Washington ESD unemployment benefits - what exactly qualifies you and how much can you get?
I just got laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant in Tacoma and I'm trying to figure out what unemployment benefits actually are and if I qualify. I've been working there for 2 years making about $18/hour but I've never filed for unemployment before. My manager said something about Washington ESD but I don't really understand what that means or how any of this works. Can someone explain what unemployment benefits are and what I need to do to apply? I have rent due next week and I'm starting to panic.
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Connor Byrne
Unemployment Insurance (UI) through Washington ESD is basically a safety net program that provides temporary financial assistance to workers who lose their job through no fault of their own. You pay into this system through payroll taxes while you're working, so it's not welfare - it's insurance you've already paid for. The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) administers the program in our state.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Oh okay that makes sense. So I've been paying into this already through my paychecks? I never really noticed that line item.
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Connor Byrne
•Exactly! It comes out automatically as part of your state taxes. Since you worked for 2 years you should definitely qualify based on your work history.
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Yara Abboud
To qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits you need to meet a few basic requirements: 1) You lost your job through no fault of your own (layoffs, business closure, etc.), 2) You have enough work history in the past 18 months, and 3) You're able and available to work. Since you were laid off from manufacturing, you should be good on the first point.
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Zainab Ahmed
•What counts as 'enough work history'? I worked full-time for 2 years straight.
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Yara Abboud
•You're definitely covered. Washington requires earnings in at least two quarters of your base period, and you have way more than that with 2 years of steady work.
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PixelPioneer
•The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim, just to clarify that terminology.
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Keisha Williams
I was in a similar situation last year when my plant shut down. The weekly benefit amount depends on your earnings during your highest-paid quarter in the base period. In Washington, the maximum weekly benefit is currently around $999 per week, but most people get less than that. At $18/hour full-time, you're probably looking at somewhere between $400-600 per week.
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Zainab Ahmed
•That would actually help a lot! How long can you collect benefits for?
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Keisha Williams
•Standard unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks in Washington, but it can vary based on the unemployment rate in the state.
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Paolo Rizzo
Just a heads up - getting through to Washington ESD on the phone can be absolutely brutal. I spent hours trying to call when I had questions about my claim. If you run into issues reaching them, there's actually a service called Claimyr that helps people get through to unemployment offices. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Is that legitimate? I'm worried about scams when it comes to unemployment stuff.
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Paolo Rizzo
•Yeah it's legit - they just help you get through the phone system faster. I used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication and couldn't reach anyone for weeks.
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Amina Sy
•I've heard good things about Claimyr too. The Washington ESD phone system is notorious for hanging up on people when call volume is high.
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Oliver Fischer
To actually apply, you'll need to go to esd.wa.gov and create an account. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and information about your employment for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The sooner you apply the better since there's usually a one-week waiting period.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Do I need anything from my employer like a termination letter?
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Oliver Fischer
•Not required but it can be helpful if there are any questions about why you were separated. Most importantly, make sure you have accurate dates and your employer's full business information.
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Natasha Ivanova
Once you file your initial application, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. This is where you report any work you did that week and any money you earned. You also have to show that you're actively looking for work - Washington requires at least 3 job search activities per week.
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Zainab Ahmed
•What counts as a job search activity?
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Natasha Ivanova
•Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, interviews, creating or updating your resume, etc. You need to keep a log of your activities in case they audit you.
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NebulaNomad
•WorkSourceWA.com is the state's job search website and using it counts toward your job search requirements. You should register there anyway.
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Javier Garcia
Watch out for the fact that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or you'll owe it all when you file your tax return. I learned this the hard way and owed a bunch of money the following April.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Good to know! I definitely want to avoid a big tax bill later.
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Javier Garcia
•Yeah, just check the box to withhold 10% federal taxes when you set up your claim. You can always change it later if needed.
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Emma Taylor
Quick question - were you part of a union at the manufacturing plant? Sometimes there are additional benefits or procedures if you were in a union job.
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Zainab Ahmed
•No union, just a regular employee. Does that make the process easier or harder?
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Emma Taylor
•Easier in some ways - less complications. Just make sure when you file that you accurately describe the layoff situation.
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Malik Robinson
Don't wait to apply thinking you might get called back soon. Even if your employer said the layoff might be temporary, you should still file immediately. You can always stop collecting benefits if you get recalled to work, but you can't backdate your claim more than a week or two.
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Zainab Ahmed
•That's good advice. My supervisor did mention they might call people back in a few months but nothing definite.
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Malik Robinson
•Exactly - file now and protect yourself. Manufacturing layoffs can stretch longer than companies initially think.
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Isabella Silva
One thing to be prepared for is that your claim might go into 'adjudication' which means they need to review something before approving your benefits. This is pretty common and usually not a big deal, but it can delay your first payment by several weeks. Don't panic if this happens.
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Zainab Ahmed
•What kind of things cause adjudication?
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Isabella Silva
•Usually questions about why you were separated from your job, or if you had any warnings or disciplinary issues. Since you were laid off it should be straightforward, but Washington ESD reviews a lot of claims automatically.
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Ravi Choudhury
•If your claim does get stuck in adjudication and you can't reach anyone at Washington ESD, that's another situation where Claimyr might be worth trying to get through to speak with someone.
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CosmosCaptain
Make sure you understand the difference between being 'able and available' for work versus being on 'standby' status. If your employer gave you a specific return date and you're just waiting to be called back, you might qualify for standby which has different requirements.
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Zainab Ahmed
•They didn't give us a specific return date, just said maybe in a few months depending on orders. Sounds like regular unemployment then?
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CosmosCaptain
•Right, that would be regular UI benefits since there's no definite recall date. You'll need to do the job search activities.
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Freya Johansen
Just want to add that the Washington ESD website can be really confusing at first. Take your time filling out the application and don't rush through it. Mistakes can cause delays or issues with your claim later.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Is there a way to save your progress while filling it out?
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Freya Johansen
•I think you can save and come back to it, but I'd recommend having all your information ready before you start so you can complete it in one session.
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Omar Fawzi
Does anyone know if the one-week waiting period is still in effect? I thought I heard they might have eliminated it during COVID but I'm not sure if that's still the case.
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Connor Byrne
•The waiting week was suspended during the pandemic but it's back now. So there's a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first benefit payment.
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Zainab Ahmed
•So even if I apply today, I won't get paid for the first week?
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Connor Byrne
•Correct - you'll file for that first week but won't get paid for it. It's just how the system works now.
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Chloe Wilson
I'm going through this process right now actually. Filed 3 weeks ago and just got my first payment this week. The hardest part was gathering all the employer information - make sure you have exact addresses and phone numbers for all your jobs in the past 18 months, not just your most recent one.
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Zainab Ahmed
•I've only had the one job for the past 2 years so that should be easy. How long did it take from filing to getting your first payment?
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Chloe Wilson
•About 2.5 weeks for me, but I didn't have any complications. Some people get paid faster, some take longer depending on if there are any issues with their claim.
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Diego Mendoza
The whole system seems designed to be confusing honestly. I had to call multiple times just to understand what 'monetary determination' meant when I got that notice.
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Anastasia Romanov
•Monetary determination just tells you how much your weekly benefit amount will be and how many weeks of benefits you're eligible for. It's actually good news when you get that!
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Diego Mendoza
•Wish they would just say that instead of using confusing terminology!
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Zainab Ahmed
•Thanks for explaining that - I'll know what it means when I get one.
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StellarSurfer
One last tip - set up direct deposit right away when you file your claim. Getting the debit card they send takes forever and it has fees for certain transactions. Direct deposit is much faster and more convenient.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Good tip! I definitely prefer direct deposit anyway.
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StellarSurfer
•Yeah the KeyBank debit card they use has ATM fees at non-KeyBank ATMs and other annoying restrictions.
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Sean Kelly
Hope this all helps! The unemployment system seems overwhelming at first but once you get through the initial application it becomes pretty routine with the weekly claims. Good luck with everything!
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Zainab Ahmed
•This has been incredibly helpful, thank you all! I'm going to go file my application right now while I have all this information fresh in my mind.
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Zara Malik
•You've got this! The manufacturing sector has been tough lately but unemployment benefits will help bridge the gap while you find your next opportunity.
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