Washington ESD unemployment eligibility questions - confused about requirements

Washington ESD looks at your work history over what's called the 'base period' which is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. You need to have earned a certain amount during that time period to qualify. The monetary eligibility is different from other requirements like being able and available for work.

The 'able and available' requirement means you have to be physically and mentally capable of working, and you have to be actively looking for work. You can't be on vacation, in school full-time, or have other commitments that would prevent you from accepting a job if offered.

I went through this whole process last year and it was such a headache trying to get someone at Washington ESD on the phone to ask questions. Spent hours calling and either got busy signals or got hung up on after waiting forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent - they have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

For monetary eligibility, you generally need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, and your total base period wages need to be at least 680 times the state minimum wage. There's also a high quarter requirement where your highest earning quarter needs to meet a certain threshold.

Don't forget about the reason for separation! Even if you meet all the monetary and able/available requirements, if you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might be disqualified from receiving benefits.

honestly the whole eligibility thing is confusing as hell. i just filed my claim and figured they'd tell me if i qualified or not. took like 2 weeks to get an answer but i did qualify

One thing people don't realize is that even if you're eligible for regular unemployment insurance (UI), your weekly benefit amount depends on your earnings during the base period. Washington ESD uses a formula based on your wages in the two highest quarters.

The job search requirement is another eligibility thing you need to keep in mind. Once you start receiving benefits, you have to do at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of them.

I'm going through eligibility determination right now and it's taking FOREVER. My claim has been in 'adjudication' status for over 3 weeks with no updates. Anyone else dealing with long delays?

For what it's worth, Washington ESD also has some special eligibility rules for certain situations like if you're in training programs, if you're a student, or if you have to relocate for your spouse's job. These can affect your able and available status.

THE WHOLE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS A JOKE!!! I've been trying to get answers about my eligibility for 2 MONTHS and can't get through to anyone. The website is confusing, the phone system hangs up on you, and the online messaging system is useless. How are people supposed to navigate this bureaucratic nightmare?

One more eligibility factor - if you receive certain types of pension or retirement income, it might affect your unemployment benefits. Washington ESD will ask about this when you file your claim.

Just want to add that if you're denied benefits initially, you can always appeal the decision. I was denied at first because of a miscommunication about why I left my job, but I appealed and won.

Bottom line - just file your claim if you think you might be eligible. Washington ESD will determine your eligibility automatically and let you know. It's better to apply and find out than to assume you don't qualify and miss out on benefits you're entitled to.