What you need to do to file in Washington

You file for unemployment in Washington through the Department of Employment Security (DES), either online at esd.wa.gov or by phone at 1-800-318-6022. The online portal is faster — most people complete it in 15 to 20 minutes — and you get a confirmation number when ready. You do not need to visit an office in person.

The state processes claims in the order they arrive. If you file on a Monday, your claim typically moves into review by Wednesday or Thursday. You will receive a letter by mail within one to two weeks telling you whether you were found monetarily and non-monetarily may be able to access (meaning you meet the earnings and work history requirements and have no disqualifying reason). That letter also tells you your weekly benefit amount and when payments begin.

Washington requires you to file within 30 days of your last day of work. Filing late does not disqualify you, but your benefits will start from the date you actually file, not from the date you lost your job. If you lost your job on January 1 but did not file until January 20, your first payment covers the week starting January 20, not January 1.

Key Takeaways

  • File online at esd.wa.gov or call 1-800-318-6022; online filing is faster and gives you a confirmation number on the spot.
  • You need your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your last employer including their address and phone number.
  • Washington pays based on your earnings in the first four of the last five calendar quarters before you file, so recent job history matters more than older work.
  • You must report any earnings, including gig work and self-employment income, every week you claim benefits, or you will owe money back.
  • If DES denies your claim, you have 30 days from the denial letter to request a hearing before a judge.

Documents and information you need before you file

Gather these items before you start your claim. Having them ready means you will not have to stop and look things up mid-filing, which can cause you to lose your session.

You need your Social Security number, a valid Washington driver's license or ID card (or passport if you do not have a Washington ID), and the name, address, and phone number of your last employer. If you worked for a large company with multiple locations, include the specific branch or office where you worked. You also need the dates you worked there — the month and year you started and the month and year you stopped.

If you were laid off or your hours were cut, have a brief description of what happened. If you quit, you will need to explain why. Washington law allows you to quit and still receive benefits only in specific situations — for example, if your employer cut your hours so severely that you could not support yourself, or if you left because of domestic violence or a serious safety hazard. If you were fired, have the reason the employer gave you.

You do not need to upload documents when you file online. DES will ask you questions and record your answers. If they need proof later — a pay stub, a separation notice, or a letter from your employer — they will contact you and tell you how to send it.

What Washington counts as your earnings base

Washington calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your base period, which is the first four of the last five calendar quarters before you file. If you file in March 2025, your base period is the four quarters from January 2024 through December 2024. The most recent quarter (January through March 2025) does not count.

DES looks at the wages you reported to your employer during those four quarters. They divide your total earnings by 52 to get an average weekly wage, then pay you a percentage of that amount — currently 50 percent in Washington, though this can change by law. The maximum weekly benefit is set by the state each year and varies; you can see the current maximum on the DES website.

If you worked multiple jobs during your base period, DES adds all of them together. If you were self-employed or did gig work (driving for a rideshare company, freelancing, selling items online), you must report that income too. Self-employment income counts only if you reported it on a tax return or to the IRS.

If your earnings were very low or you worked less than 20 weeks in your base period, you may not meet Washington's earnings requirement and your claim will be denied. There is no minimum dollar amount — it depends on how many weeks you worked and how much you earned per week.

Reasons Washington might deny your claim

DES denies claims for two main categories of reasons: monetary (you did not earn enough or work enough weeks) and non-monetary (something about how you left your job or your conduct disqualifies you).

You are non-monetarily disqualified if you quit without good cause, were fired for misconduct, or are receiving severance or vacation pay that your employer is still paying out. "Good cause" in Washington means you had a reason that would cause a reasonable person to leave — not just that you did not like the job. Leaving because your boss was rude, or because you found a different job, is not good cause. Leaving because your employer cut your pay by 25 percent, or because you had a medical condition that made the work unsafe, may be good cause.

You are also disqualified if you are receiving workers' compensation benefits for the same period, or if you are in jail or prison. If you are receiving severance pay, vacation payout, or sick leave payout from your employer, DES will reduce your weekly benefit by the amount of that payment until it runs out.

If you were fired, DES will contact your employer and ask why. If the employer says you were fired for theft, violence, or repeated rule-breaking after warnings, you will be denied. If they say you were fired for a single mistake or for not being a good fit, you may still be found may be able to access.

What happens after you file and how long it takes

After you file online or by phone, DES sends you a confirmation. If you filed online, you get a number on screen. If you called, they mail you a confirmation letter. Keep this number — you will need it if you have questions about your claim.

Within one to two weeks, DES mails you a information letter. This letter tells you whether you were found monetarily and non-monetarily may be able to access, and if so, what your weekly benefit amount is. It also tells you when your benefit year starts (usually the week you filed) and when it ends (52 weeks later).

If you were found may be able to access, you must file a weekly claim to receive payment. You do this online at esd.wa.gov or by phone. You report whether you worked that week, how much you earned, and whether you are still looking for work. Washington requires you to file your weekly claim by the end of the week you are claiming for — usually by Sunday night, though the exact important date appears on your account.

Payments are deposited into your bank account or onto a debit card, usually within two to three business days of when you file your weekly claim. If you do not file your weekly claim, you do not get paid that week, even if you are may be able to access.

What to do if DES denies your claim

If you receive a denial letter, read it carefully to see whether you were denied for monetary or non-monetary reasons. The letter will explain the reason and tell you that you have 30 days from the date on the letter to request a hearing.

To request a hearing, call DES at 1-800-318-6022 or file online at esd.wa.gov. Tell them you want to appeal. You do not need a lawyer, though you can bring one if you want to. The hearing is conducted by a judge called a referee, and it is usually held by phone or video conference.

At the hearing, you explain your side of the story. If you were denied because you quit, you explain why you quit and why it was good cause. If you were denied because you were fired, you explain what happened. DES will also contact your employer and ask them to explain their side. The referee listens to both sides and makes a decision, usually within two weeks.

If the referee agrees with you, your claim is overturned and you start receiving benefits. If the referee agrees with DES, you can appeal again to the state's Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, but you must do this within 30 days of the referee's decision. This second appeal is less common and the process is more formal.

Reporting work and earnings while you claim benefits

Every week you file a claim, you must tell DES whether you worked and how much you earned. This includes any work — a part-time job, gig work, self-employment, or even a few hours of work you did not expect to do.

Washington allows you to earn a small amount without losing benefits. You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount without any reduction. If you earn more than that, your benefit is reduced dollar-for-dollar for every dollar over. For example, if your weekly benefit is $400 and you earn $450 in a week, you lose $50 in benefits that week.

If you do not report earnings and DES finds out later — through your employer's records, your tax return, or another source — you will owe back all the benefits you received for that week. DES can also impose a penalty of 15 percent of the overpayment amount. If you owe money, DES will set up a payment plan or deduct from future benefits.

Report all earnings honestly and on time. If you are unsure whether something counts as earnings, call DES and ask before you file your weekly claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file for unemployment if I was laid off due to lack of work?

Yes. A layoff due to lack of work, a reduction in hours, or a temporary shutdown is not your fault, so you are not disqualified. File as soon as you know the layoff is happening or will happen. If your employer tells you that you will be called back, you can still file — being on a recall list does not prevent you from receiving benefits.

What if I quit because my employer cut my hours?

If your hours were cut so severely that you could not support yourself, you may have good cause to quit and still receive benefits. DES will look at how much your hours dropped and whether you tried to ask your employer to restore them. If you quit when ready after a small cut, you may be denied. Document the cut in writing if you can — an email, a schedule change, or a pay stub showing fewer hours.

Do I have to look for work while I receive benefits?

Washington does not require you to report job search activities when you file your weekly claim. However, you must answer honestly if DES asks whether you are able and available to work. If you tell DES you are not looking for work or are not available, you may lose benefits. If you are unable to work due to illness or injury, tell DES — you may still be may be able to access if you are receiving workers' compensation or if your doctor says you cannot work.

How long can I receive benefits?

Washington's benefit year lasts 52 weeks from the week you file. During that year, you can receive up to 26 weeks of benefits if you meet the earnings requirement. The exact number of weeks you can receive depends on the unemployment rate in Washington at the time you file. When unemployment is very high, the state may extend benefits beyond 26 weeks. Check esd.wa.gov or call for the current maximum.

What if I move out of Washington while receiving benefits?

You can continue to receive Washington benefits even if you move, as long as you keep filing your weekly claims and reporting any work you do. If you move to another state and find work there, you may need to file in that state instead. Call DES to ask about your specific situation before you move.