Who's eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about requirements

Thanks! I think I earned around $12,000 in the past year so that should be enough. What does 'no fault of your own' mean exactly?

No fault of your own means you were laid off, your position was eliminated, you were fired for reasons other than misconduct, or you quit for good cause. Being laid off from retail definitely qualifies.

Wait, I thought it was 5 job search activities per week?

It's 3 per week for most people. Some special programs might require more, but standard UI is 3 job search activities weekly.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It was super helpful when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

Oh interesting, I'll definitely look into that. Getting through to them was such a nightmare.

Your base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024.

Actually that's not quite right. If you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. It's the first 4 of the last 5 COMPLETED quarters.

You're absolutely right, thanks for the correction. It's easy to mix up those quarter calculations.

Yes, I'm a citizen so that's not an issue for me.

It depends on the circumstances. If you were chronically late without good cause, that could be considered misconduct. But if you had legitimate reasons like medical issues or transportation problems, you might still qualify.

This is where it gets tricky. Washington ESD will review each case individually to determine if the firing was for misconduct. They look at whether you willfully violated company policy.

Yes, all wages from all employers during your base period count toward your eligibility. Washington ESD will look at your total earnings from all jobs.

That's great news! I was worried I wouldn't qualify because neither job alone paid that much.

I'll definitely check that out. Do you remember what it's called on their site?

I think it's called the 'Benefit Estimate Calculator' or something similar. It's on the main Washington ESD website.

When would they use the alternate base period?

Usually when you don't have enough wages in the regular base period to qualify. It's automatically checked if your initial application doesn't meet the wage requirements.

Yes, you might qualify for partial unemployment benefits if your hours were significantly reduced. You'd need to report your reduced earnings when you file your weekly claims.

My sister was in a similar situation and got partial benefits. Just make sure to report ALL earnings, even if it's just a few hours.

Military wages can count, but there are special rules for veterans. You should contact Washington ESD directly to discuss your military service and how it affects your claim.

Self-employment income typically doesn't count toward regular unemployment eligibility unless you paid into the system as an independent contractor. There might be separate programs for self-employed individuals though.

I think there was some pandemic-era program for self-employed people but I'm not sure if it's still available in 2025.

What counts as suitable work? Do I have to take any job offered to me?

Suitable work considers your past experience, skills, and the prevailing wage in your area. You're not required to take work that pays significantly less than your usual wage, at least initially.

That's exactly when Claimyr was a lifesaver for me. They helped me get through to an actual agent who could explain why my claim was held up. Worth checking out if you're having phone issues.

How long did it take them to help you get through?

They called me back within a few hours and had me connected to Washington ESD within the day. Much better than the endless busy signals I was getting.

You can backdate up to one week from your application date in most cases. It's best to file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed.

The 3 job search activities per week can include applications, but also networking events, job fairs, interviews, and other work search activities. It's not just applications.

I keep a spreadsheet of all my job search activities. Makes it easier to report when I file my weekly claims.

Good luck! Make sure to have all your employment information ready when you file, including dates of employment and reasons for separation.

Let us know how it goes! Filing can be confusing the first time.

Good tip! I'll keep that in mind if I run into any technical issues.

There's typically a one-week waiting period for the first week of unemployment. This means you won't receive benefits for your first week of unemployment, but you still need to file that week.

I forgot about the waiting week and was confused when my first payment was less than expected. Make sure to factor that in.

You can typically continue receiving Washington ESD benefits if you move to another state, but you need to notify them and continue to meet all the requirements including job search activities.

I moved to Oregon while on Washington unemployment and didn't have any issues as long as I kept filing my weekly claims and doing my job search.