Washington ESD - how to qualify for unemployment benefits after job loss?

You'll likely qualify since you worked full-time for 2 years. Washington ESD looks at your earnings in your 'base year' which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. You need to have earned at least $1,750 in your highest quarter and total earnings of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter amount.

Being laid off vs fired definitely matters. If you were laid off due to lack of work or position elimination, you should qualify. If you were fired for misconduct, that could disqualify you. Since you said your position was eliminated, that sounds like a layoff which is good.

I went through this same process last year. You also need to be able and available for work, and actively seeking employment. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities.

The Washington ESD application process was honestly a nightmare for me. I kept getting error messages and when I finally got through, my claim sat in adjudication for weeks. If you run into issues getting through to them by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to a real person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

ugh the washington esd system is so broken... took me forever just to create an account and then half the links dont work

Don't forget you also need to register with WorkSource Washington (worksource.wa.gov) within 4 weeks of filing your claim. This is separate from your Washington ESD unemployment claim but it's required to maintain eligibility.

One thing to watch out for - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still pending. If you miss weeks, you might not be able to get paid for those weeks later.

I'm dealing with something similar but I was a contractor not an employee. Anyone know if that changes things?

Another important thing - you can't collect unemployment if you're receiving severance pay. Washington ESD will ask about any separation payments when you file your claim.

The waiting period is usually just one week now, not the 7 days it used to be during covid. Just wanted to clarify that since I've seen some outdated info floating around.

Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply - dates of employment, reason for separation, your employer's contact info, and your social security number. Having everything organized will make the process much smoother.

Just want to mention Claimyr again since someone asked about getting through to Washington ESD earlier. I was skeptical at first but it really did help me get connected when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Been unemployed 3 times in the last decade unfortunately and the process gets a little easier each time. The key is to file as soon as possible after your last day of work. Don't wait around thinking you might find something quickly.

One more thing about job search requirements - make sure you're looking for 'suitable work' which generally means work similar to your previous job in terms of pay and skill level. You can't just apply for minimum wage jobs if you were making $25/hour (unless you've been unemployed for a long time).

The whole system is designed to make you give up honestly. Between the confusing website, impossible phone lines, and all the requirements, it's like they don't want people to get benefits.

Don't forget that your weekly benefit amount will be roughly 60-70% of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum. For 2025, the maximum is around $999 per week in Washington.

anyone else having trouble with the ID verification step? they want all these documents uploaded and the file size limits are ridiculous

Pro tip: keep detailed records of everything related to your unemployment claim. Save confirmation numbers, print important pages, and document all your job search activities. If issues come up later, you'll need that documentation.

For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD by phone, I'll mention one more time that Claimyr really was a game-changer for me. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to sort things out, especially if your claim gets stuck or you have questions about your eligibility.

Final thought for the original poster - don't stress too much about qualifying. Based on what you've described (2 years employment, layoff due to position elimination), you should definitely qualify. The hardest part is usually just navigating the application process itself.