Who gets unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about eligibility requirements
I'm really confused about who actually qualifies for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. I was working part-time at a retail job for about 8 months before I got laid off last week. My coworker said I might not qualify because I wasn't full-time, but another friend said part-time workers can get UI too. I've never filed for unemployment before and don't know if I meet the requirements. Can someone explain who actually gets approved for benefits? I'm worried I'll waste time applying if I don't qualify.
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Dmitry Ivanov
Part-time workers can definitely qualify for unemployment in Washington! The key isn't whether you worked full-time or part-time - it's about meeting the monetary eligibility requirements. You need to have earned a certain amount during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). Washington ESD looks at your total wages, not your hours worked.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•Oh that's good to know! Do you know what the minimum amount is that I need to have earned?
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Dmitry Ivanov
•For 2025, you need at least $5,265 in your base period with at least $1,755 in your highest quarter. You also need wages in at least 2 quarters or total base period wages at least 1.25 times your high quarter wages.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•That sounds complicated but I think I might qualify based on those numbers. Thanks for breaking it down!
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Ava Thompson
Besides the wage requirements, you also have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. So if you were laid off, fired for performance issues, or your position was eliminated, you'd likely qualify. But if you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct, Washington ESD will probably deny your claim.
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Miguel Herrera
•What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? I'm thinking about leaving my job because my hours got cut to almost nothing.
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Ava Thompson
•Substantial reduction in hours can be good cause, but you'd need to document it. Keep records of your schedule changes and try to work with your employer first if possible.
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Zainab Ali
Don't forget you have to be able and available for work too. That means you're physically able to work, actively looking for jobs, and available to accept suitable work. You'll need to file weekly claims and report your job search activities to Washington ESD.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?
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Zainab Ali
•Currently it's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or other approved activities. You'll log these in the system when you file your weekly claims.
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Connor Murphy
•I had trouble reaching Washington ESD when I had questions about my job search log. Kept getting busy signals for weeks. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in like 10 minutes. They have this demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much frustration!
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Yara Nassar
ugh the whole system is so confusing!! i applied 2 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything back from washington esd. how long does it usually take to find out if you're approved??
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Dmitry Ivanov
•It can take 2-4 weeks for an initial determination, sometimes longer if your claim needs adjudication. Check your online account regularly for updates and make sure you keep filing weekly claims even while waiting.
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Yara Nassar
•ok thanks i'll keep checking. this waiting is killing me financially
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Miguel Herrera
I think there are also some special situations where people might qualify even if they don't meet the typical requirements. Like if you're in an apprenticeship program or certain training programs?
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Ava Thompson
•Yes, there are provisions for people in approved training programs, and also for things like domestic violence situations or health issues that force you to quit. Each situation gets evaluated individually.
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Miguel Herrera
•Good to know there are exceptions for serious situations like that.
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StarGazer101
Don't assume you don't qualify just because of part-time work! I was working two part-time jobs when I got laid off from both within a month of each other. Washington ESD combined my wages from both employers and I qualified for benefits. Just make sure you report all your employers when you apply.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•That's really helpful to know! I only had one job but it's good to hear part-time workers can definitely qualify.
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StarGazer101
•Yeah definitely apply if you think you might qualify. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised.
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Connor Murphy
Also remember that if you're denied initially, you can appeal the decision. I got denied at first because of some confusion about why I left my job, but I appealed with more documentation and eventually got approved. The appeals process takes time but it's worth it if you believe you qualify.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•How long did your appeal take?
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Connor Murphy
•About 6 weeks total, but that included time for me to gather documents and submit them. The actual hearing was scheduled pretty quickly once I had everything together.
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Keisha Jackson
just to add - if you're getting any kind of severance pay or vacation payout, that might affect when your benefits start. washington esd has rules about how they handle that stuff so make sure you report it when you apply
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Dmitry Ivanov
•Good point! Severance can delay when benefits begin, but vacation pay usually doesn't affect eligibility, just the timing of when payments start.
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Paolo Romano
The system is honestly a nightmare to navigate. I've been trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD for three weeks about a question on my claim. Their phone lines are always busy and the online messaging system is useless.
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Connor Murphy
•That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr! I was getting so frustrated with the busy signals. It's like $20 to get connected to an actual person and totally worth it when you need real answers.
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Paolo Romano
•Never heard of that but might be worth trying. I'm at my wit's end here.
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Amina Diop
•I used Claimyr too when I couldn't reach anyone about my adjudication status. The agent was able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim and what I needed to do. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Oliver Schmidt
One thing people don't always realize is that you can qualify even if you were only working temporarily or seasonally. As long as you meet the wage requirements and were laid off through no fault of your own, the type of job doesn't matter that much.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•That's reassuring! My retail job was supposed to be temporary anyway, so good to know that doesn't disqualify me.
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Natasha Volkov
make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job! there's a waiting week but benefits are backdated to when you first apply, not when you get approved. i waited like 3 weeks to apply thinking i needed to get all my paperwork together first and basically lost out on those weeks of benefits
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Sofia Rodriguez
•Oh no! I'm glad I asked about this now then. I was going to wait until I had everything figured out but I'll apply this week.
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Dmitry Ivanov
•Exactly right - apply as soon as you're unemployed even if you're not sure about all the details. You can always provide additional information later if needed.
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Javier Torres
I got denied because I didn't have enough wages in my base period, but then I found out I could request an alternate base period that used more recent wages. Washington ESD doesn't always tell you about this option automatically.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•What's an alternate base period?
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Javier Torres
•Instead of using the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters, it uses the most recent 4 quarters. Helpful if you recently started working or had a big increase in wages.
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Emma Wilson
Don't let anyone tell you that you don't deserve benefits if you qualify! I had some family members giving me grief about 'taking handouts' but unemployment insurance is something you and your employer paid into. It's insurance, not welfare.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•Thank you for saying that. I was feeling a bit guilty about applying but you're right, it's insurance I paid for.
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QuantumLeap
•Absolutely! You earned those benefits through your work. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about using them when you need them.
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Malik Johnson
Just want to mention that if you have any questions about your specific situation, it's worth calling Washington ESD directly. I know their phone lines are busy but the agents can give you personalized advice about your eligibility.
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Paolo Romano
•Good luck getting through! I've been trying for weeks.
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Isabella Santos
•This is where that Claimyr service really comes in handy. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked. Got connected to a Washington ESD agent who reviewed my case and explained everything clearly.
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Ravi Sharma
i think the most important thing is just to apply and see what happens. the worst case scenario is they say no and you're in the same position you're in now. but if you qualify, you could be getting benefits while you look for your next job
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Sofia Rodriguez
•You're absolutely right. I'm going to apply today and stop overthinking it. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!
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Freya Larsen
Good luck with your application! Remember to keep detailed records of everything - your job search activities, any income you earn while collecting benefits, and all communications with Washington ESD. It makes everything easier if you need to provide documentation later.
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Sofia Rodriguez
•Great advice! I'll start keeping track of everything from day one.
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Freya Larsen
•Smart approach! Having good records saved me a lot of headaches when I had to provide additional information during my claim review.
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