Which of the following statements are true about unemployment insurance in Washington?

Here are the key facts about Washington unemployment insurance: You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available to work, and actively seeking work. You can work part-time and still receive partial benefits if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. Benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter in your base year. You must register with WorkSource and complete 3 job search activities per week.

One thing people get wrong is thinking you have to be fired to get benefits. That's not true - you can get unemployment if you're laid off, if your hours are reduced significantly, or even if you quit for good cause (like unsafe working conditions or harassment). The key is it can't be your fault.

The benefit calculation is based on your earnings in the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. So if you file in March 2025, they look at your earnings from October 2023 through September 2024. Your weekly benefit is roughly 3.85% of your average quarterly wages, with a maximum of $999 per week in 2025.

A lot of people think unemployment benefits are taxable income, and they're right! You'll get a 1099-G form and need to report it on your tax return. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your benefits or pay them later.

Here's something people mess up - you have to file your weekly claim every week, even if you haven't heard back about your initial claim yet. If you don't file weekly claims, you won't get paid for those weeks even if your claim is eventually approved.

Another important fact: Washington has a one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits. So even if you're approved immediately, you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment. This is different from some other states.

The job search requirements are pretty specific. You need to do 3 activities per week and keep a log. Activities include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or taking classes. Just browsing job sites doesn't count unless you actually apply.

Something else that's true - you can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits in Washington, but only if you have enough earnings in your base year. The exact number of weeks depends on how much you earned. Some people might only qualify for 10-15 weeks if their earnings were lower.

Here's a myth people believe - that you can't get unemployment if you were a contractor or freelancer. That's not always true. If you paid into the system as a W-2 employee in your base year, you can still get benefits even if your most recent work was contract work.

Don't forget about the work search waiver situations. If you're on temporary layoff expecting to return to work within 4 weeks, or if you're in approved training, you might not have to do the 3 job search activities per week. But you still have to file weekly claims.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months and the biggest thing I learned is that you have to report ANY income, even if it's just $20 from a side gig. They'll find out eventually and then you'll have an overpayment issue to deal with.

For anyone struggling to reach Washington ESD by phone, I really recommend trying Claimyr. I was spending hours every day trying to get through and never could. Claimyr got me connected to an agent in under an hour and I was able to get my adjudication issue resolved. Worth every penny for the time it saved me.

One more fact - if you move to another state while collecting Washington unemployment, you can usually continue receiving benefits as long as you keep meeting the requirements and filing your weekly claims. You just need to notify Washington ESD about your address change.

To summarize the main facts for the original poster: Washington unemployment insurance requires you to be unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available to work, actively seeking work, and to have sufficient earnings in your base year. Benefits are calculated based on past earnings, you must file weekly claims, complete job search activities, and report any income. The system is designed to provide temporary financial assistance while you look for new work.