Who qualifies for unemployment insurance in Washington - confused about eligibility requirements

Thanks! What exactly counts as 'no fault of your own'? I was laid off due to slow business but I'm worried they might say I wasn't performing well enough.

Layoffs due to lack of work definitely qualify as 'no fault of your own.' That's actually one of the most straightforward qualifying reasons for UI benefits.

How do they check if you're available for work? Do they call employers or something?

you have to do job searches every week and report them when you file your weekly claim. they can audit your job search log anytime

That's exactly what I was worried about. I want to take some classes but don't want to mess up my benefits.

Look into the Training Benefits program through WorkSource. If your training is approved, you don't have to do job searches and can focus on school.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They basically call for you and wait on hold, then patch you through when an agent picks up. Worth it for important eligibility questions.

Just checked out that video - pretty clever system. Might try it if I can't get through the normal way.

If you file in 2025, your base period would typically be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024. Since you just started working in January 2025, you probably don't have enough base period wages to qualify yet.

Oh no, so I'd have to wait until I have wages in at least two quarters? That seems like forever.

There's an alternate base period that uses more recent quarters. Talk to Washington ESD about that option - it might help in your situation.

What counts as a valid job contact? Can you just apply online or do you need to actually talk to someone?

Online applications count, but you need to keep records of company name, position, date, and method of contact. Phone calls and in-person visits count too.

What made them think you weren't available? I want to make sure I don't make the same mistake.

I had put some restrictions on my job search - only looking for day shift positions because of childcare. They said that made me not fully available for work.

That's actually a gray area. Having some restrictions doesn't automatically disqualify you, but they have to be reasonable for your occupation and circumstances.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money while unemployed.

It's worth checking out their site for pricing, but for me it was worth it to get actual answers instead of guessing and potentially messing up my claim.

What's considered misconduct? I got fired for being late a few times - would that disqualify me?

Misconduct has to be willful or wanton disregard of your employer's interests. Isolated incidents or mistakes usually don't qualify as misconduct, but repeated tardiness might depending on the circumstances.

The application is actually pretty straightforward if you have your information ready. Just be honest and accurate with your answers. You can always correct mistakes later if needed.

Gather your employment history, Social Security card, and bank info before you start. Having everything ready makes the process much smoother.

Gig work earnings should be reported as self-employment income. It might not count toward your base period wages the same way as regular employment, but you still need to report it.

Should I report it even if I didn't make much? I probably only made like $200 total from gig work.

Yes, report all income. It's better to over-report than to leave something out and have it look like you're hiding income.

That's encouraging! I probably made around $12,000 in my 8 months, so hopefully that's enough.

I feel you. The Washington ESD website is not user-friendly at all. Takes forever to find basic information.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - got tired of trying to figure everything out from confusing websites and phone trees. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

That's a good point. I guess I was overthinking it. Better to try and get denied than not try at all.

Exactly! I thought I wouldn't qualify because I was only working part-time, but I ended up getting benefits. You never know until you apply.

You don't need to be a citizen, but you do need to be authorized to work in the U.S. If you have a valid work permit, that should be sufficient.

Perfect, thank you! That was my main concern about applying.

47 attempts?! That's insane. The phone system really needs to be fixed.

I'm definitely going to look into that service if I can't get through the normal way. Thanks for sharing your experience everyone - this has been super helpful!