What are the qualifications for unemployment in Washington ESD - confused about eligibility requirements

The basic qualifications for Washington ESD unemployment benefits are pretty straightforward. You need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period (which is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters). You also need to be able and available to work, actively seeking work, and have lost your job through no fault of your own. Since you worked 8 months, you should have enough work history if you earned enough wages during that time.

Don't forget about the job search requirements too! You have to be actively looking for work and able to accept suitable employment. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my eligibility. Spent hours on hold just to get basic information. If you run into the same problem, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you through to a real person at the unemployment office. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to verify my qualification details.

The main qualifications are: 1) Sufficient work history and wages in your base period, 2) Lost your job through no fault of your own (layoff, reduction in force, etc.), 3) Physically able to work, 4) Available for work (not on vacation, in school full-time, etc.), 5) Actively seeking suitable work, 6) Registered for work with WorkSourceWA. There are some exceptions and special situations, but those are the core requirements.

wait I thought you had to work full time to qualify?? I only worked part time too and I'm worried now

The wage requirement is what trips up a lot of people. You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, AND your total wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. So if you made $2,000 in your best quarter, you'd need at least $3,000 total. It's not just about the minimum threshold.

Also don't forget that if you quit your job voluntarily, you generally won't qualify unless you had 'good cause' related to the work. Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties might qualify as good cause.

When I applied, Washington ESD also asked about any severance pay or vacation payout I received. These can affect when your benefits start, so be prepared to report those amounts accurately.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify initially, you have to maintain eligibility every week. That means continuing to look for work, being available, and reporting any earnings from part-time work or odd jobs.

If you're still confused about whether you qualify, seriously consider using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. I wasted so much time trying to figure this stuff out on my own when a 10-minute conversation with an actual ESD agent cleared everything up.

The best thing you can do is just apply if you think you might qualify. Washington ESD will determine your eligibility as part of the application process. If you don't qualify, they'll tell you why. If you do qualify but there are issues, they'll put your claim into adjudication to investigate.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Even if you qualify, there's usually a one-week waiting period before you can start receiving benefits. Plan accordingly.

The system is so complicated!! I've been unemployed for 3 weeks and still haven't figured out if I qualify or not. The Washington ESD website is confusing and I can never get anyone on the phone.

Remember that Washington ESD looks at your 'base period' which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. So if you're applying in January 2025, they'd look at your wages from January 2024 through September 2024. Make sure you have accurate records of your earnings during that time.

also make sure you're a US citizen or have work authorization. they check that stuff too

One more thing - if you're going to school while collecting unemployment, there are specific rules about that. Generally you need to be available for work during normal business hours, which can conflict with class schedules.

honestly just apply and see what happens. I spent weeks researching and worrying about whether I qualified when I could have just filed the application and gotten an answer in a few days.

Just to summarize for the OP: Work history + wages in base period, lost job through no fault of your own, able and available to work, actively job searching, and register with WorkSourceWA. File your application online at esd.wa.gov and they'll determine your eligibility. Don't stress too much about whether you qualify - let Washington ESD make that determination.

Update us on how it goes! Always curious to hear about other people's experiences with the application process.