What makes you ineligible for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

The letter mentioned something about 'insufficient base period wages' but I worked full time for over a year. How is that possible?

The base period is specific quarters, not just any 12-18 months. It's usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. If you started work recently or had gaps, you might not have enough wages in those specific quarters.

How do I find out about this alternate base period? Nobody mentioned that when I applied.

You can call Washington ESD to ask them to review your claim under the alternate base period, but good luck getting through on the phone. I tried calling for weeks.

Is that legit? How much does it cost to use?

Yeah it's real, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They don't mention pricing upfront but it was worth it to finally talk to someone about my claim issues.

I've heard mixed things about those phone services. Did they actually help resolve your eligibility issue or just get you connected?

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? I thought any reasonable reason would work.

Washington ESD has very strict definitions. Good cause usually means unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job that weren't agreed to, or health issues. Just being unhappy or finding a better opportunity doesn't qualify.

Wait, I have to do job searches even before my claim is approved? I haven't been doing that.

Yes! You need to start the job search activities from your first week of filing, even during adjudication. Use WorkSourceWA to track your searches.

This is why so many people get disqualified later even when their initial claim looked good. The job search thing trips up a lot of people.

I did get a small severance package when I was laid off. Could that be affecting my claim?

Potentially yes. Washington ESD deducts severance from your weekly benefit amount during the weeks it covers. If the severance covers too many weeks, you might be temporarily ineligible.

I feel you! The whole system seems designed to discourage people. Half the time the representatives don't even know the rules properly.

Exactly! And good luck getting consistent information if you call multiple times. Different agents tell you completely different things.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you?

They use some kind of system to get through the busy phone lines and then connect you to the agent. Way better than the endless busy signals and disconnections I was getting.

What if you're taking online classes at night but available for work during the day?

That's a gray area. Washington ESD looks at your total course load and whether school interferes with your ability to accept full-time work. Online classes might be okay if they don't limit your availability.

I do have some health issues that limit the type of work I can do. Could that be why I was denied?

Possibly. If your health issues prevent you from accepting 'suitable work' in your field, that could affect eligibility. You might need medical documentation about your work restrictions.

This is where it gets tricky because you need to be available for work but also not required to take any job that might worsen a health condition.

I didn't know this was a factor. How would they even know about someone's criminal history?

They don't automatically check, but if it comes up during job search requirements or if you mention restrictions on the types of work you can accept, it becomes relevant.

That's what I thought too! The layoff itself shouldn't disqualify me. I'm going to look into this base period issue more.

Definitely do that. And if you need to talk to Washington ESD about the alternate base period, be persistent. The phone system is awful but you need to get through to someone who can review your wages properly.

I only worked in Washington, so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

Even within Washington, if you had multiple employers or gaps in employment, the wage reporting can get messed up. Employers sometimes report wages to the wrong quarters.

What about Social Security? My mom is on Social Security but wants to work part-time.

Social Security retirement benefits usually don't disqualify you from unemployment, but it depends on your age and work availability. Disability benefits are different and can create conflicts.

Are National Guard or Reserve members treated differently?

Yes, if Guard/Reserve duty conflicts with your availability for civilian work, it can impact eligibility. It's complicated and depends on your specific situation.

How much work counts as 'occasional'? I sometimes do small tasks for neighbors.

Any work for pay needs to be reported, regardless of how small. Washington ESD is strict about income reporting. Even $20 here and there needs to be disclosed on your weekly claims.

This is why so many people get overpayment notices later. They didn't realize that small side gigs counted as reportable income.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed info! I'm going to gather my wage information and try to get through to Washington ESD to discuss the base period issue.

Good luck! Don't give up if the first person you talk to doesn't help. Sometimes you need to call back and get a different agent who understands the alternate base period rules better.