When can you get unemployment benefits - Washington ESD eligibility requirements?

You can actually file for unemployment benefits in Washington even if you're still working part-time, as long as your hours or wages have been reduced. This is called partial unemployment. You don't have to be completely jobless. The key factors Washington ESD looks at are: 1) You must have earned enough wages during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters), 2) You must be able and available for work, 3) You must be actively seeking work, and 4) Your unemployment must be through no fault of your own. Since your hours were cut by your employer, that should qualify.

You can apply for benefits right away - there's no waiting period to file your initial claim. I made the mistake of waiting a few weeks thinking I had to, but benefits are backdated to when you first became unemployed or had your hours reduced. The sooner you file, the better. Just make sure you have all your employment information ready - dates of employment, employer names and addresses, and reason for separation.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about your eligibility, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to an actual agent. They basically handle the calling process for you since the phone lines are always jammed. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. I used it last month when I couldn't get through about my own claim status and it was a lifesaver. Check out claimyr.com if you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD directly.

Make sure you understand the work search requirements too. You'll need to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. In Washington, you generally need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and register with WorkSourceWA. Don't skip this part - they can deny benefits if you don't meet the work search requirements.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I've been trying to figure this out for weeks and every website says something different. Why can't they just make it simple?

Just to add - if you worked in multiple states, that can complicate things. But since you mentioned retail and seasonal work, if both were in Washington, you should be fine. The base period wage requirement is usually around $3,500 total during your base period, with at least $2,500 earned outside your highest earning quarter.

Don't forget about the weekly claims! Even after you file your initial application, you have to file a weekly claim every week to actually receive benefits. And you have to do this even if your claim is still pending or in adjudication. Missing weekly claims can really mess things up.

The timing thing is important too. Your claim is effective the Sunday of the week you file, not the actual day you file. So if you file on a Wednesday, your claim starts the previous Sunday. This matters for calculating your benefit year and when benefits end.

I was in a similar situation last year - hours cut to almost nothing at my job. Washington ESD approved my partial unemployment claim pretty quickly. The key is being honest about everything and keeping good records of your work hours and job search activities.

Also worth mentioning - if you quit your job voluntarily or were fired for misconduct, you generally won't qualify for benefits. But if your hours were cut by the employer, that's considered involuntary unemployment and should qualify you.

Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history ready when you apply. The application asks for a lot of specific information about your previous employers - names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for leaving, etc.

One more thing - if your claim goes into adjudication (which happens when there are questions about your eligibility), don't panic. It's pretty common and just means they need to review your case. But definitely try to get in touch with them if you can to check on the status. That's where services like Claimyr come in handy since it's nearly impossible to get through to Washington ESD on your own.

just apply already! youre overthinking it. worst case they say no and you try again later

The monetary determination letter you'll receive after applying will show exactly how much you can receive per week and for how long. In Washington, you can typically receive benefits for up to 26 weeks, though this can vary based on the unemployment rate.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return. I learned this the hard way and owed a bunch at tax time.

If you have any issues with your employer disputing your claim, don't worry too much. Washington ESD will investigate and make a determination. Just be prepared to provide documentation if needed.

The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. I put off applying for weeks because I was intimidated by all the requirements, but I wish I had just done it sooner.

One final tip - keep checking your eServices account regularly for any correspondence from Washington ESD. They might request additional information or documentation, and you usually have a limited time to respond. Missing these requests can delay or deny your benefits.

Good luck with your application! Based on what you've described, it sounds like you should qualify for benefits. The reduced hours situation is pretty straightforward for Washington ESD to handle.