Washington ESD says I'm not eligible for unemployment - need to understand why

Washington ESD has specific wage requirements you need to meet. You need to have earned at least $7,000 in your base period (first 4 of the last 5 quarters before you filed). Did you work anywhere else before the restaurant job?

same thing happened to me when i first tried to file. the base period thing is confusing but basically they look at your earnings from a specific time period not just your most recent job

You should definitely appeal if you think Washington ESD made an error. But first, calculate your total wages during your base period. If you started the restaurant job in say March 2024 and filed in December 2024, your base period would be July 2023 through June 2024. Any wages earned during that time count toward eligibility.

I had this exact problem last year and couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD to explain my options. After weeks of trying to call, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent who walked me through the alternate base period calculation. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The Washington ESD system is so frustrating with these eligibility requirements. They make it seem like everyone who loses their job can get benefits but then hit you with all these technical rules.

Before you appeal, make sure you understand exactly why you were denied. There are different reasons for ineligibility - insufficient wages, voluntary quit, misconduct, etc. Each has different appeal strategies.

I'm dealing with something similar. Got denied even though I worked for 2 years but apparently I didn't earn enough in the right quarters. This whole base period thing is ridiculous.

For anyone reading this thread, the key eligibility requirements in Washington are: 1) You must have worked in at least two quarters of your base period, 2) You must have earned at least $7,000 total in your base period, and 3) You must have earned at least $3,500 in your highest quarter. If you don't meet these, you might qualify under the alternate base period which uses more recent quarters.

Been there. The wage requirements are really strict especially for people who are just starting their careers. I got denied my first time too but was able to get approved after working a few more months.

ugh this whole thread is making me anxious about my own claim. i filed last week and haven't heard anything yet but now im worried i might not qualify either

I actually used Claimyr too after getting a confusing denial letter. The agent I spoke with was really knowledgeable about Washington ESD rules and helped me understand exactly what was wrong with my claim. Worth checking out if you can't get through on your own.

The restaurant industry is tough for unemployment eligibility because a lot of workers are part-time or seasonal. Even if you worked full-time for 8 months, if your hourly wage was low you might not have hit the minimum wage requirements.

File the appeal anyway. Worst case scenario you get denied again but at least you'll have tried. The appeal process sometimes reveals information that wasn't clear in the original determination.

honestly the Washington ESD website is terrible at explaining this stuff. took me forever to figure out what base period even meant

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago. Got denied initially but the alternate base period calculation saved me. Definitely worth requesting that review before giving up.

The system is definitely frustrating but don't give up too easily. A lot of people who get initially denied actually do qualify once they understand the rules better or get the right calculation done.

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked great. Finally got to talk to someone at Washington ESD who could explain my specific situation instead of just reading generic information online.

Good luck with your appeal! The restaurant industry workers often face these eligibility issues but there are usually solutions available. Don't let the initial denial discourage you from exploring all your options.