What is the criteria for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. I was laid off from my retail job last month after working there for about 8 months. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm honestly confused about what the requirements are. Do I need to have worked for a certain amount of time? What about the amount I earned? I've been looking online but the Washington ESD website is kind of overwhelming with all the information. Can someone break down the basic criteria for me?
54 comments
Join the conversation
Christian Burns
The main requirements for Washington unemployment benefits are pretty straightforward. You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file). You also need to have earned at least $5,265 total during your base period, and in your highest earning quarter you need at least $1,755. Plus you have to be unemployed through no fault of your own.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Thanks! That helps a lot. I think I meet those wage requirements since I worked full time. What do they mean by 'no fault of your own' exactly?
0 coins
Christian Burns
•No fault of your own means you were laid off, your position was eliminated, or you were fired for reasons other than misconduct. If you quit voluntarily or were fired for breaking company rules, that could disqualify you.
0 coins
Sasha Reese
Don't forget you also have to be able and available to work, and actively searching for work. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. You'll need to file your weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits.
0 coins
Muhammad Hobbs
•The job search requirement is no joke either. They can audit your job search log at any time and if you don't have proper documentation you could lose your benefits.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Good to know about the job search requirements. Do volunteer activities count toward the 3 contacts per week?
0 coins
Noland Curtis
I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my eligibility but their phone lines are impossible. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?
0 coins
Sasha Reese
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.
0 coins
Noland Curtis
•Interesting, I'll look into that. I'm desperate at this point - been calling every day for 3 weeks.
0 coins
Diez Ellis
Another thing to consider is that Washington ESD will look at your recent work history. If you had any issues at your previous job like attendance problems or policy violations, they might investigate that during adjudication.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•I had a clean record at my job, so hopefully that won't be an issue. How long does the adjudication process usually take?
0 coins
Diez Ellis
•It varies but typically 2-4 weeks. Sometimes longer if they need additional information from you or your employer.
0 coins
Vanessa Figueroa
wait so if I quit my job can I still get unemployment??? I thought you couldn't get it if you quit
0 coins
Christian Burns
•Generally no, you can't collect if you quit voluntarily. There are some exceptions for good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment, but you'd have to prove that.
0 coins
Vanessa Figueroa
•oh ok that makes sense. my situation was definitely voluntary so probably no benefits for me
0 coins
Muhammad Hobbs
Make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's a one-week waiting period before benefits start, and you want to get that clock ticking. The application process through SecureAccess Washington isn't too bad once you get started.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•I filed about a week ago but haven't heard anything back yet. Should I be worried?
0 coins
Muhammad Hobbs
•That's normal. It can take a few weeks to process, especially if your claim needs to go through adjudication.
0 coins
Abby Marshall
The whole system is such a mess. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my claim to be approved and still nothing. They keep asking for more documentation even though I've sent everything they requested twice.
0 coins
Sasha Reese
•That's frustrating. Have you tried calling to check on your claim status? Sometimes there are issues that don't show up online.
0 coins
Abby Marshall
•I've tried calling but can never get through. The lines are always busy or they hang up on me after being on hold for an hour.
0 coins
Sasha Reese
•That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. They specialize in helping people reach Washington ESD agents. Might be worth trying if you're stuck in limbo like that.
0 coins
Sadie Benitez
Don't forget about the tax implications too. Unemployment benefits are taxable income, so you'll want to either have taxes withheld or set money aside for tax season.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Oh I didn't think about that. Can you choose to have taxes taken out automatically?
0 coins
Sadie Benitez
•Yes, you can elect to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claims. It's optional but recommended if you don't want a big tax bill later.
0 coins
Drew Hathaway
Also make sure you understand the difference between regular UI and other programs. If you were a contractor or gig worker, you might need different types of benefits.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•I was a regular W-2 employee so I think regular UI is what I need. Good point though.
0 coins
Laila Prince
The monetary determination letter is really important when you get it. That will tell you your weekly benefit amount and how many weeks you're eligible for. Make sure all the wage information is correct.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•How do I know if the wage information is wrong? Should I have pay stubs ready to compare?
0 coins
Laila Prince
•Yes, definitely keep your pay stubs and W-2s handy. If there's a discrepancy you'll need to contact Washington ESD to get it corrected, which can delay your benefits.
0 coins
Isabel Vega
I made the mistake of not filing my weekly claims on time during my first week and almost lost my benefits. Make sure you file every single week, even if you haven't been approved yet.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Good to know! When exactly do you need to file the weekly claims?
0 coins
Isabel Vega
•You can file starting Sunday for the previous week, and you have until the following Saturday. But don't wait - file as early in the week as possible.
0 coins
Dominique Adams
WorkSourceWA registration is also required. You have to create an account there and keep your profile updated. It's separate from your Washington ESD account but they check to make sure you're registered.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Is that the same as the job search requirement or something different?
0 coins
Dominique Adams
•It's related but separate. WorkSourceWA is where you'll find job postings and resources, but you still need to track your 3 job search contacts per week independently.
0 coins
Marilyn Dixon
Honestly the biggest criteria is just being patient with the whole process. Washington ESD moves slowly and there's not much you can do to speed it up unless you can actually get someone on the phone.
0 coins
Noland Curtis
•That's my biggest frustration right now. I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked! Got through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of hours of calling.
0 coins
Marilyn Dixon
•Really? That's amazing. I've been trying to reach them for days about my adjudication status.
0 coins
Louisa Ramirez
Make sure you answer all the questions on your weekly claims honestly. They ask about any work you did, any income you received, and whether you were available to work. Lying on these can get you in serious trouble.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•What if I do some freelance work while collecting unemployment? Do I have to report that?
0 coins
Louisa Ramirez
•Yes, you absolutely have to report any earnings. They'll reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earned, but you can still collect partial benefits in many cases.
0 coins
TommyKapitz
The base period calculation can be confusing. It's not the most recent quarters - it's usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•That's confusing. Why don't they use the most recent earnings?
0 coins
TommyKapitz
•It has to do with when employers report wages to the state. There's a lag time, so they use the quarters where all wage data is complete.
0 coins
Angel Campbell
Don't forget about the appeal process if you get denied. You have 30 days to appeal and it's often worth doing if you think the decision was wrong.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Good to know. Hopefully I won't need to appeal but it's good to understand the process.
0 coins
Payton Black
The criteria seem reasonable but the execution is terrible. I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months and it's been nothing but headaches and delays.
0 coins
Harold Oh
•I feel you. The system is definitely not user-friendly. But once you get through the initial process it gets easier.
0 coins
Amun-Ra Azra
One more thing - make sure you keep copies of everything you submit to Washington ESD. Applications, documentation, correspondence, everything. You'll be glad you have it if there are any issues later.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Great advice. I'll make sure to document everything going forward. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!
0 coins
Summer Green
•No problem! This forum has been super helpful for me too when I was navigating the unemployment system.
0 coins
Gael Robinson
Just to summarize for the OP - main criteria are sufficient wages in your base period, unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available to work, actively job searching, and filing weekly claims on time. The rest is just bureaucracy you have to navigate.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Perfect summary! I feel much more confident about my application now. Hopefully it goes smoothly from here.
0 coins