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Bottom line eligibility checklist: Lost job through no fault of your own ✓ Earned enough wages in base period ✓ Able and available for work ✓ Actively seeking work ✓ Legal to work in US ✓ If you check all those boxes, you should qualify.
If anyone's still confused about whether they qualify, honestly just call Washington ESD or use something like Claimyr to talk to an agent. I tried to figure it out myself for days and got more confused. One phone call cleared everything up and I was able to file that same day.
If you run into any problems during the application process, don't panic. The system saves your progress so you can come back to it later. I had to restart mine like 3 times due to website issues.
Honestly the best thing I did was bookmark my Washington ESD account page and the weekly claim filing page. Makes it so much easier to find everything when I need it.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! This thread answered my question perfectly and I'm sure it'll help other people who are confused about finding their UI number too.
This is why I hate the unemployment system - they make it so complicated that people who deserve benefits can't figure out if they qualify. Just another way to discourage people from applying.
Bottom line - if you've worked 8 months recently at a decent wage, you probably qualify. The system is designed to help people who have a recent work history, even if it's not perfect.
Sadie Benitez
One more thing - if you run into issues and can't get through to Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth trying. I looked into it and it seems like a legitimate way to actually reach someone when you need help.
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Noland Curtis
•I'll keep that in mind in case I run into problems. Hopefully the online application goes smoothly and I won't need to call anyone.
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Abby Marshall
•Exactly, it's nice to know there's a backup option when the regular phone system fails you. The demo video I mentioned shows exactly how it works if you're curious.
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Dana Doyle
Update us after you file! Always curious to hear how the process goes for first-time filers. The system has changed a lot over the years.
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Noland Curtis
•Will do! I'm planning to file tonight after work so I'll let everyone know how it goes.
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Dana Doyle
•Perfect! Hope it goes smoothly for you.
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