Thousands of Washington’s working class people are out of work.  If you are one of them, this is undoubtedly a very stressful time in your life.  I know; I’ve been there, too.  I used that time as an opportunity to go after my dream job and now I am doing better than ever.  I was not able to do it by myself, however; I needed help and I found it in Washington Unemployment Insurance.

Washington Unemployment Insurance provides temporary income for unemployed workers.

This purpose of this blog is to help you understand and access Washington Unemployment benefits.  Please sign up at the right to receive free updates and tips as they become available.

Eligibility Requirements for Washington Unemployment Benefits

To qualify for Washington Unemployment benefits, you must have worked and were paid for at least 680 hours of covered employment in your base year.  Your base year is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec) prior to your application.  You must also have wages in Washington in order to file your claim.

You must be unemployed through no fault of your own.  If you quit your job or were fired for inappropriate behavior, your claim may be denied.

You must be physically able to work, available for work, and actively seeking suitable work.

Applying for Washington Unemployment Benefits

You may apply for Washington Unemployment benefits online at https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/uia/icintro/intropage.aspx?lang=en-us or by telephone by calling the Washington Employment Security Department Telecenter at 800-318-6022 (TTY 800-365-8969) between 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday through Friday, and 8:00am - noon on Saturday.

You will need to provide the following when you apply:

·        Your social security number;

·        The name and address of your very last employer;

·        The date you last worked for your very last employer;

·        The names and addresses of all your other employers during the last two years;

·        A list all of your employers for the last two years. On the online application, there is room to list up to 16 employers. If you worked for more than 16 employers in the last 2 years, you must file your claim by calling the TeleCenter;

·        The dates you worked for all employers;

·        If you normally get your work through a union, the name and local number of your union;

·        If you were in the military during the last two years, your DD214, any member copy, 2 through 8;

·        If you were a federal employee in the last two years, your Standard Form 8 (SF8)–Notice To Federal Employees About Unemployment Insurance, and Standard Form 50 (SF50)–Notice of Personnel Action; and

·        If you are not a U.S. citizen, your alien registration number..

Receiving Washington Unemployment Benefits

Your claim is good for a “benefit year,” which is 52 weeks, beginning with the week you file your application. You cannot file a new claim in Washington until your benefit year is over, even though you may have received all of your benefits. Most claims receive between 13 to 26 weeks of benefits; this period may be extended by law.  The minimum weekly benefit amount is $129 and the maximum is $541.

Once you have been approved for Washington Unemployment benefits, you must register for work at your local Career One Stop center and complete a work search showing at least three employment contacts per week.

For More Information

Please complete the form  to stay informed of all the latest news and updates for Washington Unemployment and tips on how to survive and thrive during this difficult time.  Good luck!

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