What are the unemployment benefits available through Washington ESD?

Washington ESD offers several types of unemployment benefits depending on your situation. The main one is regular unemployment insurance (UI) which gives you weekly payments if you lost your job through no fault of your own. You can get up to 26 weeks of benefits, and the amount depends on your previous wages. There's also Extended Benefits (EB) during high unemployment periods, and some special programs for specific situations.

Washington ESD offers several types of unemployment benefits. Regular unemployment insurance (UI) is the main program - you can get up to $999 per week for up to 26 weeks depending on your earnings history. There's also Extended Benefits during high unemployment periods, and standby benefits if you're temporarily laid off with a return-to-work date. You'll need to register with WorkSource and do job search activities to maintain eligibility.

Don't forget about the waiting week! You won't get paid for your first week of unemployment even if you're eligible. Also the job search requirement is 3 job contacts per week minimum, and you have to keep a detailed log.

Don't forget about WorkSource services too! Washington ESD connects you with job search resources, training programs, and career counseling. It's not cash benefits but it's part of the whole unemployment support system. You'll need to register with WorkSource and do job search activities to keep getting your weekly payments.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I filed last year. Spent hours on hold just to get basic questions answered about my claim. If you're having trouble reaching them, I discovered this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent in like 10 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I was in your exact situation 6 months ago and had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions. Spent hours on hold every day for weeks. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

The basic eligibility requirements are: you must be unemployed through no fault of your own, physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work. You also need sufficient earnings in your base year - generally at least $1,000 in your highest quarter plus total base year earnings of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter.

there's also standby benefits if your employer puts you on temporary layoff but expects to call you back within a certain timeframe. different rules than regular UI but still goes through washington esd

i'm so confused about the standby thing - is that different from regular unemployment?? my job said they might call me back in a few months but nothing definite

Just want to add that there are different benefit amounts based on how many dependents you have. If you have kids or other qualifying dependents, you can get additional money on top of your weekly benefit amount. I think it's like $25 per dependent but double-check that.

The WorkSource registration is required and you have to maintain an active profile there. They'll check to make sure you're actually looking for work. Keep good records of your job search activities because they audit people.

DONT FORGET TO FILE IMMEDIATELY! The longer you wait, the more money you lose. Washington ESD benefits are NOT retroactive to when you lost your job - they only start from when you actually file your claim. I made this mistake and lost out on $1,600 because I waited three weeks thinking I'd find a job quickly.

Here's something people don't realize - you might qualify for unemployment even if you quit your job, but only under specific circumstances. Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, major changes to your job duties, or domestic violence situations. It's called 'good cause' and Washington ESD will investigate your situation.

Don't expect the system to work smoothly. I've been waiting 3 weeks for my claim to get out of adjudication and nobody can tell me why it's taking so long. The whole Washington ESD system is a mess.

You can apply online at secure.esd.wa.gov but make sure you have all your documents ready first. Tax returns, pay stubs, employer info, etc. The application will ask for specific dates and details.

Weekly claims are due every Sunday for the previous week. Don't miss filing your weekly claim or you won't get paid for that week. They don't let you backdate very easily.

The job search requirement is no joke. You need 3 qualifying job search activities per week minimum. I got a warning letter when I only had 2 activities one week because I thought networking counted more than it does.

Can someone explain the base period thing? I keep seeing references to it but I don't understand how Washington ESD calculates what quarters they use for determining my benefit amount.

I've been getting unemployment for 2 months now and honestly the whole system is a nightmare. Half the time the website doesn't work, you can never get anyone on the phone, and they randomly put holds on your account for no reason. Just be prepared for a lot of frustration.

Don't forget about the tax implications! Your unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return. I chose to have them withheld because I didn't want a big tax bill next year.

Has anyone dealt with the identity verification process? Washington ESD flagged my account for ID verification and it's been stuck in that status for three weeks. I uploaded all my documents but haven't heard anything back.

Watch out for the earnings deduction if you do any work while on unemployment. They have specific rules about how much you can earn before it affects your benefits. I think it's like 25% of your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing it.

Something to keep in mind - if you work part-time while collecting unemployment, you can still get partial benefits. Washington ESD has a formula where they reduce your weekly benefit based on how much you earn, but you don't lose all your benefits just because you pick up some work.

my cousin used claimyr when her benefits got cut off randomly and they helped her get through to find out what happened. saved her weeks of trying to call herself. definitely worth it if you hit any snags

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off and being fired. If you were terminated for misconduct you might not be eligible at all. But if it was layoffs, downsizing, lack of work, etc. you should be fine.

The whole process took me about 3 weeks from filing to getting my first payment. First week was the waiting week, then had to wait for the claim to be processed. But once it started, payments came regularly every Tuesday.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have them withhold 10% for federal taxes but you'll still owe state taxes at the end of the year.

Pro tip: sign up for direct deposit right away. Paper checks take forever and sometimes get lost in the mail. Electronic payments are much more reliable.

If you have any issues with your claim getting stuck or need to speak to someone at Washington ESD, that Claimyr service really does work. I was skeptical at first but they got me through to a real person who could actually help resolve my problem. Worth checking out their demo video to see how it works.

Good luck with your claim! The system isn't perfect but if you follow the rules and keep good records, you should be fine. Just stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements.

I'm confused about the waiting week. Do I not get paid for my first week of unemployment or is it just delayed? I filed two weeks ago and only got one payment so far.

For anyone who's self-employed or worked as a contractor, you might be eligible for unemployment benefits now too. The rules changed in recent years to include more types of workers. Worth checking even if you think you don't qualify.

One more thing - keep track of EVERYTHING. Save all your emails from Washington ESD, keep copies of your weekly claim confirmations, screenshot your account status regularly. If something goes wrong (and it probably will at some point), you'll need documentation to prove what happened.