Washington Unemployment

Washington State Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Washington unemployment insurance benefits are designed to temporarily help replace income while eligible unemployed workers look for new work. The unemployment benefits are calculated based on your earnings for a base year.

Washington Unemployment Services

Am I Eligible for Unemployment Benefits?

To qualify for unemployment benefits in the state of Washington, a claimant must satisfy several requirements. First, the applicant must have worked in Washington state for at least a portion of the base year used to calculate benefits. In Washington, you must have accrued a total of at least 680 working hours in your base year to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Unless you recently left the military and are currently located in Washington state, at least some of those hours must have occurred in Washington state.

You must also be out of work through no fault of your own, meaning you cannot have quit your job without good cause. In addition, you must be willing, able, and available to accept suitable work when it is offered.

To be eligible for Washington unemployment insurance benefits, you must be a resident of Washington and all of the following must be true:

• You are unemployed through no fault of your own
• You worked in Washington during the past 12 months
• You earned a minimum amount of wages determined by Washington guidelines
• You are actively seeking work each week you are collecting benefits

Benefit Payments and Duration

How Do I Apply for Unemployment Benefits in Washington?

The easiest way to apply for your UI benefits is to submit your eligibility claim online. You also have the option of calling Washington’s claim center to submit your unemployment claim. However, please know that long wait times are common when filing a claim by phone. It’s much faster and more efficient to apply online, and you are strongly encouraged to do so. It’s a good idea to make sure that you apply for your unemployment compensation within two weeks of losing your job.

How Do I Manage My Unemployment Benefits?

Once you’re approved for unemployment insurance benefits, you will need to submit recertification each week to receive your weekly benefit for the previous week. If you submitted your initial claim online, you’ll have already set up an account with the Employee Security Department’s eServices website. Simply log into your account and check for a message about your weekly unemployment compensation in your account alerts.  Click the link in that email and follow the instructions from there to make your weekly claim.

If you are not able to apply online, you can submit your weekly UI benefits claim over the phone. Simply call 800-318-6022 either to use the automated system or to speak with a claims agent. You may choose to receive your unemployment benefits either via direct deposit or by prepaid debit card, both of which can be set up online when you apply for your benefits.

How Do I Appeal a Decision?

If you don’t receive a favorable response to your original claim, you do have the option to appeal the decision. The easiest way to appeal is online. You can submit a statement of appeal online through your eService account. Select the Decision option, choose the decision you’d like to appeal, and select Appeal to begin the process. If you’d prefer to mail your statement, you can send a letter outlining your objections to the decision and asking for additional review to the following address:

Claims Center Appeals
P.O. Box 19018
Olympia, WA 98507-0018

There is no option for submitting an appeal either by email or over the phone. Once your appeal is received, your case will garner additional review, and you may be asked to participate in a hearing so that an administrative law judge can gather additional information about your case.

How Do I Report Fraud?

Washington state has a comprehensive network designed to help residents report instances of fraudulent claims. To report fraud, use the secure fraud reporting form to alert officials that an imposter may be fraudulently claiming benefits under your name. If you have reason to believe that someone is claiming fraudulent unemployment benefits, you also can report this using the state’s fraud tip reporting form.

Washington Unemployment Office Locations