What are the requirements to draw unemployment in Washington state?
I'm thinking about filing for unemployment benefits but I'm not sure if I qualify. What are the basic requirements to draw unemployment in Washington? I worked part-time for about 8 months before getting laid off, but I'm not sure if that's enough work history. Also do I need to be actively looking for work right away or can I take some time to figure out what I want to do next? Any info would be helpful since the Washington ESD website is confusing.
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Liam McConnell
The main requirements are pretty straightforward. You need to have worked and earned wages in Washington state during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). You also need to be unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available to work, and actively seeking work. The job search requirement starts immediately when you file your first weekly claim.
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Mei Zhang
•What counts as actively seeking work? Do I need to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?
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Liam McConnell
•Yes, you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking, etc.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
8 months of part-time work might not be enough depending on how much you earned. Washington ESD looks at your total wages during the base period, not just how long you worked. You need to have earned at least $3,850 in your base period to qualify.
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Mei Zhang
•How do I find out what my base period wages were? Is there a way to check this before filing?
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•You can create an account on the Washington ESD website and view your wage history there. It'll show you exactly what employers reported for your wages.
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CosmicCaptain
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone to ask questions, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. It was super helpful when I had questions about my claim.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Really? I've been trying to call for weeks and can never get through. How much does something like that cost?
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CosmicCaptain
•I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of being on hold for hours. The video explains everything.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
Don't forget you also need to register with WorkSource Washington and create a reemployment plan. This is required for most UI claimants and you'll need to complete it within a certain timeframe after filing your claim.
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Mei Zhang
•What happens if I don't do the WorkSource registration? Will they deny my benefits?
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•Yes, they can deny your weekly claims if you don't complete the required reemployment activities. It's part of the work search requirements.
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Dylan Mitchell
The whole system is ridiculous. They make you jump through so many hoops just to get benefits you paid into. I had to prove I was laid off even though my employer already reported it to them!
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Sofia Gutierrez
•I feel you. The paperwork is insane and then they take forever to process everything.
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Liam McConnell
•The verification process is there to prevent fraud, but I agree it can be frustrating when you're dealing with job loss.
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Mei Zhang
Another question - if I worked in multiple states, does that affect my eligibility? I worked in Oregon for a few months before moving to Washington.
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Liam McConnell
•You can potentially combine wages from multiple states through what's called an interstate claim. You'd file in Washington but include your Oregon wages in the base period calculation.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•That's more complicated though. You might want to call Washington ESD to discuss your specific situation since interstate claims have different rules.
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Dmitry Petrov
Make sure you file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's a waiting week but you want to get your claim started right away. Benefits don't backdate very far.
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Mei Zhang
•What's a waiting week? Do I not get paid for the first week?
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Dmitry Petrov
•You file a claim for the first week but don't get paid for it. It's like a deductible. You get paid starting with the second week if you're eligible.
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Giovanni Rossi
This is all so confusing. I wish there was a simple checklist somewhere that just told you exactly what you need to do step by step.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•The Washington ESD website has a filing checklist but it's buried in there somewhere. Look for the 'Apply for Benefits' section.
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CosmicCaptain
•That's another reason why calling them directly can be helpful. An agent can walk you through the process for your specific situation.
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Liam McConnell
One more important thing - you need to be physically able to work and available for work. If you have any medical conditions that prevent you from working, you might not qualify for regular unemployment benefits.
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Mei Zhang
•What if I can work but only part-time due to childcare issues? Does that disqualify me?
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Liam McConnell
•Not necessarily. You can indicate your availability restrictions when you file, but it might limit the types of jobs you're required to search for and accept.
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StarSurfer
Been there done that. Filed three times over the years and each time it was a nightmare. Just be prepared for lots of paperwork and waiting.
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Sofia Gutierrez
•How long did it take to get your first payment? I'm worried about paying rent.
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StarSurfer
•Usually takes 2-3 weeks if there are no issues with your claim. Longer if they need to verify anything or if it goes to adjudication.
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Ava Martinez
Don't forget about the tax implications. Unemployment benefits are taxable income so you'll need to report them when you file your taxes. You can have taxes withheld from your weekly payments.
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Mei Zhang
•Oh I didn't know that. How much tax do they typically withhold?
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Ava Martinez
•It's optional but they'll withhold 10% for federal taxes if you elect to have it taken out. You're still responsible for any additional taxes owed.
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Miguel Castro
I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. It actually worked and I got connected to an agent who helped resolve my problem within a few days.
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Giovanni Rossi
•That's encouraging. I'm going to check out that video demo they mentioned.
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Mei Zhang
•What kind of adjudication issue did you have? I'm worried I might run into problems with my claim.
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