What are the requirements to claim unemployment with Washington ESD?
I just got laid off from my job at a manufacturing plant after 2 years and I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for UI benefits through Washington ESD. I've never filed before and honestly have no idea what the requirements are. Do I need to have worked a certain amount of time? What about if I was part-time for some of those months? And I heard something about needing to look for work - is that required right away? Any help would be appreciated, I'm pretty stressed about this whole situation.
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Carter Holmes
The basic requirements for Washington ESD unemployment are: 1) You must have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters), 2) You must have earned at least $1,000 in your highest earning quarter, 3) Your total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter wages, 4) You must be able and available for work, and 5) You must be actively seeking work. Part-time work counts toward your wage requirements as long as you meet the dollar thresholds.
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Mia Alvarez
•Thanks! So if I was laid off, I automatically meet the 'able and available' part right? And when do I need to start the job search requirement?
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Carter Holmes
•Yes, being laid off typically means you meet the able and available requirement. You need to start actively searching for work immediately after filing your claim. Washington ESD requires at least 3 job search activities per week and you'll need to keep a log of your search efforts.
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Sophia Long
You also can't quit your job voluntarily or be fired for misconduct. Since you were laid off, that shouldn't be an issue for you. Make sure to file your claim as soon as possible because benefits don't start until you actually file, not from when you lost your job.
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Mia Alvarez
•Good to know! I was worried about waiting too long. Is there a deadline for filing?
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Sophia Long
•You should file within the first week of unemployment if possible. There's no hard deadline but the longer you wait, the more potential benefits you lose since they don't backdate to your last day of work.
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Angelica Smith
I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my own requirements and can never reach anyone. Their phone lines are constantly busy and when I do get through, I get disconnected. It's so frustrating when you just need basic information about your claim.
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Logan Greenburg
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. They have this system that keeps calling until they connect you with someone. I watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and decided to try it. Got through to an agent the same day and got all my questions answered. Check out claimyr.com if you're having trouble reaching them.
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Angelica Smith
•That sounds too good to be true but at this point I'm willing to try anything. The regular phone system is basically useless.
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Charlotte Jones
Don't forget about the work search requirements! You need to be registered with WorkSource Washington and maintain an active job search. This means applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc. Keep detailed records because Washington ESD can audit your search activities.
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Mia Alvarez
•WorkSource Washington - is that a separate website I need to register for?
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Charlotte Jones
•Yes, it's worksourcewa.com. You'll need to create a profile there and keep it updated. It's where you'll find job postings and track some of your search activities.
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Lucas Bey
•The work search thing is such a pain. I get that they want to make sure people are actually looking for work but having to document every single thing you do is exhausting when you're already stressed about being unemployed.
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Harper Thompson
Also make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file - social security number, employer names and addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation, etc. Having everything organized will make the application process much smoother.
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Mia Alvarez
•Should I contact my former employer about anything before filing?
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Harper Thompson
•Not necessarily, but make sure you have your final pay stub and any separation paperwork they gave you. Washington ESD will contact your employer directly to verify your claim information.
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Caleb Stark
One thing to watch out for - if you've worked in multiple states during your base period, you might need to file an interstate claim. It gets more complicated but Washington ESD can help you figure out which state you should file in based on where you worked and earned the most wages.
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Mia Alvarez
•I've only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me, but good to know!
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Jade O'Malley
The monetary requirements can be confusing. I thought I qualified but it turns out I was just under the wage threshold in my base period. If you're not sure about your wages, Washington ESD will calculate it for you when you file, but it's good to have a rough idea beforehand.
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Hunter Edmunds
•Same thing happened to me. I was short by like $50 in total wages and got denied. Had to wait until the next quarter to reapply with a different base period.
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Mia Alvarez
•How do I calculate my base period wages? I have all my pay stubs but I'm not great with math.
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Jade O'Malley
•Add up all your gross wages (before taxes) for each quarter during your base period. The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024.
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Ella Lewis
Don't forget you have to file weekly claims too! Even after you're approved, you have to certify every week that you're still unemployed and looking for work. Miss too many weeks and you'll lose your benefits.
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Mia Alvarez
•How do I file the weekly claims? Is it online?
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Ella Lewis
•Yes, you do it through your account on the Washington ESD website. You'll answer questions about whether you worked, looked for work, were available for work, etc. It's pretty straightforward once you get used to it.
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Andrew Pinnock
Just wanted to add that if you have any special circumstances like being in school, having health issues, or caring for a family member, these might affect your eligibility. Washington ESD has specific rules about these situations so make sure to mention them when you file.
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Mia Alvarez
•I'm not in school or anything like that, just a regular layoff situation. But good to know these things can affect eligibility.
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Brianna Schmidt
The whole system is so complicated honestly. I've been on unemployment twice and each time I felt like I was learning everything from scratch. The Washington ESD website has information but it's not always clear, especially when you're dealing with adjudication or appeals.
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Alexis Renard
•Agreed, the website is confusing. When I had adjudication issues last year, I couldn't figure out what was happening with my claim. Used Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD and they explained the whole process. Worth it just for the peace of mind.
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Brianna Schmidt
•I keep hearing about that service. Maybe I should have tried it instead of spending hours on hold every day.
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Camila Jordan
One more thing - make sure you report any vacation pay, severance, or other payments from your employer when you file. These can affect your benefit amount or when your benefits start. Better to report everything upfront than deal with overpayment issues later.
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Mia Alvarez
•My employer didn't give me any severance or vacation payout, so I should be good there. Thanks for the heads up though!
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Tyler Lefleur
ugh the job search requirements are the worst part IMO. Like I get it but when you're already stressed about money the last thing you want to do is spend hours documenting every little thing you do to look for work. At least with manufacturing jobs there are usually decent opportunities if you're willing to commute.
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Mia Alvarez
•Yeah I'm hoping there are some good manufacturing jobs around here. I have experience with machinery and quality control so hopefully that helps.
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Tyler Lefleur
•You should be fine then. Lots of plants around here are always hiring skilled workers. Just make sure to document all your applications and interviews for Washington ESD.
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Madeline Blaze
I remember being so nervous about filing my first claim. Thought I was going to mess something up and get in trouble. But honestly the online application isn't too bad, just take your time and read everything carefully. You can always call if you have questions, though good luck getting through lol
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Max Knight
•Ha! Yeah the phone situation is ridiculous. I tried calling Washington ESD like 50 times before giving up and just figuring things out myself. Some people have better luck with that Claimyr thing but I managed without it.
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Mia Alvarez
•I'm definitely going to try calling first but sounds like I should have a backup plan. Thanks everyone for all the help, this has been really informative!
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Emma Swift
Good luck with your claim! The whole process seems overwhelming at first but once you get approved and get into the routine of filing weekly claims, it becomes pretty automatic. Just stay on top of your job search and keep good records.
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Mia Alvarez
•Thank you! I feel much more confident about filing now. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain everything.
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