Under what circumstances can you collect unemployment benefits in Washington?

Thanks, that's helpful. What exactly counts as the base year period? Is that just the last 12 months?

The base year is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base year would be October 2023 through September 2024.

No misconduct, just company downsizing. Good to know I should be eligible then.

Oh man, the phone situation is terrible! I spent hours trying to get through when I had questions about my claim status. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a Washington ESD agent. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

That sounds useful, I'll probably need to call them with questions. How does that service work exactly?

It basically automates the calling process and gets you in the queue without you having to sit there redialing constantly. Super easy to use and saves a ton of time.

What exactly counts as 'good cause' for quitting? I've been thinking about leaving my job because my hours got cut to almost nothing.

Significant reduction in hours can qualify as good cause in some situations. There are specific criteria about how much your hours have to be reduced. You'd want to check with Washington ESD about your specific situation before making any decisions.

I quit my last job because of harassment and they still approved my claim. Good cause can include unsafe working conditions, harassment, or major changes to your job duties.

I definitely meet that requirement since I was working full time for 2 years. Should be straightforward then.

Yeah those wage requirements aren't too hard to meet if you've been working regularly. The trickier part is usually the job search requirements once you start collecting.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, and some training activities can count. There's a list on the Washington ESD website with all the approved activities.

I always just applied to 3 jobs per week and that worked fine. Keep it simple.

I think I'm getting some vacation pay. Does that delay when I can start collecting?

It can affect the timing, but the rules are pretty specific about how much and when. You'll need to report it when you file your claim and they'll tell you how it impacts your benefits.

Good point, I'll file this week. Is there a deadline for filing after you lose your job?

You should file within the first week after becoming unemployed. Benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you actually lost your job.

What happens during adjudication? Do they contact your employer?

They investigate the circumstances of your job separation by contacting you and your employer. They're looking to verify that you're eligible and that you didn't quit or get fired for misconduct.

Mine went to adjudication too and I couldn't get anyone on the phone to check the status. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier would have been really helpful - wish I'd known about it then.

My employer seemed supportive when they laid me off, so hopefully they won't contest it.

Even if they do contest it, as long as you're telling the truth about it being a layoff, you should be fine. The investigation will sort it out.

What if you're temporarily injured but expect to be able to work soon? Does that disqualify you completely?

It depends on the situation. If you're unable to work due to a medical condition, you might not be eligible for regular unemployment. But there might be other options like temporary disability. You'd need to check with Washington ESD about your specific circumstances.

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about applying now.

Good luck with your claim! The process can be a bit slow but you should be fine with a straightforward layoff situation.

Yeah, and keep copies of everything you submit. I had to resubmit documents because they claimed they never received them the first time.

The weekly claims are pretty straightforward though. Just answer honestly about any work you did and any income you received that week.

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into any problems. Sounds like phone access is a real issue.

The phone lines are definitely overloaded. Having a service that can get you through automatically is really valuable when you have time-sensitive issues.