Who pays unemployment taxes and who is eligible for Washington ESD benefits?

Both employers and employees pay into Washington's unemployment insurance system. As an employee, you pay a small percentage of your wages (currently 0.4% on wages up to about $71,000). Your employer pays a much larger share - their rate varies based on their experience with layoffs but it's several times what you pay.

Just having taxes taken out doesn't automatically make you eligible unfortunately. You need to have earned enough wages in your base period and meet other requirements like being able and available for work.

If you're struggling to get through to Washington ESD to check your eligibility or wage history, I had great luck with Claimyr (claimyr.com). They helped me get connected to an actual agent instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't forget you also have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you quit or get fired for misconduct you won't qualify even if you paid in.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! why cant they just make it simple - you pay in, you get benefits if you lose your job. all these rules and base periods and adjudication stuff makes my head spin

Independent contractors and gig workers generally don't pay into the regular UI system so they're not eligible for regular unemployment benefits. Washington has been working on a separate program for them though.

One thing people don't realize is that even if you qualify, you still have ongoing requirements like doing job searches and being available for work. It's not just free money while you're unemployed.

The wage requirement thing caught me off guard when I first filed. I thought working part-time for 6 months would be enough but apparently I hadn't earned enough in the right quarters.

I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through about my wage history question. Totally worth it to talk to an actual person at Washington ESD instead of getting the busy signal constantly.

Also worth mentioning that federal employees and military have their own unemployment systems, not Washington ESD. Same with some non-profit workers I think.

The system is designed so that people who work and contribute can get temporary help when they lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Both the taxes and eligibility requirements serve that purpose.

My company went out of business suddenly and I was so stressed about whether I'd qualify. Turns out I did but the whole process was nerve-wracking when you're already dealing with job loss.

dont forget about the waiting week too! even if you qualify you dont get paid for the first week

For anyone still confused about their eligibility, seriously consider using a service like Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. Having an agent look at your specific work history and explain your situation is so much clearer than trying to figure it out from the website.

The whole thing seems designed to be confusing on purpose. Like they dont want people to know theyre eligible so they can save money.

Bottom line: if you've been working and paying into the system, you're probably eligible if you lose your job through no fault of your own. The specific requirements are on the Washington ESD website but talking to an agent is the best way to get a definitive answer for your situation.