What are the stipulations for unemployment in Washington ESD system?
I'm trying to understand all the requirements I need to meet to keep getting unemployment benefits in Washington state. I know there's stuff about job searching and being available for work, but I'm confused about exactly what Washington ESD expects from me each week. Like how many jobs do I need to apply for? What counts as a valid job search activity? And what happens if I can't work certain days or hours? I don't want to mess up my claim by missing something important. Can someone break down all the stipulations clearly?
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Savanna Franklin
The main requirements are pretty straightforward - you need to be actively searching for work, available to accept suitable work, and file your weekly claims on time. For job search, you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week unless you're in an approved training program.
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Sergio Neal
•What exactly counts as a job search contact? Does applying online count the same as going in person?
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Savanna Franklin
•Yes, online applications count. You can also attend job fairs, contact employers directly, or work with WorkSource. Just make sure you keep detailed records of each contact.
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Juan Moreno
Don't forget about the work availability requirement. You have to be able and available to work full-time during normal business hours unless you have an approved part-time claim. If you have restrictions on when you can work, that could affect your benefits.
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Sergio Neal
•What if I can only work certain shifts because of childcare? Does that disqualify me?
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Juan Moreno
•Not necessarily, but you need to show you're still available for a reasonable amount of work. Washington ESD looks at whether your restrictions are too limiting.
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Amy Fleming
I was struggling with understanding all these requirements too until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get through to an actual Washington ESD representative who explained everything clearly. There's even a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me avoid making mistakes with my claim.
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Alice Pierce
•How does that service work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks with no luck.
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Amy Fleming
•It basically helps you get through the phone system to reach an actual person. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.
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Esteban Tate
You also need to report any work or income during your weekly claim filing, even if it's just a few hours. And if you turn down a job offer, you need to have a good reason or they might deny your benefits.
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Sergio Neal
•What counts as a 'good reason' for turning down a job? Like if the pay is really low?
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Esteban Tate
•Generally it has to be substantially lower than your usual wage or not suitable for your skills and experience. But it's subjective and depends on how long you've been unemployed.
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•I turned down a job that paid $5 less per hour than my previous job and Washington ESD said that wasn't a good enough reason. They cut my benefits for 6 weeks!
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Elin Robinson
here's the thing nobody tells you - if you're on standby with your employer, the rules are different. you don't have to do job searches but you still need to be available if they call you back
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Sergio Neal
•How do you know if you qualify for standby status? My employer said they might call me back but weren't sure.
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Elin Robinson
•your employer has to fill out specific paperwork saying they expect to call you back within a certain timeframe. its not automatic
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Savanna Franklin
Another important stipulation is maintaining your WorkSource registration. You need to keep your profile updated and you might be required to attend workshops or meetings. If you skip required WorkSource activities, it can affect your benefits.
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Atticus Domingo
•I missed a WorkSource appointment because I was sick and they put a hold on my claim. Took forever to get it resolved.
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Savanna Franklin
•You can usually reschedule if you have a valid reason, but you need to contact them as soon as possible. Don't just skip it.
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Beth Ford
The system is so confusing! I've been trying to figure out if I need to accept any job offer or if I can be picky about the type of work. My last job was in marketing but I keep getting calls for retail positions.
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Juan Moreno
•Early in your claim, you can be more selective about positions related to your field. But as time goes on, Washington ESD expects you to consider a wider range of jobs.
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Beth Ford
•How long is 'early'? I've been unemployed for 8 weeks now.
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Juan Moreno
•Usually the first 13 weeks you can focus on work similar to your previous job. After that, they expect you to consider other suitable work.
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Morita Montoya
Don't forget about the earnings deduction rules if you do any part-time work. You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount plus $5 without it affecting your unemployment payment. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar.
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Sergio Neal
•So if my weekly benefit is $400, I can earn $405 without losing any unemployment money?
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Morita Montoya
•Exactly. But you still need to report ALL earnings, even if it doesn't affect your payment amount.
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Kingston Bellamy
I wish someone had told me about keeping detailed records from the beginning. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities and if you can't prove you did the required searches, they can make you pay back benefits. I learned this the hard way.
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Sergio Neal
•What kind of records do you need to keep? Just the job applications?
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Kingston Bellamy
•Company name, contact person, date, method of contact, position applied for - basically everything. I use a spreadsheet now.
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Joy Olmedo
•The WorkSource website has a job search log you can use to track everything. Makes it easier come audit time.
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Isaiah Cross
What about if you're in school or training? I'm thinking about taking some classes while I'm unemployed but I don't want to lose my benefits.
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Savanna Franklin
•You can usually attend school part-time as long as it doesn't interfere with your availability to work. But full-time school might make you ineligible unless it's approved training.
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Isaiah Cross
•How do you get training approved? I want to take a certification course in my field.
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Savanna Franklin
•Contact WorkSource about their training programs. Some are pre-approved and you might even get additional benefits while in training.
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Kiara Greene
The most frustrating part is when you have questions about your specific situation and can't get through to anyone at Washington ESD. I tried Claimyr after seeing it mentioned here and finally got to talk to someone who could explain my particular circumstances.
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Evelyn Kelly
•Is it worth the cost though? I've been debating whether to try it.
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Kiara Greene
•For me it was worth it to get clarity on my situation rather than worrying I was doing something wrong. Better than losing benefits over a misunderstanding.
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Paloma Clark
One thing that caught me off guard - if you move to a different state, you can usually continue receiving Washington unemployment benefits, but you need to notify them and register with that state's workforce agency. Don't just move and hope they don't notice.
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Sergio Neal
•Really? I didn't know you could move and keep benefits. Are there any restrictions?
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Paloma Clark
•You still have to follow all the same rules about job searching and availability. And some states have different requirements for their workforce registration.
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Heather Tyson
Also remember that if you become unable to work due to illness or injury, you need to report that immediately. You can't collect unemployment if you're not able to work, but you might qualify for other benefits.
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Raul Neal
•What if it's just a short illness, like a week or two?
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Heather Tyson
•Even short periods need to be reported. You might not be eligible for that week's benefits, but it's better to be honest than risk an overpayment later.
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Jenna Sloan
The appeal process is another important thing to understand. If Washington ESD denies your claim or finds you ineligible, you have the right to appeal. But you only have 30 days from the date of their decision, so don't wait.
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Sergio Neal
•How complicated is the appeal process? Do you need a lawyer?
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Jenna Sloan
•You don't need a lawyer for most appeals. You can represent yourself at the hearing. Just make sure you have documentation to support your case.
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Christian Burns
•I won my appeal without a lawyer but it was stressful. Having someone from Claimyr help me understand the process beforehand made a big difference.
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Sasha Reese
Don't forget about the waiting week! Your first week of unemployment is a waiting week where you won't receive benefits, but you still need to file the claim and meet all the requirements.
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Sergio Neal
•So I have to do job searches during the waiting week even though I'm not getting paid?
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Sasha Reese
•Yes, you still have to meet all the requirements. It's still part of your claim period.
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Muhammad Hobbs
The key is to stay organized and be proactive. Don't wait until you have problems to figure out the rules. Read everything Washington ESD sends you and ask questions if you're unsure about anything.
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Sergio Neal
•This has been incredibly helpful. I feel like I have a much better understanding now of what I need to do to stay compliant.
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Muhammad Hobbs
•Good luck! The system seems complicated at first but once you get into a routine it becomes much more manageable.
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