What is unemployment pay in Washington ESD - confused about benefits

Oh that's good to know! My hours went from 40 to about 15 per week so maybe I do qualify. How do I even start the process?

You'd file an initial claim through the Washington ESD website. They'll look at your work history over the past 18 months to determine if you qualify and how much you'd receive.

wow didn't know it could be that much. is there a minimum number of hours you have to have worked?

You need to have earned at least $7,000 during your base period and worked in at least two quarters. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.

This is getting complicated... what's a quarter exactly?

Ugh yes the phone situation is terrible. I've been trying to reach someone at Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and can never get through.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents. I found it at claimyr.com and they have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Does it actually work?

What's standby status? My employer said the hour cuts might be temporary depending on business.

Standby is when you have a definite return-to-work date within 8 weeks. You don't have to do the job search requirements but you have to be available to return when called. Might be worth asking your employer about.

Adjudication happens when they need to investigate something about your claim - like if there are questions about why you're unemployed or if you quit vs were laid off. It can take time but they will eventually make a decision.

yeah well 6 weeks feels like forever when you have bills to pay

I feel you on that. The waiting is brutal especially when they don't give you any updates.

Exactly! It typically replaces about 50% of your average weekly wage, up to the maximum weekly benefit amount. So if you were making $1000/week, you might get around $500 in unemployment benefits.

that's actually not bad for temporary help

Just remember you do have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. They don't automatically withhold federal taxes so you might want to request withholding or set money aside.

Wait so I have to do something every single week? What happens if I forget?

Yeah you file what's called a weekly claim every week, usually on Sunday for the previous week. If you miss filing, you might be able to file late but it's better to stay on top of it. You can do it online through your ESD account.

I set a phone reminder for Sunday mornings to file my weekly claim. Takes like 2 minutes once you get used to it.

3 per week sounds like a lot when there aren't many jobs in my field. What counts as a job search contact?

Applying for jobs, contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, networking events, etc. You can also use WorkSourceWA.com which is the state job search website. Some activities there count toward your requirements.

Pro tip: informational interviews count as job search contacts too, and they're often easier to get than actual job interviews.

Really? I'm going to check out that website tonight. I'm so tired of getting the busy signal.

Same here, I've been calling for days trying to ask about my adjudication status. Traditional calling just doesn't work anymore.

Yeah the call volume to Washington ESD is insane. Claimyr basically handles the waiting and connects you when an agent is available. Game changer for me.

I didn't know that! I was feeling kind of guilty about applying but that makes me feel better about it.

Exactly! It's insurance just like car insurance or health insurance. You pay premiums (through taxes) and when something happens (unemployment) you file a claim.

Wish more people understood this. There's such a stigma around unemployment benefits but it's literally something we all pay for.

So I can still work part-time and get some unemployment benefits? That would really help since my part-time pay isn't enough to cover my expenses.

Yes! As long as your weekly earnings are below your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you'll get at least partial benefits. So if your weekly benefit would be $400 and you earn $200 part-time, you'd still get some unemployment pay.

This is super helpful info. I'm in a similar situation and didn't realize partial benefits were a thing.

I'll definitely check that out. Thanks for all the help everyone, this has been really informative!

Good luck with your application! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues during the process.

And remember that Claimyr option if you need to actually talk to someone at ESD. Sometimes you just need a human to explain things.