Who actually qualifies for unemployment in Washington - confused about eligibility requirements

You likely qualify! Washington ESD looks at your earnings over the past 5 quarters (base period) not just how long you worked at one job. For 2025, you need at least $7,500 in total wages during your base period AND wages in at least two quarters. Part-time work counts toward this. The job search requirement means you need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep a log.

The wage requirements can be tricky. Washington ESD uses a specific formula - you need wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period, AND your total base period wages must be at least $7,500, AND wages in your highest quarter must be at least 1.25 times your lowest quarter. Most people who worked steadily for 6+ months qualify though.

I had similar situation last year - got laid off from part time retail job. I was worried I wouldn't qualify but I did! The hardest part was actually getting through to Washington ESD on the phone when I had questions about my claim. Took me literally dozens of calls over several days. Someone mentioned using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through faster and it actually worked. They have this system that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual Washington ESD agent. Worth checking out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you run into phone issues.

Wait I'm confused about the quarters thing. If I got laid off in January 2025, which quarters are they looking at? And what if I had a gap in employment?

don't forget you also have to be able and available for work. that means you cant turn down suitable job offers and you have to be actively looking

The system is so confusing honestly. I qualified but then got disqualified because they said I quit my job voluntarily even though I was basically forced out due to schedule changes I couldn't accommodate. Had to appeal and everything. Make sure you're clear about why you left your job when you file.

One thing to note - if you qualify, your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter in the base period. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $929, but most people get less depending on their wages. You can get benefits for up to 26 weeks in a regular claim year.

Just file already! Seriously, you're overthinking this. If you worked and got laid off through no fault of your own, you probably qualify. The worst they can do is say no. I've been on unemployment twice and both times was approved within a week or two.

Make sure you understand the work search requirements too. You need to keep a detailed log of all your job search activities - applications, interviews, networking events, etc. Washington ESD can audit this at any time and if you don't have proper documentation, they can disqualify you and make you pay benefits back.

Another thing - if you have any issues getting through to Washington ESD for questions, I second the recommendation for Claimyr. Used it myself when my claim got stuck in adjudication and I couldn't reach anyone. They got me connected to an agent within a few hours instead of me wasting days trying to call.

I was in restaurants too before I got laid off. One thing they don't tell you upfront is that tips count toward your wage calculation IF they were reported properly on your W-2. A lot of restaurant workers don't realize this and think they won't qualify because their base wage was low.

DON'T WAIT TO FILE! Benefits are only paid from the date you file, not from when you became unemployed. So if you wait 2 weeks to file, you lose 2 weeks of potential benefits even if you qualify. File as soon as possible after your last day of work.

For anyone reading this thread - the Washington ESD eligibility rules are pretty standard. You need sufficient wages over the base period, you need to be unemployed through no fault of your own, and you need to be able and available for work. Restaurant layoffs almost always qualify unless there were performance issues.

also remember you have to register with WorkSourceWA and keep your profile updated. its part of the work search requirements and they check on this during audits

I went through this whole process last year and the biggest mistake I made was not keeping good records of my job search from day one. Start documenting everything immediately - even informal conversations about job opportunities can count toward your 3 weekly contacts.

One more thing about qualifying - if you've been fired (not laid off), you might still qualify depending on the reason. Performance issues or minor rule violations often don't disqualify you, but misconduct or policy violations usually do. Since you were laid off due to business reasons, you're definitely in the clear.

Quick question for the group - does anyone know if unemployment benefits affect your credit score or show up on background checks? I'm worried about how this might impact future job applications.

The whole process can seem overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week (I do mine on Sundays) and keep up with the job search requirements. Set reminders on your phone if you need to.

If anyone else is having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone like I was, I found out about this service called Claimyr that basically calls for you and gets you through to an agent. Saved me hours of frustration when my claim had issues. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo that explains how it works.

Bottom line for OP - you almost certainly qualify based on what you described. 8 months of steady work earning $18k total definitely meets Washington ESD requirements. File your claim ASAP and don't stress about it. The system works for situations exactly like yours.