My advice is just file and see what happens. Even if the amount isn't huge, having some income while job hunting is better than nothing. Plus you've been paying into the system through your paychecks, so you might as well use it when you need it.

Based on your part-time work at $18/hour for 25-30 hours weekly, you'll probably qualify for a decent benefit amount. I was in a similar situation - worked part-time retail and got around $340/week from Washington ESD. It's definitely worth filing since you've been consistently employed. The calculation uses your highest earning quarters, so if you've been working those hours regularly, you should be fine. Just make sure to apply as soon as possible since there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start.

Update us on how it goes if you don't mind! Always curious to hear how these multi-state situations work out for people.

One thing to add that might help - if you end up having to wait for interstate processing, consider looking into whether Washington has any emergency or expedited benefits available while your claim is being processed. Some states have temporary assistance programs for situations like this where there are processing delays through no fault of the claimant. It's worth asking about when you speak with them.

Still think they should just have a simple calculator on their website but at least now I understand how to do the math myself

Just wanted to add something that might help others - if you're having trouble gathering all your wage information for the base period calculation, you can request a wage statement from Washington ESD before filing your claim. This shows all the wages they have on record from different employers during your base period, which can help you double-check the calculation and make sure nothing is missing. You can request it through your SecureAccess Washington account or by calling them. It's especially useful if you worked multiple jobs or had any employers who might not have reported wages correctly.

The five types are good to understand conceptually but Washington ESD's determination process is more straightforward - they verify your work history, confirm you lost your job through no fault of your own, and ensure you're meeting ongoing requirements like job search. Focus on those practical elements rather than economic theory.

As someone who recently went through the Washington ESD process, I can confirm that understanding the five types (frictional, structural, cyclical, seasonal, institutional) is helpful for context but not essential for your claim. What matters most is being able to clearly explain your separation reason - in my case, I was part of a company-wide layoff due to budget cuts (cyclical unemployment). Washington ESD approved my claim quickly because it was clearly involuntary separation. The weekly certifications focus more on your job search efforts and any work performed rather than which economic category you fall into.

The distinction between voluntary and involuntary unemployment matters a lot for initial eligibility, but don't give up if you quit for good cause. Document everything, be honest on your application, and be prepared to explain your situation during adjudication. Washington ESD does approve voluntary quit claims when there's legitimate good cause.

I went through a similar situation last year where I quit due to workplace retaliation after reporting safety violations. Initially felt terrified that Washington ESD would automatically deny me since I "voluntarily" left, but it turned out constructive dismissal and retaliation are definitely considered good cause. The adjudication process took about 5 weeks, but I was approved. My advice: be completely honest about your situation, gather any evidence you have (emails, witness contacts, dates of incidents), and don't let the "voluntary" label scare you away from filing. The hostile work environment you described could very well qualify as good cause - Washington ESD recognizes that sometimes quitting is the only reasonable option a person has.