Who qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about eligibility requirements

The basic eligibility requirements for Washington unemployment benefits are: 1) You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, 2) Your total base period wages must be at least 1.25 times your highest quarter wages, 3) You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, 4) You must be able and available for work, and 5) You must actively search for work. For part-time workers, you still need to meet the wage requirements in your base period.

i think you should be fine if you worked 8 months, that sounds like enough time to meet the wage requirements

I had a similar situation last year. The wage requirement can be tricky for part-time workers. You need to have earned at least $7,800 in your base period AND your highest quarter earnings multiplied by 1.25 must be less than your total base period wages. If you made minimum wage part-time for 8 months, you might be close but it depends on your exact hours and pay rate.

You also need to make sure you were laid off through no fault of your own. If you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily, you might not qualify. Since you mentioned budget cuts, that sounds like a qualifying separation.

The hardest part for me was dealing with Washington ESD when I had questions about my eligibility. I spent hours trying to call them to verify my wage history before filing. If you're having trouble getting through to someone at Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me connect with an agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process much less stressful.

Don't forget about the ongoing requirements once you qualify. You'll need to file weekly claims and do job search activities. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week, which can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc.

the system is so confusing, i wish they would just make it simpler to understand who qualifies

One thing to note - if you've never filed for unemployment before, you should apply as soon as possible. Benefits are paid from the date you file your claim, not from when you became unemployed. So even if you're not 100% sure about eligibility, it's better to file and let Washington ESD determine your qualification status.

Are there any disqualifying factors people should know about? Like if you're going to school or something?

THE WAGE REQUIREMENTS ARE RIDICULOUS! I worked for 6 months and barely missed the cutoff because my hours got cut right before I was laid off. The system doesn't account for real life situations where employers manipulate schedules.

For anyone wondering about seasonal work eligibility - I worked seasonal retail for two different employers last year and still qualified. As long as you meet the total wage requirements across all employers in your base period, you should be good.

quick question - does it matter what industry you worked in? like are there different rules for different types of jobs?

I had to deal with a wage discrepancy when I first applied. My employer had reported my wages incorrectly to Washington ESD. Getting that fixed was a nightmare - took multiple calls and weeks of back and forth. That's when someone recommended Claimyr to help me get through to the right department. Honestly wish I had known about it sooner because trying to navigate the phone system on your own is brutal.

Don't forget you also need to be a US citizen or have work authorization to qualify for benefits. Seems obvious but some people don't realize this is a requirement.

The 'able and available' requirement can be tricky. You need to be physically and mentally able to work, and available for work during normal business hours. If you have restrictions due to health issues or childcare, that could affect your eligibility.

Based on what you described OP, you should definitely qualify. 8 months of part-time work at $16.50/hour would easily meet the wage requirements, and being laid off due to budget cuts is a qualifying separation. Just make sure to file your claim as soon as possible!

One more tip - when you file, make sure you have all your employment information ready including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Having everything organized makes the process much smoother.

If anyone runs into issues with their initial determination or has questions about their eligibility that Washington ESD can't answer clearly over the phone, I've had good luck with Claimyr helping me connect with knowledgeable agents who could explain the specific rules that applied to my situation. Sometimes you just need to talk to the right person who understands the nuances.

remember to apply online through the washington esd website, its faster than trying to do it over the phone

The most important thing is just to file your claim and let Washington ESD make the determination. From what you've described, you almost certainly qualify, and the worst thing that can happen is they say no - but at least you'll know for sure and won't miss out on benefits you're entitled to.