When can an employee claim unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! What exactly counts as 'good cause' for quitting? And how do they determine if you have enough wages?

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to job duties or pay, or domestic violence situations. For wages, you need at least $1,000 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least 1.25 times your highest quarter amount during your base period.

This is exactly my situation! My hours got cut from 40 to 20 per week. How do I know if I qualify for partial benefits?

You'd file a regular unemployment claim and report your weekly earnings. Washington ESD will calculate if you're eligible for partial benefits. Generally, if you earn less than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you might qualify for some payment.

Wait, do you still have to job search if you're on temporary layoff and expecting to be called back?

Yes, you still need to meet the job search requirements unless you're on standby status, which is different. Most temporary layoffs don't qualify for standby, so you'd need to do your three job search activities per week.

That actually sounds really useful. I've been trying to call for days and keep getting disconnected.

Yeah exactly! That's why I tried claimyr.com in the first place. The Washington ESD phone system is just overwhelmed and it's nearly impossible to get through on your own.

What if they said I was terminated for attendance issues? Does that count as misconduct?

It depends on the circumstances. If you had legitimate reasons for absences (medical issues, family emergencies) it might not be misconduct. But if it was just showing up late or not showing up without excuse, that could be considered misconduct. You'd need to provide documentation of any legitimate reasons.

What about if you're taking care of a sick family member? Does that affect eligibility?

If you quit to care for a family member, it might qualify as good cause in certain situations, especially for domestic violence or caring for an ill child. But you'd still need to be able and available for work to continue receiving benefits.

What if I just started working recently and don't have enough wages in that base period?

You might be able to use an alternate base period, which is the last four completed quarters. So for a January 2025 filing, that would be January through December 2024. This helps people who worked more recently.

I was doing freelance work after getting laid off. Does that affect my claim?

You need to report all earnings from freelance work on your weekly claims. Depending on how much you earn, it might reduce your benefits or make you ineligible for that week. Be honest about it - Washington ESD will find out anyway through tax records.

I'm a substitute teacher. Do the same rules apply to me?

Substitute teachers usually don't have reasonable assurance of returning, so they can typically file for benefits during breaks. But it depends on your specific contract and whether the district expects to call you back.

Does GI Bill education count as being available for work?

Usually yes, as long as you're still able and available for work around your class schedule. You can attend school and collect unemployment as long as work takes priority if you get a job offer.

What's the difference between a strike and a lockout?

A strike is when workers refuse to work as part of a labor dispute. A lockout is when the employer prevents workers from working during a dispute. Washington ESD treats these differently for benefit eligibility.

How much does something like that cost?

I'd rather not get into pricing here, but for me it was worth it to get my questions answered quickly rather than spending hours trying to call myself. You can check out more info at claimyr.com if you're interested.

What about Social Security disability? I'm on SSDI but want to try working again.

That's a complex situation involving both Washington ESD and Social Security rules about work attempts. You'd definitely want to speak with both agencies before making changes to understand how it affects your benefits.

I work retail and they always say they'll call me back after Christmas but sometimes don't. Is that reasonable assurance?

If they just say they 'might' call you back, that's probably not reasonable assurance. It needs to be more definite, like a specific return date or contract. Retail layoffs after holidays often qualify for unemployment.

What counts as a job search activity?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, informational interviews, creating/updating professional profiles, career counseling appointments. Each activity needs to be substantial and work-related.

What if your work visa is expiring but you have a new application pending?

That's a complicated immigration and employment law question. You'd need to check with both Washington ESD and an immigration attorney about your specific situation and timing.

I'm in sales and my commission checks come months after I make the sale. How does that work?

Washington ESD uses the date the commission was paid to you for their calculations, not when you made the sale. So if you got a big commission check in Q1 but made those sales in Q4 of the previous year, it counts toward Q1 wages.

I keep hearing about Claimyr in these threads. Is it really that hard to get through to Washington ESD normally?

In my experience, yes. I tried calling for weeks and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Claimyr got me through in one try and I was talking to an agent within a reasonable time. Check out the video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ to see how it works.

What's a waiting week?

It's the first week of your claim period where you don't get paid benefits, even if you're eligible. It's like a deductible - you have to serve one waiting week per benefit year before payments start.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! Thanks everyone for breaking down all these different scenarios. I feel much more prepared now to understand my options if my work situation changes.