Washington ESD unemployment requirements - what is required for unemployment benefits?
I just lost my job last week and need to figure out what is required for unemployment benefits in Washington. I've never filed before and the Washington ESD website is confusing me. Do I need to have worked a certain amount of time? What about job searching - how much is required? I'm really stressed about making sure I do everything right so I don't get disqualified. Can someone break down the basic requirements?
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Darren Brooks
The main requirements are: 1) You need qualifying wages in your base year (usually first 4 of last 5 quarters), 2) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, 3) You have to be able and available for work, 4) You must actively search for work. For job search, you need 3 work search activities per week starting your second week of benefits.
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Cynthia Love
•What counts as qualifying wages? I worked part-time for most of last year but full-time the past 3 months.
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Darren Brooks
•As long as you earned at least $2,988 in your base year and earned wages in at least 680 hours, you should qualify. Part-time work counts toward this.
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Rosie Harper
Don't forget you also need to file your weekly claims every week even if you haven't been paid yet. Miss a week and you lose those benefits permanently. The job search requirement is super strict too - keep detailed records of every application and contact.
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Cynthia Love
•How detailed do the job search records need to be? Just company names or more?
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Rosie Harper
•You need company name, position applied for, date, method of contact, and result. Washington ESD can audit your search log anytime.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
I've been trying to call Washington ESD for two weeks to get my questions answered about eligibility but can never get through. The phone system is horrible - either busy signal or it hangs up on you after an hour hold. There's gotta be a better way to reach someone.
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Demi Hall
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•Really? How does that work exactly? Do they charge a lot?
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Demi Hall
•They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Way better than sitting on hold all day. The peace of mind is worth it when you need answers about your claim.
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Mateusius Townsend
MAKE SURE YOU APPLY WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF UNEMPLOYMENT! I waited 3 weeks thinking I might get called back and lost out on those benefits forever. Washington ESD doesn't pay retroactively for delays that are your fault.
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Cynthia Love
•Oh no, I'm already a week out. Does that mean I can't get benefits for last week?
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Mateusius Townsend
•You can still apply but you won't get paid for that first week you waited. File immediately!
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Darren Brooks
•Actually, there's a one week waiting period anyway for new claims, so you're probably fine. Just file ASAP.
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Kara Yoshida
The work search thing is no joke. I got disqualified for 6 weeks because my job contacts weren't good enough according to Washington ESD. You can't just apply to jobs you're not qualified for - they want legitimate search efforts.
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Cynthia Love
•What do you mean by legitimate search efforts? I was planning to just apply to anything.
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Kara Yoshida
•You need to apply for jobs you're reasonably qualified for in your field or similar fields. Random applications to jobs requiring different skills don't count.
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Rosie Harper
Also don't forget about the WorkSourceWA registration requirement. You have to register with them and keep your profile updated. It's separate from your Washington ESD claim but required.
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Cynthia Love
•Is that something I do online or do I have to go somewhere in person?
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Rosie Harper
•You can do it online at WorkSourceWA.com. Just make sure to keep your resume and profile current or Washington ESD might question your work search efforts.
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Philip Cowan
been on unemployment twice and the biggest thing is being honest about everything. they WILL find out if you lie about why you were fired or if you're working while collecting. the penalties are severe
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Cynthia Love
•What kind of penalties? I'm not planning to lie but good to know.
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Philip Cowan
•overpayment notices, disqualification, sometimes they make you pay back benefits plus penalties. not worth it
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Darren Brooks
One more important requirement - you need to be physically present in Washington state to collect benefits. If you're planning to move or travel while unemployed, you need to notify Washington ESD and follow their rules for collecting benefits while away.
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Caesar Grant
•Wait, what if I have a job interview in another state? Do I have to report that?
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Darren Brooks
•Short trips for job interviews are usually okay, but anything over a few days needs to be reported when you file your weekly claim.
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Lena Schultz
The income reporting is super important too. If you do any work while collecting, even one day or a few hours, you MUST report it on your weekly claim. This includes freelance work, gig work, everything.
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Cynthia Love
•What if it's just like $50 from a small side job? Does that really matter?
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Lena Schultz
•YES it matters! Any income has to be reported. They'll reduce your benefits accordingly but hiding it will get you in serious trouble.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
Update on my calling situation - tried Claimyr and finally got through to Washington ESD within 20 minutes. The agent explained all my eligibility questions and helped me understand the work search requirements. Would definitely recommend if you're stuck trying to reach them.
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Gemma Andrews
•How much did that cost you? I'm desperate to talk to someone about my claim.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•Honestly it was worth every penny compared to the hours I wasted on hold. Check out their site claimyr.com - they explain everything upfront.
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Pedro Sawyer
Don't forget you might be eligible for extended benefits or other programs depending on your situation. If you're in training or have disabilities, there might be additional options beyond regular UI.
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Cynthia Love
•What kind of training programs? I was thinking about going back to school.
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Pedro Sawyer
•There are approved training programs that let you collect benefits while in school. You'd need to apply through WorkSource and get approval from Washington ESD first.
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Mae Bennett
Something nobody mentions - keep copies of EVERYTHING. Your termination paperwork, pay stubs, correspondence with Washington ESD, job search records. If there's ever a dispute, you'll need documentation.
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Cynthia Love
•How long should I keep these records?
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Mae Bennett
•I'd keep them at least 3 years. Washington ESD can audit claims or request documentation even after your benefits end.
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Beatrice Marshall
The timing of when you file matters too. File on Sunday if possible - that's when the system is least busy and you're less likely to have technical issues with the website.
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Melina Haruko
•I always file mine Tuesday mornings and never have problems. Think it's more about consistency than the day.
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Beatrice Marshall
•Maybe, but I've definitely noticed fewer glitches on Sundays compared to Mondays when everyone's trying to file.
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Dallas Villalobos
If you're on standby status (like seasonal layoff), the requirements are a bit different. You don't have to do the work search but you still need to file weekly and be available if your employer calls you back.
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Cynthia Love
•How do you get standby status? My layoff might be temporary.
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Dallas Villalobos
•Your employer has to indicate on the separation notice that it's a temporary layoff with a specific return date. Washington ESD determines standby eligibility.
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Reina Salazar
Watch out for the tax implications too. Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld or pay quarterly, but don't forget about it come tax time.
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Cynthia Love
•Should I have taxes withheld or just pay later?
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Reina Salazar
•Depends on your situation, but having 10% withheld is usually safer than owing a big chunk at tax time.
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Demi Hall
Just to add - if you get denied initially, don't give up. Many denials are overturned on appeal if you have good documentation and present your case properly. The appeal deadline is strict though - 30 days from the denial notice.
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Cynthia Love
•Is the appeal process complicated? Would I need a lawyer?
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Demi Hall
•Most people handle appeals themselves. It's basically a phone hearing where you explain your side. But if it's complex, legal aid organizations can sometimes help.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
One last thing - if your claim goes into adjudication, be patient but persistent. Sometimes they need additional information and the process stalls if you don't respond quickly to their requests.
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Cynthia Love
•What's adjudication exactly? Sounds scary.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•It's just when Washington ESD needs to investigate something about your claim before approving benefits. Could be verifying your reason for unemployment or checking your work history.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•This is another good reason to use something like Claimyr - you can actually talk to someone to find out what's holding up your claim instead of just waiting and wondering.
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Demi Lagos
The key is to stay on top of everything from day one. File immediately, do your job search, keep records, file your weekly claims on time. It's a lot to manage but becomes routine after a few weeks.
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Cynthia Love
•Thanks everyone, this has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about filing now.
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Mason Lopez
•Good luck! The system seems overwhelming at first but you'll get the hang of it. Don't hesitate to ask questions if you run into issues.
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