Washington ESD unemployment insurance eligibility after minimum wage job - questions about qualifying

Yes, you can definitely qualify for unemployment benefits even with minimum wage earnings! Washington ESD looks at your total earnings over the base year period, not your hourly rate. As long as you earned at least $1,036 in your highest-earning quarter during the base year, you should meet the minimum requirements. Your weekly benefit amount will be calculated based on those earnings.

I was in a similar situation last year working part-time retail. The key thing is making sure you have enough hours and earnings in your base year. Even minimum wage jobs count fully toward your eligibility - it's about consistency of work, not the pay rate.

You'll want to gather all your pay stubs and W-2s before filing. Washington ESD needs to verify your earnings for the base year calculation. Also, don't worry about the low wage amount - the system is designed to help workers at all income levels. I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) when I had trouble reaching Washington ESD agents to check on my claim status. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

make sure you apply asap! there's usually a waiting period before benefits start and you don't want to miss out on any weeks. the system doesn't care if you made minimum wage or $100/hour - if you worked and paid into it you deserve the benefits

I worked minimum wage at a grocery store for over a year before getting laid off. My UI claim went through fine and I got about $280 per week including the state supplement. The earnings threshold isn't that high - you probably qualify if you worked steadily.

The whole system is a nightmare honestly. I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim and can never reach anyone. The phone lines are always busy and the online system gives me error messages half the time.

One thing to keep in mind - if you worked multiple minimum wage jobs during your base year, make sure Washington ESD has records from ALL your employers. Sometimes there are delays if they need to verify employment with smaller businesses.

honestly don't stress too much about the wage amount. I qualified making like $12/hour at a fast food place. The system is pretty fair about minimum wage workers - we pay into unemployment insurance too so we deserve the benefits when we need them

Just to add some specifics for your situation - working 28-32 hours per week at $15.74/hour would put you at roughly $1,800-2,100 per month in gross earnings. That's well above the minimum threshold for Washington ESD benefits. Your main concern should be making sure you meet the job search requirements once your claim is approved.

I had the same worry when I filed last year after getting let go from my restaurant job. Turns out I qualified easily and got benefits for 5 months while I found something better. The weekly amount wasn't huge but it covered my basic expenses.

Wait, I'm confused about something. If I was making minimum wage at multiple part-time jobs, do they combine all my earnings or look at each job separately for the base year calculation?

Pro tip: when you file your claim, have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months ready. The online application is pretty straightforward but having everything organized makes it go faster.

Update on my situation - I finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Took like 15 minutes instead of the usual hours of trying. They cleared up the issue with my claim and I should get my first payment next week.

Something to consider - if your hours were reduced before you got laid off completely, you might qualify for partial unemployment benefits even for those weeks when you were still working reduced hours. Washington ESD allows this if your weekly earnings drop below a certain threshold.

don't let anyone tell you that minimum wage workers don't deserve unemployment benefits. we pay the same taxes and contribute to the system just like everyone else. file your claim with confidence!

One last thing - make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if there are delays or issues with your initial application. You can't get paid for weeks you don't file for, even if the delay wasn't your fault.

Final thought for the OP - don't be discouraged if your weekly benefit amount seems low compared to your previous wages. Remember that unemployment is meant to be temporary assistance, not full wage replacement. Focus on using the time and financial cushion to find your next opportunity.

Just want to echo what others said about using Claimyr if you need to reach Washington ESD. I was skeptical at first but it really does work. Worth checking out their demo video to see how it connects you directly to agents.

Been following this thread and wanted to add - the fact that you worked consistently for 18 months at minimum wage actually works in your favor. Washington ESD likes to see stable work history, even if the wages aren't high. You should have no problem qualifying.

Quick question for anyone still following - if I qualify for the minimum weekly benefit amount, is there any additional assistance available? I know there used to be federal supplements during the pandemic.