Who does not qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington? Need to know eligibility rules

The main categories of people who don't qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits include: 1) Self-employed individuals and independent contractors (unless they paid into the system voluntarily), 2) People who quit their job without good cause, 3) Those fired for misconduct, 4) Students attending school full-time, 5) People who haven't earned enough wages in their base period. Your brother's gig work probably won't count unless those companies were paying into Washington's unemployment system, which most don't.

Also people who are not able and available for work don't qualify. Like if you're sick, injured, or have other commitments that prevent you from accepting full-time work. Washington ESD requires you to be actively looking for work and able to start immediately if offered a job.

If he's having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check his eligibility, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It's this service that helps you actually reach a real person at ESD without waiting on hold forever. I used it when I needed to clarify some wage information on my claim. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't forget about the earnings requirement! In Washington, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, and your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. Plus you need at least $1,000 in your highest quarter. A lot of people get tripped up on this part.

People who are receiving certain types of other benefits might not qualify either. Like if you're getting Social Security retirement benefits or workers' compensation, it can affect your UI eligibility. Also, non-citizens need to have work authorization to qualify for Washington ESD benefits.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing. i applied last year and got denied because they said i didnt have good cause for quitting my job even though my boss was literally harassing me. had to go through a whole appeal process

Military personnel might have different rules too. If you're active duty military, you generally can't collect unemployment. But veterans can usually apply for benefits based on their military service through a federal program that works with state systems.

One thing that catches people off guard is the job search requirement. Even if you qualify for benefits, you have to actively search for work and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires at least 3 job search activities per week. If you can't or won't do that, you won't stay eligible for benefits.

Since your brother's situation seems complicated with the mix of gig work and regular employment, he should really talk to someone at Washington ESD directly. When I had questions about my eligibility, I used Claimyr to get through to an actual representative. Saved me hours of trying to call on my own. The service made it super easy to connect with someone who could look at my specific situation.

Students are tricky too. If you're enrolled in school more than half-time, you might not qualify unless you're in an approved training program. Washington ESD has specific rules about this and it's not always clear cut.

Here's a quick eligibility checklist for Washington ESD unemployment: 1) Lost job through no fault of your own OR quit for good cause, 2) Meet the earnings requirements in your base period, 3) Able and available for work, 4) Actively seeking work, 5) Not receiving disqualifying benefits, 6) Authorized to work in the US. If your brother meets all these criteria, he should apply even if he's not 100% sure about the wage requirements.

Don't forget about the voluntary quit rules! If you quit your job, you need to prove you had good cause connected to your work. Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or pay, or domestic violence situations can be good cause. But just being unhappy or wanting a different job usually isn't enough.

seasonal workers sometimes get confused about this too. like if you work summers only or holiday retail, you might not qualify during your off season if washington esd considers it your normal work pattern

I've seen people get denied because they were receiving pension payments from a previous employer. If the pension is based on work you did for the same employer you're claiming benefits for, it can reduce or eliminate your UI benefits.

The key thing is Washington ESD looks at each case individually. Even if you think you might not qualify, it's often worth applying because the rules can be complex and there might be exceptions or special circumstances that apply to your situation. The application process itself will help determine eligibility.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr suggestion - if your brother does apply and runs into issues or needs clarification on his eligibility determination, that's exactly when the service is most helpful. Sometimes Washington ESD's written notices aren't super clear about why someone was denied or what they need to do to fix it. Talking to a real person can make all the difference.

One last thing - if he gets denied initially, don't give up! Washington ESD denial letters explain your appeal rights. I know several people who were denied at first but won on appeal. Sometimes it's just a matter of providing additional documentation or clarifying information.

this whole thread makes me realize how complicated unemployment benefits are. no wonder so many people have trouble with the system

Final thought - make sure your brother has all his wage information ready when he applies. Pay stubs, W-2s, 1099s, anything that shows his earnings. Washington ESD uses this to calculate his base period wages and determine his benefit amount if he qualifies. Having everything organized upfront makes the process much smoother.