Who qualifies for unemployment benefits in Washington - need to know before applying

You'll likely qualify based on what you've described. Washington ESD looks at your base year earnings to determine eligibility. You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base year and meet the minimum wage requirements. Since you worked 8 months and earned $18k, you should be fine. The key requirements are: 1) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, 2) You must have sufficient wage credits, 3) You must be able and available for work, 4) You must actively seek work.

The wage requirement in Washington is pretty straightforward - you need at least $1,200 in your highest quarter AND total base year wages of at least 1.5 times your high quarter wages. With $18k total, you should easily meet this. Part-time work counts just the same as full-time for qualification purposes.

One thing to keep in mind is the 'able and available' requirement. You have to be physically able to work and available for full-time work, even if your previous job was part-time. You also can't turn down suitable work offers or you risk losing benefits.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I first applied. Spent hours on hold multiple times just to ask basic eligibility questions. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have this demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You have to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. Washington ESD can audit this anytime and if you don't have proper documentation, they can deny your benefits.

Another thing about who qualifies - if you quit your job, you generally won't qualify unless it was for 'good cause.' Things like unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, harassment, etc. But if you were laid off like the OP, that shouldn't be an issue.

IMPORTANT: You need to apply as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's a one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits, and you can't backdate your claim in most cases. Don't wait thinking you might find a job quickly - you can always stop claiming if you get hired.

For students, there are some special rules too. If you're enrolled in school, you might still qualify but you have to meet additional requirements about being available for work despite your class schedule.

Military folks have some different rules too. If you're recently separated from military service, your military wages might count toward your base year wages for Washington ESD purposes.

One more eligibility factor people forget about - if you're receiving certain types of pensions or retirement pay, it might reduce your weekly benefit amount. Washington ESD will ask about any pension income when you file.

Just wanted to circle back on the Claimyr thing - I know some people are hesitant about paid services, but when you're dealing with Washington ESD's phone system, sometimes you need help. I was calling for weeks trying to resolve an issue with my weekly claim and getting nowhere. Used Claimyr and got through to an agent the same day who fixed everything in 10 minutes.

Don't forget that if you worked in multiple states, you might need to file an interstate claim. Washington ESD can help you figure out which state you should file in based on where you worked.

The bottom line for the OP - based on what you've described (8 months of work, $18k income, laid off through no fault of your own), you should definitely qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits. File your claim online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible and make sure to complete your weekly claims every week to receive payments.

Just remember that eligibility requirements can change, so always check the Washington ESD website for the most current information. What I shared is based on current rules as of 2025.

One last tip - keep detailed records of everything. Your job search activities, any correspondence with Washington ESD, your work history, everything. If there are ever any issues with your claim, having good documentation will save you a lot of headaches.

This thread has been super helpful for me too! I've been afraid to apply because I wasn't sure if I qualified, but sounds like I probably do. Thanks everyone!

For anyone reading this later - definitely use Claimyr if you need to talk to Washington ESD and can't get through on the phone. I was skeptical at first but it really works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to reach someone about my claim status.

Hope this helps future readers too! Unemployment can be stressful but knowing your rights and requirements makes the whole process much smoother.