What are the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about qualifying

What counts as 'no fault of your own'? I was laid off due to budget cuts, would that qualify?

Yes, layoffs due to budget cuts definitely qualify as no fault of your own. That's one of the most common qualifying reasons.

Do online applications count as job search contacts?

Yes, online applications count as long as you document them properly with employer name, date, position applied for, and method of contact.

How much does that cost? I'm already worried about money.

It's worth checking out their site for details, but honestly the peace of mind of actually talking to someone at ESD was worth it for me.

How do I figure out what my base period is? This is all so confusing.

Your base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024.

Wait, that seems like a really long time ago. What if I just started working more recently?

That makes more sense for my situation. How do I request the alternate base period?

You don't have to request it specifically. If you don't qualify under the regular base period, ESD will automatically check the alternate base period for you.

What if you can only work part-time due to childcare issues?

That can be tricky. You generally need to be available for full-time work, but there are some exceptions for certain circumstances. You'd need to discuss your specific situation with ESD.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. They handle all the calling and waiting for you, then connect you directly to an ESD agent when they get through.

I had the same problem! The early morning calls sometimes work better, like right when they open at 8 AM.

I'll try the early morning thing first, but good to know about that other service as a backup option.

When do you file the weekly claims? Is there a specific day?

You can file weekly claims starting Sunday for the previous week. So on Sunday you file for the week that just ended on Saturday.

That's good to know! I thought there was always a waiting period.

They eliminated the waiting week a few years ago, which was a huge help for people who needed benefits right away.

What if I can't remember the exact address of a previous employer?

Do your best to get the correct information. You can usually find business addresses online or on old paystubs if you have them.

Adjudication delays are unfortunately really common right now. Have you tried reaching out to your legislators? Sometimes that can help move things along.

That's another situation where Claimyr really helped me. When I finally got through to an actual ESD agent, they were able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim and what I needed to do to resolve it.

At this point I'm willing to try anything. Six weeks without income is killing me.

What about if you quit because your hours were cut dramatically?

That might qualify as good cause if the hour reduction was substantial and involuntary. You'd need to document everything and possibly go through an appeal process.

I did get two weeks of severance pay. Does that mean I have to wait two weeks to file?

Not necessarily. You should file right away, but report the severance pay when you file your weekly claims. ESD will determine how it affects your benefit timing.

So if I worked for 8 months straight but all in the same quarter, I might not qualify?

Correct, you need earnings in at least two different quarters of your base period. This is why the alternate base period can be helpful for newer workers.

Is WorkSourceWA the same as the job search log I keep?

No, WorkSourceWA is a separate registration you need to do. You still need to keep your own job search log with at least 3 contacts per week.

I'd encourage you to file anyway. The worst that can happen is they say you don't qualify, but if you do qualify, those benefits can really help while you're job searching.

Exactly! And you're required to look for work anyway if you're on unemployment, so you'd be doing the job search either way.

Plus if you run into issues or have questions about your specific situation, services like Claimyr can help you get real answers from ESD instead of guessing. The peace of mind is worth it.

Thank you everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I think I do qualify based on what you've all shared. Going to file my claim tomorrow.

Good luck! Don't get discouraged if the process seems slow - it's worth pursuing if you're eligible.