What are the requirements for collecting unemployment in Washington ESD?
I'm thinking about filing for unemployment benefits but want to make sure I meet all the requirements first. I've been working at a retail job for about 8 months and my hours just got cut to basically nothing. Does anyone know what Washington ESD requires to qualify for UI benefits? I don't want to waste time applying if I'm not eligible.
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Adriana Cohn
You need to have worked a certain amount in your base period and lost your job through no fault of your own. Washington ESD looks at your earnings from the first 4 of the last 5 quarters before you filed. You also need to be able and available for work and actively searching for a job.
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Brandon Parker
•What counts as the base period exactly? I started this job in March 2024 so I'm not sure if that's enough time.
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Adriana Cohn
•If you file now, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. You need to have earned at least $1,500 in your base period and worked in at least two quarters.
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Jace Caspullo
Also you have to register with WorkSource within 30 days of filing your claim and do job searches every week. I think it's 3 job searches per week minimum but check with Washington ESD to be sure.
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Brandon Parker
•Is WorkSource the same as the job search requirements? I've heard people mention both.
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Jace Caspullo
•WorkSource is the state job search website. You register there and it helps track your job searches for Washington ESD.
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Melody Miles
if your hours got cut but you still have the job that might affect your benefits. You can still apply for partial unemployment if you're working reduced hours but your weekly benefit amount will be less
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Brandon Parker
•I'm only getting like 8 hours a week now, down from 35-40 hours. Would that qualify for partial benefits?
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Melody Miles
•yeah probably, Washington ESD has a formula for partial benefits. You should definitely apply and let them figure out what you qualify for
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
The main requirements are pretty straightforward: you need sufficient work history in your base period, you must be unemployed or working reduced hours through no fault of your own, and you must be able and available for work. For 2025, you need at least $1,500 in your base period and wages in at least two quarters. You also can't quit without good cause or be fired for misconduct.
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Brandon Parker
•What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? My manager has been really difficult lately.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Good cause includes things like harassment, unsafe working conditions, or significant changes to your job. Just having a difficult manager usually isn't enough unless it rises to the level of creating a hostile work environment.
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Eva St. Cyr
•I quit because of a horrible manager and Washington ESD denied my claim. Had to appeal and it took forever to get resolved.
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Kristian Bishop
One thing that helped me when I was trying to get through to Washington ESD about my eligibility was using Claimyr. I kept getting disconnected when trying to call the regular number but Claimyr got me through to an actual agent who could review my work history and confirm I qualified. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Brandon Parker
•How much does that cost? I'm already tight on money.
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Kristian Bishop
•I thought it was worth it to get actual answers instead of guessing about my eligibility. The peace of mind was huge for me.
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Kaitlyn Otto
•Never heard of this but if it actually gets you through to Washington ESD it might be worth looking into. Their phone system is terrible.
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Axel Far
Don't forget you also have to be a US citizen or authorized to work in the US. And if you're attending school full-time that can affect your eligibility too since you might not be considered available for work.
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Brandon Parker
•I'm taking one community college class at night but I'm definitely available for full-time work during the day.
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Axel Far
•That should be fine then. It's really about being available for work during normal business hours.
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Eva St. Cyr
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET BENEFITS! I had to fight for months to get my claim approved even though I clearly qualified. Washington ESD makes you jump through so many hoops it's ridiculous.
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Brandon Parker
•That's what I'm worried about. I just want to know if it's worth applying or if I should look for another job instead.
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Adriana Cohn
•Don't let horror stories discourage you. If you meet the basic requirements, apply. The worst they can do is say no.
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Eva St. Cyr
•Easy for you to say but when you're desperate for money and they keep denying your claim for no good reason it's not that simple
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Jace Caspullo
You also need to file your weekly claims every week even if you haven't heard back about your initial application. A lot of people don't realize this and then lose out on benefits for weeks they didn't file.
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Brandon Parker
•How do you file weekly claims? Is that on the same website where you apply?
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Jace Caspullo
•Yes, you log into your Washington ESD account and file your weekly claim every Sunday for the previous week. It asks about any work you did and any money you earned.
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Melody Miles
since you mentioned retail, make sure you report any tips or commission accurately. Washington ESD counts all income not just your base wage
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Brandon Parker
•I don't get tips but sometimes we get small bonuses. Do those count?
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Melody Miles
•yeah any bonuses count as wages for the period you received them
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Adriana Cohn
Another important requirement is that you need to be physically able to work. If you have any medical conditions that prevent you from working, you might need to apply for disability benefits instead of unemployment.
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Brandon Parker
•I'm healthy and definitely able to work. Just need to find a job that gives me enough hours.
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Jasmine Hernandez
•That's good. The able and available requirement trips up some people who don't realize they need to be ready to start work immediately if offered a job.
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Kaitlyn Otto
Quick question - do you have to live in Washington to get Washington ESD benefits or just have worked here?
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Adriana Cohn
•You file in the state where you worked, not necessarily where you live. So if you worked in Washington you'd file with Washington ESD even if you moved to another state.
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Kaitlyn Otto
•Thanks, that's what I thought but wasn't sure.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
One more thing to keep in mind - if you're approved for benefits, you'll need to actively search for work and keep records of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you need to keep detailed records in case they audit your claim.
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Brandon Parker
•What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs?
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Job applications, networking contacts, attending job fairs, interviews, and some other activities. There's a list on the Washington ESD website of what counts.
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Jasmine Hernandez
I've been on unemployment before and the key thing is to be completely honest on your application. If Washington ESD finds out you lied about anything it can disqualify you and you might have to pay back benefits.
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Brandon Parker
•That makes sense. I just want to make sure I understand all the rules before I apply.
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Jasmine Hernandez
•Smart approach. Better to know what you're getting into upfront than be surprised later.
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Kristian Bishop
If you do apply and run into issues getting through to Washington ESD to check on your claim status, I'd definitely recommend trying Claimyr again. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get through on the phone. Claimyr connected me with an agent who was able to tell me exactly what documents I needed to submit to resolve the issue.
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Brandon Parker
•Good to know there are options if I can't get through normally. The phone system sounds like a nightmare.
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Luis Johnson
•I might need to try that too. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for days about my claim.
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Axel Far
Don't forget that if you do qualify and get approved, there's usually a waiting week where you don't get paid. So your first payment would be for your second week of unemployment.
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Brandon Parker
•So even if I'm approved right away, I won't get paid for the first week?
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Axel Far
•Right, that's the waiting week. It's just how the system works in Washington.
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Eva St. Cyr
WAITING WEEK IS SUCH BS! You're already struggling financially and they make you wait even longer for your first payment. The whole system is designed to discourage people from applying.
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Ellie Kim
•I get the frustration but it's been that way for years. At least once you start getting payments they're pretty regular.
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Eva St. Cyr
•Regular if your claim doesn't get stuck in adjudication hell for months like mine did
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Ellie Kim
Based on what you've said about working 8 months and having your hours cut, you should definitely apply. The worst case scenario is they say no but you might qualify for partial benefits while you look for better work.
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Brandon Parker
•Thanks everyone for all the advice. I think I'll go ahead and apply tomorrow and see what happens.
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Adriana Cohn
•Good luck! Make sure to file your weekly claims even if your initial application is still being processed.
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Ellie Kim
•Exactly. And keep good records of your job search activities from day one.
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Fiona Sand
Also remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income so you might want to have taxes withheld from your payments or set money aside for tax time.
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Brandon Parker
•I didn't think about taxes. Can you have them automatically withheld?
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Fiona Sand
•Yes, you can choose to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you set up your claim. You can also change this later if needed.
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Luis Johnson
Just want to add that if you get denied for any reason, you can appeal the decision. Don't just accept a denial if you think you really qualify. The appeal process exists for a reason.
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Brandon Parker
•How long do you have to file an appeal?
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Luis Johnson
•I think it's 30 days from the date of the denial notice. But check the notice when you get it because it will have the exact deadline.
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Mohammad Khaled
One last tip - if you do get approved, make sure you understand what happens if you turn down a job offer. Washington ESD can deny your benefits if you refuse suitable work without good cause.
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Brandon Parker
•What makes a job 'suitable'? Does it have to be the same type of work I was doing before?
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Mohammad Khaled
•It depends on how long you've been unemployed and your previous experience. Generally in the first few weeks they expect you to look for similar work, but after a while you might need to consider other types of jobs too.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•The key factors are the wage compared to your previous job, your skills and experience, the distance from your home, and working conditions. Early in your claim you can be more selective.
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