When do you qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about eligibility requirements

To qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits, you need to meet several requirements. First, you must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base year (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). You also need to have earned at least $3,800 in your base year AND earned at least $1,267 in your highest quarter. Since you worked for 8 months plus 6 months part-time before that, you should have enough work history if your wages were sufficient.

The hardest part is actually getting through to Washington ESD to file your claim or get questions answered. I spent weeks trying to call before I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this system that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Beyond the basic wage and work requirements, you also can't be disqualified for misconduct or voluntary quit without good cause. Since you were laid off, that shouldn't be an issue. Make sure you apply as soon as possible because there's a waiting week, and benefits are only paid from the date you file your initial claim, not when you became unemployed.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i got laid off too but then they said i didn't work enough hours or something? even though i worked for like a year straight. makes no sense

I was in a similar situation last year - worked retail then got laid off. The application process online through SecureAccess Washington isn't too bad once you get started. Just make sure you have all your employer information ready including dates of employment and wages. They'll verify everything with your employers anyway.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to file weekly claims to continue receiving benefits. It's not automatic - you have to certify every week that you're still unemployed and looking for work. Miss a week and you won't get paid for that week.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! You need to be registered with WorkSource WA and actively looking for work. They require specific job search activities each week and you need to keep a log. Some people get caught off guard by this.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing - if you do need to talk to Washington ESD about your eligibility or have questions during the process, it's really worth using. I was skeptical at first but honestly it's the only way I could get through when I had issues with my claim going into adjudication.

I think you should qualify based on what you described. 14 months of work history should be enough if you earned decent wages. The key things Washington ESD looks at are: sufficient wages in your base year, unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available to work, and actively seeking employment.

wait so if you quit your job you can't get unemployment? what if your boss was totally unreasonable and made work impossible?

Pro tip: when you file your initial claim, be very accurate about your employment dates and separation reason. Any discrepancies with what your employer reports can cause delays and send your claim into adjudication. I learned this the hard way.

The Washington ESD website has a tool where you can estimate your potential weekly benefit amount before you apply. Might be worth checking that out to see what you could expect to receive.

omg this whole thread is so helpful! i've been wondering about the same thing after getting laid off from my restaurant job. sounds like i should apply sooner rather than later

One more thing to consider - if you do any part-time or temporary work while receiving benefits, you need to report it on your weekly claims. You might still be eligible for partial benefits depending on how much you earn.

The whole eligibility thing seems straightforward enough but actually getting approved and staying compliant with all the requirements is where it gets tricky. Make sure you understand the ongoing obligations before you apply.

honestly the hardest part is just getting through on the phone if you have questions. i spent literally days trying to call before someone mentioned that claimyr service to me. wish i'd known about it sooner

Based on everything discussed here, it sounds like you should definitely qualify. Eight months full-time plus six months part-time should put you well over the wage thresholds, and being laid off means you meet the separation requirements.

Good luck with your application! This thread has been really informative for anyone trying to understand Washington ESD eligibility requirements.