Who can collect unemployment benefits in Washington ESD - eligibility requirements?

That's helpful! How do I figure out what my base period wages were? I've worked at a few different places over the past year.

When you file your initial claim on the Washington ESD website, they'll calculate it automatically based on your work history. You can also check your wage records in your SecureAccess Washington account.

Good point about reporting the gig work. Do I need to report it even if I'm not doing it anymore?

No, only report income you earn during the weeks you're claiming benefits. Past work just goes into calculating your eligibility.

How much does that cost? I'm trying to save money since my hours got cut.

I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of getting hung up on constantly. The website has all the details.

What counts as job search activities? Do I need to apply for a certain number of jobs each week?

For 2025, you need to complete 3 job search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or taking training classes. Keep records of everything.

Make sure you register with WorkSource WA within 30 days of filing your claim or they might stop your benefits temporarily.

Is the waiting week still a thing in 2025? I thought they got rid of it during COVID.

The waiting week is back now that the pandemic programs ended. It's the first week you file that's compensable but you don't get paid for it.

Independent contractors usually can't collect regular unemployment unless they've also had W-2 employment. The gig work might not count toward your wage base if you were classified as a contractor.

That's what I was afraid of. Most of my income this year was from gig work.

You should still file if you had any W-2 wages. Even a small benefit is better than nothing, and you might qualify for partial unemployment if you're still doing some gig work.

That sounds really helpful. Did the agent explain anything that wasn't clear from the website?

Yeah, they clarified how my part-time work from different employers would be calculated and explained the job search requirements better than the generic info online.

How does partial unemployment work exactly?

Basically, if you're working less than full-time and earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you can get partial benefits. You report your gross wages when you file your weekly claim and they calculate the payment.

Just be super careful about reporting your wages correctly. I knew someone who got an overpayment notice because they reported net wages instead of gross wages.

What's adjudication? Should I be worried about that?

Adjudication is when they need to review something about your claim before approving benefits. It can happen for various reasons - job separation issues, wage discrepancies, or if there are questions about your eligibility.

yeah exactly. mine was because i had worked for a temp agency and they needed to verify why that job ended. took forever to get resolved

When do you have to file the weekly claims? Is there a deadline?

You can file starting Sunday morning for the previous week, and you have until Saturday night. Most people file Sunday morning to get it out of the way.

The weekly claim system usually opens at 6 AM on Sunday and closes at 8 PM on Saturday. I always set a reminder on my phone.

That's encouraging! I was worried I wouldn't qualify for much even if I was eligible.

The benefit amount depends on your wages in your highest quarter. Mine wasn't huge but every bit helps when you're struggling to pay bills.

Good point. I'm not a student but that's something people should know about.

Generally students can collect if they're available for work and not just attending school. But if you're only available for work around your class schedule, that might limit your eligibility.

How far back can you backdate a claim if needed?

I think it's only about a week or two in most cases. The sooner you file, the better. Even if you're not sure you qualify, it's better to file and find out than to wait and miss out on benefits.

Yeah they use ID.me now for identity verification. Have your driver's license and Social Security card ready when you file. The process isn't too bad if you have all your documents.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure I have everything ready before I start the application.

That's great advice. Better to have too much documentation than not enough.

Exactly. I learned that the hard way when I had to appeal a disqualification. Having good records made all the difference.

That's reassuring. I was stressed about whether it would even be worth applying.

Definitely worth applying if you think you might qualify. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be pleasantly surprised.

Good to hear another positive review. I might need to use that if I run into issues with my claim.

The demo video on their site shows exactly how it works. Much better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I think I have enough information now to move forward with filing my claim.

Good luck! The process can seem overwhelming at first but once you get through the initial filing it gets easier.