What is unemployment benefit - confused about Washington ESD eligibility

That sounds helpful! How do I even start the process? Is there a website or do I need to go somewhere in person?

You file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov. The whole process is digital now. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and bank info if you want direct deposit.

What's a quarter? Sorry, I'm really new to all this terminology.

No worries! A quarter is a 3-month period. So Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec. Washington ESD looks at your wages during these periods to determine if you qualify and how much you'd receive.

this is why the system is so confusing! they should just explain it in plain english instead of all these technical terms

Oh no, what if I need help with my application? Are there other ways to get assistance?

I actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents when you can't reach them normally. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

interesting, never heard of that before but the phone situation with Washington ESD is definitely a nightmare

Six weeks?! I can't wait that long to pay rent. Is there anything that can speed it up?

Some claims do take longer, especially if they go into adjudication (additional review). But many are processed much faster. The key is filing accurately and completely the first time.

Yeah right, 'filing accurately' when their instructions are clear as mud. Good luck with that.

That's actually more than I expected! How long can you collect benefits?

Up to 26 weeks in most cases, though it can be less depending on how much you've worked. You also have to file weekly claims to keep receiving benefits.

What kind of questions do they ask on the weekly claims?

The weekly questions cover things like: did you look for work, did you work or earn any money, are you able and available for work. It's actually pretty straightforward once you get used to it.

straightforward until you accidentally click the wrong button and then spend weeks trying to fix it...

What counts as a job search contact?

Applying for jobs, contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, networking events. You need to keep detailed records including dates, company names, and what you did.

they're pretty strict about this too, they can ask to see your job search log at any time

How much does something like that cost though?

It's worth checking out their site for current info, but honestly after spending days trying to get through on my own, any reasonable cost would have been worth it to actually speak to someone.

The store cut hours drastically and I couldn't survive on 8 hours a week, so I had to find something else. Does that count as quitting?

That might actually qualify as 'good cause' for quitting, especially if the hour reduction was substantial. You should definitely apply and let Washington ESD make the determination.

Agreed - substantial reduction in hours can qualify as good cause. The key is documenting the change in your work schedule.

Good point! I'll start the application tonight. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information.

Smart move. Take your time with the application and double-check all your information before submitting. It's easier to get it right the first time than to fix mistakes later.

It seems like that's a common problem. I'll definitely keep that option in mind if I run into issues.

Same here - spent literally hours on hold just to get disconnected. Having a way to actually reach someone would have saved so much stress.

Oh wow, I hadn't thought about taxes. Thanks for mentioning that!

Yeah, it catches a lot of people off guard. You'll get a 1099-G form at the end of the year showing how much you received in benefits.

That's reassuring to hear. I'm definitely feeling less intimidated about the whole process now.

organization is key! i keep a spreadsheet with all my job applications and contacts

What usually causes a claim to go into adjudication?

Could be anything - unclear reason for job separation, wage discrepancies, previous claims history. Sometimes it's just random quality control reviews.

this is where having a way to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD becomes really important, adjudication can drag on forever if there's any confusion