Laid off at 65 can I get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Yes, you can absolutely file for unemployment at 65! There's no age limit for Washington ESD benefits. The key requirements are that you worked enough hours, lost your job through no fault of your own, and are able and available for work. Since you were laid off, you should qualify.

I was in a similar situation at 63 when I got laid off. Washington ESD doesn't care about your age, but you do need to be actively seeking work. The weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings, not your age.

One thing to know - if you're collecting Social Security, it won't affect your unemployment benefits in Washington. Some states have offsets but Washington doesn't reduce UI benefits based on Social Security payments.

The hardest part for me was actually getting through to Washington ESD to check on my claim status. Spent hours on hold multiple times. A friend told me about Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Make sure when you file online that you answer the question about being able and available for work correctly. At 65, Washington ESD might ask additional questions about your availability, but as long as you're genuinely seeking work, age isn't a disqualifier.

my dad got unemployment at 67 after his company closed down. took forever to process but he eventually got approved and collected for almost 6 months before finding another job

The system is ridiculous honestly. They make you jump through all these hoops regardless of your age or situation. But yes you can get benefits - just prepare for bureaucratic headaches.

One tip - gather all your employment documentation before you file. At 65, you might have a longer work history to verify, so having W-2s, pay stubs, and employer contact info ready will speed up the process.

Don't let anyone tell you that you should just retire instead of filing for unemployment. If you worked and paid into the system, you've earned those benefits regardless of your age.

Question - do they consider retirement benefits when calculating your weekly benefit amount? Or is it purely based on recent wages?

Just want to mention again that Claimyr really helped when I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD about my claim. The phone system is brutal and at our age, we don't have time to waste hours on hold.

For anyone over 50 filing for unemployment, make sure you're also registered with WorkSource. They have programs specifically for older workers and can help with job search strategies that work better for our age group.

quick question - if you're 65 and laid off, do you have to wait any kind of cooling off period before filing? or can you file right away like everyone else?

Update: I filed my claim online yesterday and it went through without any age-related issues. Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice!

This thread should be helpful for other older workers who get laid off. Age really isn't a barrier to unemployment benefits in Washington - the key is meeting the work and availability requirements.

One more thing - if your claim gets delayed or goes into adjudication, don't panic. It's pretty common and doesn't mean you're disqualified because of your age.

Final reminder - keep track of all your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD requires 3 per week, and they do audit claims randomly regardless of the claimant's age.

this whole thread has been super helpful. nice to see people helping each other navigate the system

Hope your job search goes well! And seriously, if you need to reach Washington ESD quickly for any reason, that Claimyr service at claimyr.com saved me so much time and frustration.

Best of luck to everyone dealing with unemployment at any age. Remember that you've earned these benefits through your work history - don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.

Just wanted to add that I went through this exact situation last year at 66. Filed for Washington ESD benefits after being laid off from a manufacturing job I'd held for 15 years. The online application was straightforward, and I received my first payment within 4 weeks. Age was never an issue - they only cared that I met the work requirements and was actively seeking employment. Don't let anyone discourage you from filing just because you're older. You've paid into the system and deserve those benefits when you need them.