What can qualify you for unemployment in Washington ESD - confused about eligibility

Thank you! That makes way more sense. So the base period is like looking back at my earnings from over a year ago? I definitely earned more than $2,744 between both jobs so I think I'm good on that part.

Just to clarify - the base period is 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-March 2024, April-June 2024, July-September 2024, and October-December 2024.

No, they just said the company was downsizing and my position was eliminated. I never had any disciplinary issues or anything like that.

Perfect, that definitely sounds like you were separated through no fault of your own. You should be good to file a claim.

What counts as a job search contact? Is it just applying for jobs online or does it include other stuff too?

Job applications definitely count, but you can also include things like attending job fairs, networking events, informational interviews, or contacting employers directly even if they don't have posted openings. The key is documenting everything in your job search log.

I had trouble with the WorkSourceWA registration - their website kept timing out when I tried to create an account. Anyone else have issues with that?

That sounds helpful! I was dreading having to call them because I heard the wait times are terrible.

How much does that service cost? I'm unemployed so I can't really afford to pay extra fees right now.

I totally get being concerned about costs when you're unemployed. For me it was worth it because I was able to get my questions answered quickly instead of spending days trying to get through on the phone. The video demo explains how it works if you want to check it out.

I didn't quit though - I was laid off. So I shouldn't have to worry about that disqualification thing, right?

Right, since you were laid off due to restructuring, you shouldn't face any disqualification. The waiting week still applies though - that's just standard for everyone.

The Washington ESD website does have an eligibility checklist if you dig around for it, but I agree it's not very user-friendly. The basic requirements really are: worked enough hours/earned enough wages, unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available to work, and actively job searching.

I think they make it confusing so fewer people apply tbh. Like why do we need to understand base periods and quarters? Just tell us how much we need to have earned and when!

Good point! I should double-check that both my retail job and restaurant job show up in their system. How do I access that wage history?

Log into your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account and look for something like 'wage and benefit inquiry' or 'wage history.' It should show all the wages reported by your employers.

I was laid off last week but I wanted to make sure I understood everything before filing. Should I file this week or is it too late?

Definitely file this week! You're only talking about a few days delay, which isn't a big deal. The important thing is not to wait weeks or months.

I think I should be fine with the regular base period since I worked for over a year total, but good to know there's a backup option.

Yeah the alternative base period saved me when I first started working. I had only been working for like 10 months and didn't qualify under the regular base period but the alternative one worked.

What kind of additional verification? I have my license and SS card but wondering what else they might need.

It varies, but sometimes they want utility bills to verify your address, pay stubs to verify your employment, or even ask you to upload a selfie with your ID. The ID.me verification can be a pain but it's required now.

What does adjudication mean exactly? And how long does it usually take?

Adjudication is when they need to review your case manually to determine if you qualify. It can happen for various reasons - like if there's a question about why you were separated from your job, or if there are wage discrepancies. It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks unfortunately.

Mine took 6 weeks! It was horrible because I couldn't get anyone on the phone to tell me what was going on. I wish I had known about Claimyr back then.

When do the weekly claims need to be filed? Is there a specific day of the week?

You can file your weekly claim starting Sunday for the previous week. So if you're claiming for the week of January 1-7, you can file that claim starting Sunday January 8th. Most people file on Sundays but you have until the following Saturday.

That's good to know! I was thinking about maybe doing some gig work while I look for a full-time job.

Just make sure to report all your gig earnings, even if they're small amounts. Washington ESD will deduct from your benefits based on what you earn, but you can often still get some benefits as long as you don't earn too much.

The formula is usually something like for every dollar you earn over a certain threshold, they reduce your benefits by a certain percentage. But honestly the math gets confusing so I just report everything and let them calculate it.