What are the requirements for unemployment benefits - Washington ESD eligibility confused

The main requirements for Washington ESD unemployment benefits are: 1) You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), 2) Your total wages must be at least 680 times the state 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. Since you worked 8 months, you should meet the time requirement.

You also need to register with WorkSource WA and complete your job search activities. For most people that means applying to at least 3 jobs per week and keeping a log of your search activities. The wage requirement works out to about $7,000-8,000 in total wages during your base period.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to verify your eligibility, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach an agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really helped me get my questions answered when I couldn't get through the regular phone lines.

the hardest part is proving you were laid off and not fired for cause. make sure you have your termination paperwork and that it clearly shows it was due to lack of work or company downsizing

DON'T WAIT TO APPLY! I made the mistake of waiting 2 weeks thinking I might get called back and lost out on those benefit weeks. You can always cancel your claim if you go back to work but you can't backdate benefits if you wait too long to file.

One thing that trips people up is the base period calculation. Washington ESD looks at the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they look at July 2023 through June 2024. Make sure you have W2s or pay stubs from that period.

you mentioned retail - just fyi if you were seasonal or temporary that might affect your claim. washington esd has different rules for certain types of employment

Also important to know that you'll need to file weekly claims to continue receiving benefits. This involves certifying that you're still unemployed, able and available for work, and that you've completed your job search activities. Miss filing a weekly claim and you won't get paid for that week.

Another requirement people forget about is that you have to be a US citizen or authorized to work in the US. You'll need to provide documentation of your work authorization when you apply.

The system is so frustrating though. I've been trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD for three days straight and keep getting disconnected. Anyone else having this problem?

Make sure you understand the difference between gross and net wages for the wage requirement. Washington ESD looks at your gross wages (before taxes and deductions) when determining eligibility.

If you get approved, remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file your tax return next year.

does anyone know if you can collect unemployment if you quit your job? my boss is making work conditions horrible but technically i wasn't fired

The waiting week thing caught me off guard. There's a one-week waiting period where you file but don't get paid. Just something to plan for financially.

If you worked in multiple states, things get more complicated. You might need to file in the state where you worked most recently or earned the most wages. Washington ESD can help figure that out.

Pro tip: start gathering all your employment documents now - W2s, pay stubs, termination letter, etc. Having everything ready makes the application process much smoother.

The job search requirement is no joke. Keep detailed records of every application, networking contact, and job fair you attend. Washington ESD can audit your search activities and if you don't have proper documentation, they can deny benefits.

WASHINGTON ESD IS SO SLOW. Filed three weeks ago and still haven't heard anything back. This is ridiculous when people need money for rent and food.

Don't forget you can appeal if your claim gets denied. You have 30 days from the denial date to file an appeal. Sometimes initial denials get overturned if you can provide additional documentation.

Just want to say this thread was super helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was confused about the requirements too. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences.