What are the requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington?

There are several key requirements for Washington unemployment benefits. First, you need sufficient wages - generally you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period and your total base period wages need to meet minimum thresholds. You also need to be unemployed through no fault of your own (layoffs qualify, quitting usually doesn't unless for good cause). Finally, you must be able and available for work and actively seeking employment.

The wage requirements can be confusing. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your highest quarter AND your total base period wages need to be at least 1.25 times your highest quarter earnings. With 8 months of retail work you should probably meet this if you were working decent hours.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep detailed records. Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time so make sure you're documenting everything properly - employer names, dates, how you applied, etc.

I struggled so much trying to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my eligibility. Spent hours on hold just to get hung up on. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD within minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Total game changer for getting answers about qualification requirements.

also dont forget you have to be able and available for work each week when you file your weekly claim. if youre sick or traveling or cant work for some reason you might not be eligible for that week

The whole system is set up to deny people benefits honestly. They make the requirements so complicated and confusing that half the people who qualify don't even bother applying. And then they audit your job search like you're some kind of criminal.

One thing people often miss is that you can't just look for any job - it has to be 'suitable work' which generally means work that matches your skills and experience and pays at least a certain percentage of your previous wages. But the definition of suitable work changes over time, becoming broader the longer you're unemployed.

I was denied initially because they said I didn't have enough wages but it turned out they were looking at the wrong quarters. Make sure you double check their calculation of your base period wages - mistakes happen all the time.

Also remember that if you do any part-time work while collecting unemployment, you need to report it on your weekly claim. You can still get partial benefits in many cases but you have to be honest about any earnings.

The job search thing is actually not that hard once you get into a routine. I just set aside time every few days to apply for jobs and keep a simple spreadsheet with all the details. The key is being consistent about documenting everything right away.

My cousin got audited for her job search and they wanted like 6 months of detailed records. She didn't keep good notes and they made her pay back thousands in benefits. KEEP DETAILED RECORDS.

honestly the hardest part for me was just getting through the initial application process. the website kept timing out and i had to call like 50 times before i could even talk to someone to help me finish filing

Don't forget that Washington has some specific rules about students and unemployment. If you're enrolled in school more than half-time you might not qualify unless it's approved training or you worked while going to school.

The process seems overwhelming but once you get approved and get into the routine of filing weekly claims it's actually pretty straightforward. Just make sure you file every week even if you think you might not be eligible for that particular week.

One more thing - if you get denied for any reason, you can appeal the decision. Don't just give up if they say you don't qualify. Sometimes it's just missing paperwork or a misunderstanding that can be cleared up.

I had a friend who worked for a temp agency and had issues proving she had enough wages because the agency reported her wages under different employer names. If you worked for temp agencies or had multiple jobs make sure all your wages are being counted correctly.

The Washington ESD website actually has a pretty good eligibility tool where you can check if you qualify before applying. Might be worth trying that first to get a rough idea.

Based on what you described - working 8 months at decent hours and being laid off - you should definitely qualify. The main thing is just making sure you understand the ongoing requirements like job search and filing weekly claims on time.