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

Washington ESD looks at your total wages from all jobs during what they call your 'base period' - usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $1,005 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least $1,005 in your base period. Sounds like you should qualify with $22,000 total. You also need to be able and available for work, actively seeking work, and have lost your job through no fault of your own.

I was in a similar situation last year and qualified easily. The hardest part was actually getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about my claim. Their phone lines are constantly busy and I kept getting disconnected. I ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The basic requirements are pretty straightforward but there are some nuances. You need to have worked in Washington state, lost your job through no fault of your own (layoffs, business closures, etc.), be physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking employment. You also can't quit voluntarily unless it was for 'good cause' like unsafe working conditions or harassment.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i tried to file last month and got so overwhelmed by all the questions. they ask about every single job you've had and want exact dates and wages. took me like 2 hours to fill out the application because i had to dig through old pay stubs

Don't forget about the waiting week! In Washington, you have to serve one waiting week before you can receive benefits. So even if you qualify and get approved, your first week of unemployment won't be paid. It's basically a penalty for filing.

I qualified last year but it took forever to get approved because my claim went into adjudication. Apparently when you have multiple jobs or there are questions about why you lost your job, they have to investigate. Mine took 6 weeks to resolve and I couldn't get anyone on the phone to explain what was happening.

Another thing to consider is that you need to register with WorkSource Washington and maintain an active job search profile there. It's part of the work search requirements. You can do this online at WorkSourceWA.com.

just a heads up - if you worked in food service make sure you report ALL your tips when you file. i know a lot of servers who got in trouble later because they didn't report cash tips to the IRS and then couldn't prove their full income for unemployment

The income requirements aren't too hard to meet but you also need to have worked for a certain number of weeks. I think it's at least 680 hours in your base period or wages in at least two different quarters. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on the exact numbers.

Does anyone know if there are different rules for seasonal workers? I worked construction during the summer but the company always lays everyone off in winter. I've been doing this for 3 years and always file for unemployment during the off-season.

Be prepared for the identity verification process too. Washington ESD has gotten really strict about confirming who you are before approving benefits. You might need to upload photos of your ID and Social Security card.

The job search requirement is 3 activities per week but they're pretty flexible about what counts. Networking, updating your resume, attending virtual job fairs, even creating profiles on job sites like Indeed or LinkedIn can count as activities.

I've been on unemployment twice and both times I had issues getting through to customer service when I had questions. Last time I tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked - got connected to an agent within minutes instead of calling for hours.

One more thing - if you're thinking about going back to school while on unemployment, there are special programs that might let you collect benefits while in training. Look into the Training Benefits program if you're interested in learning new skills.

Just file and see what happens honestly. The worst they can do is say no, and if you think you qualify then you probably do. The application process will walk you through everything step by step.

The system has definitely improved since the pandemic chaos but there are still delays sometimes. Just be patient and keep following up if you don't hear anything for a while. Most people do get approved if they legitimately qualify.