Washington ESD unemployment qualification requirements - need clarification on how to qualify for unemployment

The main requirements for Washington ESD unemployment are: 1) You must have worked in Washington state during your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters), 2) You must have earned at least $1,685 during your base period, 3) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs, restructuring qualify), 4) You must be able and available for work, and 5) You must actively search for work. Since you were laid off due to restructuring, that should meet the 'no fault of your own' requirement.

Thank you! So the base period is looking at the last year and a quarter basically? I think I made more than $1,685 but I'm not sure about the quarterly breakdown.

Exactly! If you're filing now in 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024. You can check your quarterly wages on your Washington ESD account once you create one.

i think theres also something about having to work in at least 2 quarters during your base period? not just the total amount but it has to be spread out

You're partially right - there is an alternative base period calculation if you don't qualify under the standard one. But the main requirement is earning at least $1,685 total AND having wages in at least 680 hours of work during the base period.

oh ok thanks for clarifying that, the hours thing makes more sense

Since you mentioned being overwhelmed by the Washington ESD website, I found claimyr.com really helpful when I needed to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. They have this system that calls you back when an agent is available instead of sitting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of frustration trying to get through to clarify my eligibility questions.

That sounds really useful! I was dreading having to call Washington ESD because I heard the wait times are terrible.

Is this one of those services that charges you though? I'm already tight on money being unemployed.

It's worth checking out their site for the details, but for me it was worth it to actually get answers instead of getting hung up on or waiting hours.

For the job search requirement, you'll need to register with WorkSource Washington and make at least 3 job search activities per week once you start receiving benefits. Keep detailed records because Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, and even some training activities can count. Washington ESD has a list on their website of approved activities.

the whole system is so complicated for no reason, why cant they just make it simple - if you lose your job you get benefits end of story

I understand the frustration, but the requirements exist to ensure the system is used appropriately and has funding for those who truly need it. The qualification process does serve a purpose even if it's confusing.

i guess but when youre already stressed about losing your job the last thing you want is to jump through hoops

One more question - if I worked in another state before moving to Washington, does that count toward my base period wages?

No, only wages earned in Washington state count for Washington ESD benefits. However, you might be able to file an interstate claim with your previous state, or there might be combined wage claim options. You'd need to check with Washington ESD about your specific situation.

I had a similar situation and Washington ESD was able to look up wages from other states through some interstate system, but it took extra time to process.

What if you were fired for attendance issues? Does that disqualify you automatically?

It depends on the circumstances. Washington ESD will investigate misconduct claims. If the attendance issues were due to reasons beyond your control (illness, family emergency, transportation problems), you might still qualify. But if it was willful disregard of company policy, you could be disqualified.

That's scary. How do they investigate that stuff?

They'll contact both you and your former employer to get statements about what happened. This is called adjudication and it can take several weeks to resolve.

also make sure you apply right away after losing your job because benefits dont start until you actually file the claim, they dont backdate it

Good point! I was waiting to see if I could find another job quickly but maybe I should just file now to be safe.

Definitely file as soon as you're eligible. There's a one-week waiting period anyway, so the sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits if approved.

The income requirement seems low at $1,685. Is that really enough to qualify for meaningful benefits?

That's just the minimum to qualify. Your actual benefit amount is calculated based on your highest quarter earnings during the base period. The maximum weekly benefit in Washington is currently around $900+ per week.

Oh wow, that's actually pretty good compared to other states I've looked at.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier - I actually used it again last week when I had questions about my continued claim and got through to Washington ESD in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. Definitely recommend checking it out if you need to talk to someone there.

Thanks for the update! I'm definitely going to try this when I file my claim.

Yeah this sounds like exactly what I need since I have so many questions about my specific eligibility situation.

Don't forget about the able and available requirement. You have to be physically and mentally able to work and available for full-time work during normal business hours. If you have any restrictions, you need to report them.

What if you can only work certain shifts due to childcare? Does that disqualify you?

Not necessarily, but you do need to be available for a reasonable range of hours and shifts. Limited availability can sometimes affect your eligibility, so it's something to discuss with Washington ESD.

i qualified but then got disqualified later because they said i didnt do enough job searches even though i was applying everywhere, the requirements are so strict

Did you keep detailed records of your job search activities? Washington ESD requires specific documentation including dates, employer names, positions applied for, and method of contact.

i kept some records but maybe not detailed enough, i thought just applying was enough

You can appeal the disqualification if you think it was unfair. You have 30 days from the determination notice to file an appeal.

This is all really helpful but also kind of overwhelming. I wish there was just a simple checklist somewhere.

Washington ESD does have a benefits eligibility tool on their website that walks you through the basic requirements. It's under the 'Am I Eligible' section.

The tool is helpful but sometimes the real situations are more complicated than what the online tool can handle.

Make sure you understand the difference between monetary eligibility (having enough wages) and non-monetary eligibility (reason for job separation, able and available, etc.). You can meet one but not the other.

That's a good distinction I hadn't thought about. So even if I earned enough money, I could still be denied for other reasons?

Exactly. Most denials I see are actually for non-monetary reasons like misconduct, voluntary quit, or not meeting the work search requirements.

does anyone know if gig work counts toward the wage requirements? like uber or doordash?

Generally no, gig work doesn't count toward regular unemployment insurance because you're considered an independent contractor, not an employee. However, there might be specific circumstances where it could count if you were misclassified.

darn, that rules out a lot of my recent work history

The part about being unemployed through no fault of your own is really important. Even if you think your situation qualifies, Washington ESD might see it differently and you could end up in adjudication for weeks.

What's adjudication exactly? I keep seeing that term mentioned.

It's when Washington ESD investigates your claim because there's a question about your eligibility. They'll contact you and your employer to get both sides of the story before making a decision.

This is another situation where being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD through Claimyr can be really helpful to understand what's happening with your claim.

just want to add that even if you qualify, the whole process can take several weeks especially if theres any issues with your claim, so dont expect money right away

How long does it typically take if everything goes smoothly?

if theres no problems maybe 2-3 weeks from filing to first payment, but any complications can add weeks or even months

I'd also recommend having all your employment history ready before you start the application - dates of employment, employer addresses, reason for leaving each job, etc. It makes the process much smoother.

Good tip! I'll gather all that information before I start filing. Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice!

You're welcome! Good luck with your claim. Don't hesitate to ask if you have more specific questions as you go through the process.

One last thing - make sure you report any severance pay or vacation payout when you file. It can affect when your benefits start.

I did get a small severance payment. Does that delay everything?

It might delay the start of your benefits depending on the amount, but you still need to report it honestly. Washington ESD will calculate how it affects your claim.

this thread has been super helpful, i was in the same boat trying to figure out if i qualified after getting laid off from my warehouse job

Same here! The Washington ESD website really doesn't explain things in plain English. This discussion cleared up a lot of confusion for me.