If you get laid off are you eligible for unemployment - Washington ESD requirements?

Yes, if you're laid off through no fault of your own (like company restructuring), you're definitely eligible for Washington ESD unemployment benefits. You'll need to file your claim online at esd.wa.gov within the first week after your last day of work. Make sure to have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your employer's information ready.

Being laid off definitely qualifies you, unlike if you quit or got fired for misconduct. The key is that it has to be involuntary separation. Since it's company restructuring, that's textbook involuntary separation.

I went through this exact situation last year. One thing to know - Washington ESD will contact your employer to verify the reason for separation, so make sure your HR department knows you were laid off, not terminated for cause. Sometimes there's confusion in their systems.

Just a heads up - even though you qualify, there might be a waiting period for your claim to get processed. My layoff took about 3 weeks to get through adjudication because Washington ESD was backed up. If you need to reach them about your claim status, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. This starts immediately after your waiting week.

ugh the whole system is so confusing. I got laid off 6 months ago and it took FOREVER to get my first payment. make sure you file your weekly claims every single week even if your initial claim is still pending or you'll lose benefits for those weeks.

You'll also want to know your benefit amount ahead of time. Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit based on your earnings in your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). You can get up to $999 per week maximum, but most people get between $200-$600 depending on their previous wages.

One more thing - if your employer offers you severance pay, that might affect when your unemployment benefits start. Washington ESD treats severance differently depending on how it's structured, so mention it when you file your claim.

Don't forget to sign up for WorkSourceWA too. It's required for unemployment benefits and they have job search resources that can help. Plus it helps you track your required job search activities.

I'm going through this right now too. Filed 2 weeks ago and still waiting for my monetary determination. The automated system keeps saying my claim is under review but no specifics on what they're reviewing.

Just want to add - keep all your paperwork organized from day one. Print or screenshot everything from your Washington ESD online account. If there are any issues later, having documentation helps a lot.

The Washington ESD website can be glitchy sometimes, especially on Sundays when everyone is filing their weekly claims. If you can't log in, try again later or early in the morning.

Make sure you understand what disqualifies you too. Things like refusing suitable work offers or not meeting job search requirements can affect your benefits. Washington ESD is pretty strict about following the rules.

been there! got laid off from my marketing job last summer. the whole process took about a month from filing to getting my first payment, but that included the waiting week. hang in there, it does work out eventually.

Quick question for everyone - does anyone know if you can collect unemployment if you find part-time work while looking for full-time? My layoff is coming up next month too.

The most important thing is to file immediately after your last day. Don't wait thinking you might find a job right away. You can always stop claiming if you find work, but you can't backdate your claim if you wait too long to file.

Also remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or you'll owe at tax time. I learned this the hard way!

One last tip - if your claim gets denied for any reason, you have the right to appeal. Don't just accept a denial if you think it's wrong. Washington ESD makes mistakes sometimes and the appeal process can overturn incorrect decisions.

This thread has been super helpful! I'm bookmarking it for reference. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with Washington ESD unemployment.

Just wanted to add one more resource - if you do run into issues getting through to Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of trying to call. Worth checking out claimyr.com if you get stuck.