What qualifies you for unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about eligibility requirements

Thanks for breaking that down! Do you know what the current minimum wage multiplier comes out to in actual dollars? And will they definitely look into the restaurant job even though it was so short?

With Washington's minimum wage at $16.28, you'd need about $11,070 in base year wages total. Your $28k should easily cover that. They might review all jobs in your base year period, so be prepared to explain the restaurant situation if asked.

So the firing from my earlier job won't disqualify me completely? That's a relief.

Right, they look at your most recent separation. If that was a layoff, you should be good on that requirement.

I didn't formally report it because it was such a small place with no real HR department. I do have some text messages from coworkers about the situation though. Would that help?

Text messages could definitely help! Screenshot them and keep them safe. Also try to get written statements from those coworkers if possible. Washington ESD takes hostile work environment claims seriously when there's evidence.

What counts as 'too picky'? Can I limit my search to jobs similar to what I was doing before?

Generally you should look for work in your field first, but after a few weeks you may need to expand to other suitable work. Washington ESD considers your skills, experience, and local job market.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr.com - it's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and connects you when they get through. Saved me literally hours of redialing. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

never heard of that before but might be worth checking out. anything is better than listening to that busy signal all day

Wait, you have to pay for that service though right? Seems like Washington ESD should just fix their phone system instead of making us use third party services.

Yeah there's a cost but honestly after wasting 3 days trying to get through myself, it was worth every penny. Plus you don't have to give them your personal info or anything - they just dial and connect you.

How does that work exactly? Do they charge a lot?

They handle the calling process for you and connect you when an agent is available. I don't want to discuss pricing here, but it was worth it for me to get my questions answered quickly.

I've heard of services like this but never tried one. Might be worth it given how impossible it is to reach ESD lately.

What counts as a job search contact? Just applying online or do I need to do more?

Online applications count, but you can also include networking, attending job fairs, contacting employers directly, or meeting with employment counselors. Just keep detailed records.

Family care situations can qualify as good cause for leaving work. Sorry you had to go through an appeal to get that sorted out.

yeah it worked out eventually but took forever. wish they explained the exceptions better upfront

I didn't get any severance since it was just a retail job, so I should be okay there.

Good, that makes it simpler. You can file your claim as soon as you want then.

I've been putting it off because I wasn't sure if I qualified. Sounds like I should just go ahead and apply.

Definitely apply. Worst case they say no, but based on what you've described you should qualify.

This is so true. I waited 2 weeks thinking I needed to find all my pay stubs first and ended up losing those benefit weeks.

Good to know about the weekly claims. How soon after filing should I expect to hear back about my eligibility determination?

Usually takes 2-3 weeks for a basic determination, but if they need to investigate the restaurant job it could go into adjudication which takes longer. Keep checking your account for any requests for additional information.

What counts as 'suitable work'? Do I have to take any job offer or can I be selective about the type of work?

Generally suitable work is something that matches your skills and experience at a reasonable wage. You can't be too picky, but you don't have to take a minimum wage job if you were earning $15/hour before. Washington ESD has guidelines about this in their handbook.

Just make sure you document all your job search activities! I got in trouble for not keeping detailed enough records and had to appeal a disqualification. Keep everything - applications, responses, interview notes, the works.

Have you tried calling the adjudication hotline? I know it's hard to get through but sometimes they can at least tell you what they're waiting for.

I've called probably 50 times. Either busy signal or they hang up after I wait an hour. The whole system is designed to discourage people from getting benefits.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist. My sister used them when she was stuck in adjudication hell and finally got answers about what documents they needed. Sometimes you just need to actually talk to a human being.

I understand the frustration, but try to get information in writing when possible. Email or secure messages through your ESD account create a paper trail.

IF I COULD ACTUALLY LOG INTO MY ACCOUNT THAT WOULD HELP. Been locked out for weeks with no response to my messages.

Oh wow, I didn't know about the waiting week. That's important to factor in. Thanks for mentioning that!

Yeah the waiting week catches a lot of people off guard. And if you have any disqualifying weeks (like if they decide the restaurant quit was without good cause), that extends everything even longer.

That's reassuring to hear. I was really worried I'd be disqualified over that short job. Should I mention it upfront when I file or wait to see if they ask?

Always be honest upfront. They'll find out about it anyway when they verify your work history, and being dishonest can cause bigger problems. Better to explain it properly from the start.

That's really helpful to know. I might need that if I run into problems with my application.

How do you know it's legit though? I'm always suspicious of third-party services for government stuff.

I was skeptical too, but they don't ask for your personal info or login details. They just handle the calling part and conference you in when they reach an agent.

Is there a way to estimate what I might get before I apply?

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator, but it's pretty basic. You'll get the exact amount once you file your claim and they review your work history.

What's WorkSource? Is that separate from the ESD website?

It's Washington's job search website. You have to create a profile and keep it updated. Part of proving you're actively looking for work.

The WorkSource requirement is waived for some people depending on their situation, but most people do need to register within a few weeks of filing.

Good tip! I'll gather all that info before I start the application. Better to be over-prepared.

That's crazy long! Did they at least backpay you for all those weeks once it was approved?

Yeah they backpaid everything, but try explaining that to your landlord when rent is due. The system is just not designed for people who actually need the money quickly.

This is another reason why being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD is so important. Sometimes there are simple fixes that just require human intervention, but good luck getting through on the phone without help.

Thank you so much for the professional perspective! That really helps calm my nerves about the whole process.

No problem! One last tip - if you do get denied for any reason, don't panic. The appeal process in Washington is pretty fair and a lot of initial denials get overturned at the hearing level.

Great advice! I'm definitely going to be more organized about record keeping than I usually am. This is too important to mess up.

Washington ESD has language assistance available. You can request an interpreter when you call, and some materials are available in other languages.

thank you, i didnt know about the interpreter option

Good to know. Hopefully I won't need to appeal but it's reassuring that there's a process if something goes wrong.

The appeal process can take time, but it's definitely worth pursuing if you believe you were wrongly denied.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I'm going to file my claim this weekend.

Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims on time once you're approved.

Same here. The Washington ESD website makes it seem more complicated than it really is.

Agreed. Sometimes you just need real people to explain things in plain English.

I bookmarked their site just in case. Hopefully won't need it but good to have as backup.

The fact that multiple people have mentioned this service makes me think it might actually be useful. ESD phone lines are impossible otherwise.