What are the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits - Washington ESD criteria?

The main eligibility requirements for Washington ESD unemployment benefits are: 1) You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, 2) Your total base period wages must be at least 680 hours at minimum wage, 3) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, 4) You must be able and available for work, and 5) You must actively search for work. The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.

Thanks! So if I file now in January 2025, my base period would be from January 2024 to December 2024?

Actually, it would be October 2023 through September 2024. The base period doesn't include the most recent quarter where you're filing. Washington ESD uses this to ensure your wages are from completed quarters.

Don't forget about the monetary requirements too. You need to have earned at least $7,000 in your base period, and your wages in your highest quarter need to be at least 1.5 times your wages in your lowest quarter. These are the financial thresholds that determine if you qualify and how much your weekly benefit will be.

Wait, what if you worked part-time jobs? Do those wages still count toward the $7,000 requirement?

Yes, all wages from covered employment count, whether full-time or part-time. As long as your employers paid into the Washington ESD unemployment insurance system, those wages count toward your base period earnings.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to ask about eligibility but can never get through! The phone lines are always busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually reach someone there?

I was having the same problem until I found Claimyr - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It saved me hours of trying to call on my own.

Really? How does that work exactly? I'm desperate at this point because I need to ask about my specific situation.

It basically handles the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold or keep redialing. Once they connect you to an agent, you can ask all your eligibility questions directly.

The 'able and available' requirement is really important and trips up a lot of people. You have to be physically and mentally able to work, and you have to be available for work during normal business hours. If you're going to school full-time or have other commitments that prevent you from working, you might not qualify.

What about if you're taking care of a sick family member? Does that affect your eligibility?

That could potentially affect your 'available for work' status. Washington ESD looks at whether you're able to accept work if it's offered to you. If caregiving responsibilities prevent you from working, you might not meet the availability requirement.

This is getting complicated. Are there any exceptions or special circumstances they consider?

job search requirements are huge too!! you have to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a detailed log. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities at any time so dont mess around with this requirement

What counts as a valid job contact? Is applying online enough or do you need to do more?

online applications count but you need to document the employer name, position, date, and method of contact. you can also do in-person applications, networking events, job fairs, etc. just keep good records of everything

The reason for separation from your job is critical. If you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you'll be disqualified. Being laid off due to lack of work is usually fine, but if you were terminated for violating company policy, that could be a problem.

What if you quit because of harassment or unsafe working conditions? Does that count as 'good cause'?

Yes, Washington ESD recognizes several good cause reasons for quitting, including workplace harassment, unsafe conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, or domestic violence situations. You'll need to document these circumstances.

I was laid off due to budget cuts, so I think I'm okay on that front.

Don't forget you also have to be a US citizen or authorized to work in the US. And you can't be receiving certain other benefits like workers' compensation at the same time as unemployment. There are some benefit combinations that aren't allowed.

What about Social Security? Can you get unemployment and Social Security at the same time?

Social Security retirement benefits can affect your unemployment benefits. Washington ESD may reduce your weekly benefit amount if you're receiving Social Security. It's complicated and depends on your specific situation.

I wish Washington ESD would make these requirements clearer on their website. I spent hours trying to figure out if I qualified and still wasn't sure. The whole system seems designed to confuse people.

agreed! the website is terrible and trying to call them is a nightmare. i wasted so much time before i figured out i qualified

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr when I had questions about my eligibility. Being able to actually talk to a Washington ESD agent made all the difference in understanding whether I met the requirements.

Another thing to consider is the waiting week. Washington eliminated the waiting week requirement, so you can receive benefits for your first week of unemployment if you're otherwise eligible. This changed a few years ago and some people don't realize it.

That's good to know! So you can get paid for the very first week you file?

Yes, as long as you meet all the other eligibility requirements and file your weekly claim on time. You still have to wait for your claim to be processed and approved, but there's no longer a one-week waiting period.

The base period wage calculation can be tricky if you worked in multiple states. Washington ESD can combine wages from other states if needed to help you qualify. This is called wage combining and can be really helpful if you recently moved to Washington.

How do they verify wages from other states? Do you have to provide documentation?

Washington ESD can request wage information from other states electronically, but it's helpful if you have your own records like pay stubs or tax forms. The process can take longer when multiple states are involved.

I've only worked in Washington so hopefully that makes things simpler for me.

Self-employment income doesn't count toward your base period wages for regular unemployment benefits. If you were an independent contractor or freelancer, you generally wouldn't qualify for regular UI benefits, though there might be other programs available.

What if you had both W-2 employment and 1099 contract work? Do the W-2 wages still count?

Yes, your W-2 wages would still count toward your base period earnings. Only the self-employment income from 1099 work wouldn't be included in the calculation.

honestly the whole eligibility thing gave me such anxiety when i first applied. i kept thinking i was going to get denied or have to pay money back. but once i actually talked to someone at washington esd through claimyr they explained everything clearly and i realized i definitely qualified

Same here! I was so worried about making a mistake on my application. Having that direct conversation with an agent was so reassuring.

This is all really helpful. I think I meet the requirements but I'm still nervous about applying. Maybe I should try to talk to someone first too.

One more thing - you have to file your initial claim within a reasonable time after becoming unemployed. There's no specific deadline, but Washington ESD looks at whether you delayed filing without good reason. Don't wait too long if you think you qualify!

What's considered a reasonable time? Like within a month?

There's no hard rule, but generally the sooner the better. If you wait several months, you might have to explain the delay. Benefits are typically only payable from the date you file your claim, not from when you first became unemployed.