What do you have to do to get unemployment benefits in Washington state?
I just lost my job last week and I'm completely lost about how to apply for unemployment. I've never had to do this before and I have no idea where to start. What are the actual requirements to get unemployment benefits in Washington? Do I need to have worked a certain amount of time? Is there paperwork I need to gather first? I'm honestly scared I'm going to mess something up and not qualify. Any help would be really appreciated.
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Edward McBride
First thing you need to do is file your claim online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment. Don't wait - there's usually a waiting week anyway.
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Gael Robinson
•Thank you! Should I gather pay stubs too or do they not need those?
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Edward McBride
•They might ask for them later during the process but you don't need them to file initially. Just have your employment dates and wages ready.
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Darcy Moore
The basic requirements are that you worked enough hours in your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 quarters) and you have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. So if you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might not qualify.
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Gael Robinson
•I was laid off due to budget cuts so that should be okay right?
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Darcy Moore
•Yes, layoffs due to budget cuts definitely qualify. That's exactly the kind of situation unemployment is designed for.
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Dana Doyle
Also be prepared for the job search requirements. You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. Register with WorkSource Washington too - that's mandatory.
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Gael Robinson
•What counts as a job search contact? Is just applying online enough?
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Dana Doyle
•Yes, online applications count. You can also do things like attend job fairs, contact employers directly, or take training courses. Just keep detailed records.
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Liam Duke
I went through this process last year and honestly the hardest part was getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. The phone lines are always busy and it's frustrating when you need help with your claim.
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Manny Lark
•Oh god yes, trying to call them is impossible. I spent literally hours on hold just to get disconnected.
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Liam Duke
•I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.
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Rita Jacobs
dont forget you have to file weekly claims every week even if you haven't received your first payment yet!! this is super important or you could lose benefits
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Gael Robinson
•When do I start filing weekly claims? Right after I submit my initial application?
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Edward McBride
•You'll get instructions after you file your initial claim. Usually you start filing weekly claims for the week after you applied.
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Khalid Howes
Just a heads up - if your claim goes into adjudication it can take weeks or even months to get resolved. Don't panic if that happens, it's pretty common especially if there are any questions about your employment history.
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Gael Robinson
•What is adjudication exactly? That sounds scary.
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Khalid Howes
•It's just when they need to investigate something about your claim - like verifying why you left your job or checking your wages. It's not necessarily bad, just takes time.
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Darcy Moore
•Yeah and if you do get stuck in adjudication, that's another time when being able to reach an actual person at Washington ESD becomes really important to get status updates.
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Ben Cooper
Make sure you answer all the questions honestly when you file. They will verify everything with your employer anyway so don't try to hide anything or embellish.
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Gael Robinson
•Good point. I'm worried about one thing - I had some part-time work while at my main job. Do I need to report that too?
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Ben Cooper
•Yes, report ALL employment from the last 18 months. They want the complete picture of your work history.
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Naila Gordon
The whole system is honestly a nightmare to navigate. I've been trying to get through to them for weeks about an issue with my claim and keep getting the runaround.
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Cynthia Love
•Have you tried that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier? I was skeptical at first but it actually worked for me when I needed to reach someone about my adjudication.
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Naila Gordon
•No I hadn't heard of it. Is it legit?
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Cynthia Love
•Yeah it's real. They basically help you get through the phone queue without having to sit there for hours. Worth checking out if you're stuck.
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Darren Brooks
One thing I wish someone had told me is to take screenshots of everything when you're filing online. If there are any technical issues or your application gets lost, you'll want proof of what you submitted.
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Gael Robinson
•That's really smart advice. I wouldn't have thought of that.
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Darren Brooks
•Trust me, it saved me when there was a glitch and my weekly claim didn't go through properly. Having screenshots helped resolve it faster.
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Rosie Harper
Also be patient with the process. I know it's stressful when you need the money, but it can take 2-3 weeks for your first payment even if everything goes smoothly.
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Gael Robinson
•Ugh that's going to be tight but good to know what to expect. At least I have a little savings to get by.
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Rosie Harper
•Yeah it's tough but once it starts coming it's usually pretty reliable. Just make sure you keep filing those weekly claims on time.
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Elliott luviBorBatman
The monetary determination letter is important too - that tells you how much you'll get per week and for how long. Read it carefully when it arrives.
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Gael Robinson
•How do they calculate how much you get? Is it based on your last salary?
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Elliott luviBorBatman
•It's based on your wages during your base period, not just your last job. They look at your highest quarter and use a formula from there.
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Demi Hall
whatever you do DON'T lie about looking for work. they audit that stuff and if you get caught you have to pay everything back plus penalties
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Gael Robinson
•Good to know. I definitely plan to actually look for work anyway but I'll make sure to document everything properly.
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Dana Doyle
•Exactly. Keep a detailed log with dates, company names, positions applied for, and method of contact. They can ask to see it at any time.
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Mateusius Townsend
If you have any issues or questions during the process and can't get through on the phone, there are local WorkSource offices you can visit in person too. Sometimes that's easier than dealing with the phone system.
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Gael Robinson
•That's good to know there's a backup option. Are they pretty helpful in person?
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Mateusius Townsend
•In my experience yes, the staff at the local offices are usually more accessible and can help with basic questions about your claim.
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Kara Yoshida
Just want to add that if you worked for multiple employers in the last year, make sure you report ALL of them accurately. Missing one could delay your claim.
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Gael Robinson
•I did have a few different jobs over the past year so I'll make sure to get all the details together first.
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Kara Yoshida
•Yeah take your time with that part. Having incomplete information is one of the main reasons claims get delayed.
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Philip Cowan
The waiting week thing is confusing too. You won't get paid for your first week of unemployment even if you file right away. It's just how the system works.
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Gael Robinson
•So even if I file this week, I won't get paid for this week at all?
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Philip Cowan
•Right, the first week is always a waiting week with no payment. But if you're eligible for benefits, you'll start getting paid for the second week onward.
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Caesar Grant
I'm going through something similar right now and honestly the whole process has been way more complicated than it should be. But stick with it because the benefits do help once they start coming through.
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Gael Robinson
•Thanks for the encouragement. It does seem overwhelming but everyone here has been really helpful.
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Liam Duke
•That's why I'm glad I found that Claimyr service when I needed help. Made the whole thing less stressful when I could actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.
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Lena Schultz
Good luck with your claim! The initial filing is honestly the hardest part. Once you get into the routine of weekly claims and job searching it becomes more manageable.
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Gael Robinson
•Thank you! I'm feeling much more confident about the process after reading everyone's advice here.
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Lena Schultz
•You're welcome! Don't hesitate to come back if you run into any issues. This community is pretty good about helping each other out.
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