What qualifies as unemployment benefits in Washington ESD - confused about eligibility requirements

You can definitely still qualify for unemployment even if you're doing gig work! Washington ESD looks at whether you're unemployed through no fault of your own from your main job. The key things they check are: 1) You lost your job involuntarily (layoff counts), 2) You earned enough wages in your base period (usually first 4 of last 5 quarters), 3) You're able and available for work, and 4) You're actively searching for work. The gig work income just gets reported when you file your weekly claims and they'll reduce your benefit amount accordingly.

The base period calculation is what trips most people up. Washington ESD uses your highest earning quarter from the base period to determine your weekly benefit amount. They look at ALL your covered employment, so both your retail job and the part-time job before it will count if they were within the base period timeframe.

I was in a similar situation and kept getting the runaround when I tried calling Washington ESD to ask about eligibility. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to a real agent. They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much frustration trying to get basic questions answered about my claim.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! Even if you qualify, you need to be actively looking for work and log your job search activities. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week, and they're pretty strict about documentation.

Wait, I thought if you quit your job you can't get unemployment? My friend told me that but I'm seeing conflicting info online.

The wage requirement is what got me confused when I first applied. You need to have earned at least $1,849 in your highest quarter AND at least $3,499 total in your base period. These amounts get updated each year so make sure you're looking at current numbers.

Just a heads up - if you worked for a nonprofit, government agency, or were self-employed, the rules might be different. Not all employment is 'covered' employment for UI purposes.

The whole system is so confusing. I've been trying to figure out if temporary work affects your claim. Like if I take a 2-week temp job, does that mess up my ongoing claim?

Don't forget you can also qualify for partial unemployment if your hours get reduced but you're not completely laid off. A lot of people don't know about this option.

The 'able and available' requirement is another thing they're strict about. You have to be physically able to work and available for full-time work during normal business hours. Being in school or having restrictions can affect this.

UGHHH the Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible. I've been trying to get through for days just to ask about my eligibility. The automated system hangs up on you if you don't have the right information ready.

One thing to remember is that your benefits are based on your earnings, not your most recent job. So even if your retail job was lower paying, if you had a higher-paying job earlier in your base period, that could increase your benefit amount.

just apply already! worst case they say no but at least you'll know for sure. the application process will walk you through everything

Make sure you apply as soon as possible. There's a waiting week before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you file your claim. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can start receiving payments.

Also worth mentioning - if you receive severance pay, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD has specific rules about how severance is treated.

The WorkSourceWA registration is mandatory too. Don't forget to register with them and keep your profile updated. It's part of the job search requirement.

Last tip - keep copies of everything! Your termination paperwork, pay stubs, any correspondence. If your claim gets flagged for adjudication, you'll need documentation to support your case.

One more thing - if you get denied for any reason, you have the right to appeal. Don't just accept a denial if you think it's wrong. The appeals process exists for a reason.

I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. Definitely worth it if you're stuck and need to talk to someone quickly. The wait times are just insane otherwise.