What qualifies you to collect unemployment benefits in Washington State

The basic requirements for Washington ESD unemployment benefits are: 1) You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, 2) Your total base period wages must be at least 680 hours at minimum wage, 3) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, 4) You must be able and available for work, and 5) You must actively search for work. Since you worked 18 months and were laid off, you likely qualify.

Part-time work definitely counts toward qualifying! I was working part-time at two different jobs and still qualified. What matters is your total earnings during the base period, not whether you were full-time or part-time.

I'd recommend filing sooner rather than later. Even if you're not 100% sure you qualify, Washington ESD will determine your eligibility when they review your application. The worst that happens is they say no, but you won't know until you try. Plus there's a waiting period anyway.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my eligibility but their phone lines are always busy. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? I keep getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours.

Make sure you understand the 'able and available' requirement. You have to be physically and mentally able to work, and available to accept suitable work. If you have any restrictions, you need to report them.

Don't forget about the job search requirement! You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of them. Washington ESD can audit your job search records at any time.

I qualified even though I was only at my job for 8 months. As long as you have enough earnings in your base period from any jobs (not just your most recent one), you should be fine. The 680 hours at minimum wage thing works out to about $11,000 in total earnings.

IMPORTANT: If you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you won't qualify. Being laid off due to lack of work or company downsizing is fine, but if you were terminated for performance issues or policy violations, that's different.

The online application is pretty straightforward. Just go to esd.wa.gov and follow the prompts. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the past 18 months.

I was worried about qualifying too, but it turns out the requirements aren't as strict as I thought. If you worked regularly and were laid off, you'll probably qualify. The hardest part is actually getting through to someone at Washington ESD if you have questions!

One thing to remember is that your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings during the base period, not just your most recent job. So if you had a higher-paying job earlier in the base period, that could increase your weekly benefit.

File as soon as possible! Benefits don't start until the week you file, so every week you wait is money you're losing. Even if there are issues with your claim, you want to get the process started.

Also remember that you need to be registered for work with WorkSource. It's part of the eligibility requirements. You can do this online at WorkSourceWA.com.

The system can be confusing, but don't let that stop you from filing. Most people who worked steadily and were laid off will qualify. Just be honest on your application and let Washington ESD make the determination.

One last tip - when you file, you'll get a determination letter in the mail explaining whether you qualify and how much you'll receive. If you disagree with their decision, you can appeal within 30 days.