job search activities per week minimum.

ugh the whole system is such a pain. I've been trying to get my claim sorted out for weeks and can never get through to anyone at Washington ESD. The automated system is useless

One thing to note - if you get any severance pay that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers severance as wages so it could delay your first payment.

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off and being fired for cause. Laid off = eligible, fired for misconduct = probably not eligible.

The weekly benefit amount in Washington is based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. Maximum is around $999 per week right now, but most people get less than that.

I had to file for unemployment twice - once in 2019 and again during covid. The process was pretty much the same both times, just file online and then do your weekly claims. The hardest part is always getting help when you need it because their phone system is terrible.

Don't forget you'll have to pay taxes on your unemployment benefits. They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you ask them to.

The good news is Washington doesn't have state income tax so you only have to worry about federal taxes on your unemployment benefits.

One more tip - if your claim gets stuck in adjudication for any reason, don't panic. It happens pretty often and usually resolves itself, but it can take a few weeks. That's another time when being able to reach Washington ESD directly really helps.

honestly the whole unemployment system is broken. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment even though everything was straightforward

To summarize for the OP: Yes, you can collect unemployment if you're laid off. File immediately online at Washington ESD's website, be ready to do weekly claims, keep track of your job search activities, and don't be discouraged if you have trouble reaching them by phone - it's a common problem but there are workarounds.

One more thing to keep in mind - if you do get laid off, try to get written documentation from your employer about the reason for termination. Sometimes Washington ESD will contact your former employer to verify the circumstances, and having that paperwork can help avoid any confusion or delays in processing your claim. Also, if your company offers COBRA health insurance continuation, you'll need to decide on that pretty quickly since you typically only have 60 days to elect coverage.