Who applies for unemployment in Washington - confused about eligibility requirements

Really? I had no idea about partial unemployment. Do I still have to do the job search requirements?

Yes, you still need to search for work and report it on your weekly claims, but the requirements might be different depending on your situation.

what about if you quit because your boss was making you work unpaid overtime? would that count as good cause?

That could potentially qualify as good cause, especially if you can document the wage violations. Washington ESD looks at each situation individually.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford extra fees.

It was worth it for me to finally get answers about my claim status. The peace of mind was huge.

what about people who got fired for attendance issues? my coworker got terminated for being late too many times

Being fired for misconduct like chronic tardiness usually results in disqualification, but each case is reviewed individually during adjudication.

adjudication takes forever though, my claim has been stuck there for 6 weeks

Yes, you can apply for partial unemployment if your total weekly earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount. Washington ESD will calculate your benefits based on your reduced income.

Do I need to report the income from my remaining job every week?

Absolutely. You must report all earnings when filing your weekly claims, even if it's just a few hours of work.

It depends on how you're classified. Most gig workers are independent contractors and don't qualify for regular UI benefits, but there might be other programs available.

that's so unfair, we pay taxes too but can't get help when work dries up

Standby status is different from regular unemployment claims. You're not actively searching for work because you have a defined return date to your job.

Right, I don't have to do job searches but I still file weekly claims. It's confusing when people ask if I'm unemployed.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The waiting and uncertainty was killing me. At least with their service I could actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about what was holding up my claim.

I might have to try that. This is ridiculous.

Students can apply for unemployment benefits if they meet the work history requirements and are available for work. Being a student doesn't automatically disqualify you.

oh wow I had no idea. I thought students couldn't get unemployment at all

How do I know if I've worked enough? I've been at my job for about 18 months.

You can check your quarterly wage statements in your eServices account. You need wages in at least two quarters of your base year.

School employees can sometimes qualify for benefits during summer breaks if they don't have reasonable assurance of returning to work.

Yeah that makes sense. She wasn't guaranteed her position would still exist when school started.

To qualify for unemployment benefits, you need reported wages and employment history. Cash payments that weren't reported to the state won't count toward your eligibility.

That's what I figured but wanted to check

Being fired for alleged misconduct will trigger an adjudication process where Washington ESD reviews the circumstances. You'll have a chance to present your side of the story.

How long does adjudication take? I need to know if I should look for other assistance.

Adjudication can take several weeks depending on the complexity of the case and how quickly they can gather information from all parties.

Military spouses may qualify for unemployment benefits in certain circumstances, especially if the job loss was due to a military-related move.

That's a good point. I was so worried about doing something wrong that I almost didn't apply at all.

Exactly! And even if you get denied initially, you can always appeal the decision if you think it's wrong.

I'm going to check that out. I've been trying to reach someone for weeks about my claim status.

It definitely saved me a lot of frustration. The phone system at Washington ESD is just impossible to navigate on your own.

If someone chooses to retire, they typically don't qualify for unemployment benefits because they're voluntarily leaving the workforce.

Makes sense. I told him he should probably look into other retirement benefits instead.

Temporary workers can often qualify for unemployment benefits between assignments, but it depends on the specific circumstances and whether you're available for new assignments.

The temp agency said they'd call me when something comes up but that could be weeks or months.

Yeah this thread was really helpful. I'm going to apply for partial unemployment since my hours got cut.

Good luck! At least now we know we're not alone in being confused about all this stuff.

That's really important to know. I've been putting off applying for weeks thinking I needed to wait for something.

Nope, apply right away. Even if there are issues with your claim, at least you'll have the earliest possible effective date.