Washington Unemployment

Washington State Seal

Should you become unemployed in Washington, this guide will offer you a comprehensive explanation of the way in which you should go about filing your claim for unemployment benefits. First and foremost, it is important to understand who is qualified to receive WA unemployment benefits. A good rule of thumb is that those who are most likely to receive benefits became unemployed by no fault of their own. As there are several ways that one can become unemployed, we should look at each one individually:

You quit your job.
You were fired.
You were laid-off.

Find Out If You Are Eligible For Unemployment Click this link to find out: Am I Eligible To Collect Unemployment Benefits?

Have Your Benefits Run Out? Click this link to find out how to get an unemployment extension: Unemployment Extension

Find Out If You Are Eligible For Unemployment

Click the links below to find out if you are eligible to file for unemployment, depending on your situation:

You Quit Your Job

If you quit your job, you will most likely not be able to receive unemployment benefits. However, if you quit your job under one of the following circumstances, you may be approved to receive benefits:

You were being sexually harassed;
You faced intolerable work conditions;
Your job posed a serious threat to your safety.

Unfortunately, disliking your boss or co-workers, feeling as though you were not fairly compensated, or simply disliking the work are not considered valid reasons to have left your job and you will most likely not be granted unemployment benefits. For more information about getting Washington unemployment when you quit your job, click here: Can You Get Unemployment If You Quit?

You Were Fired

If an employee is fired for “misconduct,” he or she is not eligible to receive unemployment benefits. However, if an employee is fired for one of the following reasons, he or she may still be eligible to receive unemployment benefits:

The employee was terminated as a result of financial cutbacks;
The employee was determined not to be a good fit for the job they were hired to perform;
The employee was fired for a minor infraction.

For more information about getting Washington unemployment when you were fired from your job, check out our dedicated page on the subject: Can You Get Unemployment If You Get Fired?

You Were Laid Off

An employee who loses a job through a layoff or reduction in staff is typically eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Additionally, those who successfully apply for unemployment benefits meet the following criteria:

The individual is physically and mentally able to work;
The individual is completely or partially unemployed;
The individual should be making reasonable strides to find employment;
The individual must have earned an amount specified by the state prior to their unemployment.

For more information about getting Washington unemployment when you were fired from your job, click here: Can You Get Unemployment If You Get Laid-off?

Read on to get more info, visit the Official Washington Unemployment Website, or post your question or tell your story in the comments section below and the site admin or someone else will answer your question.

When To Apply

Should you feel that you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits, you should apply for WA unemployment as soon as possible. Applications are processed at the state level and gaining application approval may take between 1 and 3 weeks. Therefore, you should file your claim as soon as you lose your job in order to receive benefits as soon as possible.

How to Apply

Should you lose your job, unemployment benefits are meant to provide you with a temporary, yet steady, source of income to assist you until you are able to find work. The following offers a step-by-step look at how to apply for your Washington unemployment benefits:

Using the section above, Washington Unemployment Requirements, determine whether or not you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Should you have further questions about your eligibility, contact your Washington unemployment office.
Gather all of the information you will need to provide to the state when you are applying for your unemployment benefits. The section following this one, What Documents and Information Do You Need to Apply For Washington Unemployment, details the information you will need to submit to the Washington unemployment office.
Complete your application for benefits through the WA unemployment office. This can be done either on-line, by telephone, or in person at your local office. It is best to apply as soon as you lose your job as it takes several weeks for an application to be completely approved.
Make sure that you register for any free services that may assist you in finding employment. Often, your local Washington unemployment office will offer career assessment services, mock interviews and resume writing assistance that will help you make the most of your new job search.
Be sure that you make your weekly claim for benefits either by phone or on the Washington Web site. Should you miss a claim, you may not receive a weekly benefit payment.
Occasionally, you may be asked to appear at your local unemployment office. Make sure that attend these appointments and be prepare to demonstrate that you are actively seeking employment and are ready to return to the workforce as soon as possible.
To continue to be eligible to receive your weekly benefits, you must be able to work and must be actively looking for employment. (You should keep a record of all the positions you have applied for). If you get a job, you should notify your local Washington unemployment office immediately.
If you are able to find part-time work, you should also notify your Washington unemployment office. This does not necessarily mean that your benefits will end. However you may receive a different amount of benefits than you did when you were completely unemployed.

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What Documents and Information Do You Need?

When you apply for unemployment in Washington, you should be prepared to submit information such as the following:

Your current mailing address and zip code;
Your current telephone number;
Your Social Security number;
Your driver’s license number;
Information regarding any dependents;
Information regarding any military service you may have performed;
The name, address, and phone number of your most recent employer;
Your former employer’s federal ID number (this number can be found on a W2 or on your most recent pay stub);
The date you began working for you former employer;
The date your employment was terminated;
Your salary and how much you earned overall;
You will also be asked to provide an explanation of your termination;
If you have worked for multiple employers over the past two years, you may be required to supply their information, as well.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, you could be required to submit further information such as your work authorization and your alien registration number. If you are in the U.S. on the H1-B visa, a visa program that requires you to have a sponsoring employer, you will want to do some further research before applying for unemployment benefits.

Filing Your Weekly Certification

After you have filed you initial claim for unemployment benefits and your claim has been approved, you will need to take steps to ensure that you continue to receive your unemployment benefits each week. This involves returning to the Washington unemployment Web site or calling the Washington claims line each week to request your benefits for the following week. If you fail to request your benefits on a weekly basis, you will not receive payment.

Weekly Certification Reminder Email

Unemployment Handbook has a free service where we send you an email every week to remind you to file your WA unemployment weekly certification. Just click here and enter your email address, and you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to file again: Weekly Reminder Email When you file your weekly claim, you will be asked a series of questions regarding the status of your search for new employment. You should be prepared to report any wages you may have received during the week and whether or not you are currently able to immediately accept employment.

Unemployment Extension

In this time of high unemployment, there are several additional programs in Washington for workers who are actively seeking employment and have been unable to find a job:

Extended Benefits

During periods of high unemployment, Washington often extends unemployment benefits for workers who have exhausted their regular unemployment insurance benefits. These extensions are enacted based on mathematical calculations that are determined by the state. A basic extension of unemployment benefits provides 13 additional weeks of funds to individuals who are actively seeking employment. In periods of extremely high unemployment, the Washington may offer further extensions. You can get more information on the current extensions by calling the Washington unemployment office.

How to Collect Extended Benefits

Should Washington begin a period of extended benefits, it will generally notify those who have exhausted their regular benefits. Should you feel that you are eligible to receive more benefits and you have not been notified by the state, you should contact the Washington unemployment office to find out whether or not extended unemployment benefits are currently available to you.

Amount of Extended Benefits

When you begin receiving extended benefits, you should be receiving the same amount weekly that you did when you were receiving regular unemployment compensation. Depending on the unemployment rate, individuals may receive benefits for any number of weeks.

Federal Extended Benefits

In addition to extended benefits provided by the state, there may be additional funds available from the federal government. This could include Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits.

Washington Unemployment Website

An application for unemployment benefits can be submitted in several ways. Perhaps the most convenient of these is through the official Washington unemployment web site – to go there, click here.

This allows you to submit your claim in the comfort and privacy of your own home. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will also provide you with helpful information about locating a job.

In addition, a record of your claim and the benefits you have received will be available on the site. After your initial claim, you can return to the Washington Web site to file your weekly claims.

Washington Unemployment Office Locations

Should you not have access to a computer or would prefer to file your unemployment claim in person, you can visit your local Washington unemployment office in order to do so. Additionally, your Washington local unemployment office may offer several resources to get you on the road to getting back in the workforce. This could include:

Resume writing workshops;
Interview workshops;
Basic computer classes;
Career or skills assessment.

How To Contact Washington Unemployment

Throughout your unemployment, you will likely need to contact the Washington unemployment office on a semi-regular basis. In doing so, you will find the following information useful:

Main Phone Number

Fax Number

Official Washington Unemployment Web Site

TDD Phone Number

Mailing Address

Employment Security Department – Washington State Telecenter Appeals P.O. Box 19018 Olympia, WA 98507 After your initial claim, you can return to the Washington phone hotline to file your weekly claims.

Washington Unemployment Taxes and 1099

Any income you receive, including unemployment benefits, is required by law to be reported to the Internal Revenue Services.

Form 1099-G if a form that was specifically designed for the purpose of reporting income that is received from government sources or programs. If you are receiving unemployment benefits, you should automatically receive this form in your mailbox in the month of January to assist you in filing your individual federal tax return.

If you do not receive your 1099-G by the January 31, you should contact the Washington unemployment office. Income listed on a 1099-G, depending on the source, should be reported on various lines of your 1040 form.

Unemployment benefits are listed on line 1 of your 1099-G, and should be reported on Line 19 of your 1040. Line 4 of your 1099-G lists the amount of federal income tax that has already been withheld from your unemployment benefits. If you requested to have federal withholding deducted from your payments automatically each week, a sum will appear in this line. If you believe the amount listed on the 1099-G is incorrect, you should contact the Washington unemployment office.

Washington Unemployment Appeals

If your application for unemployment benefits has been denied and you are actively seeking work, you are eligible to file an appeal. Most likely, your application was rejected for one of the following reasons:

You were terminated due to misconduct;
You quit your job without good cause;
You had not earned sufficient wages to be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

If you plan on filing an appeal, you might be wondering if you should retain an attorney. While there are attorneys that can assist you with this process, you are not required to have one present.

If You Were Terminated for Misconduct or Quit Without Good Cause

Make sure you understand the reason why the state has deemed you ineligible to receive unemployment. Should you need further explanation, don’t hesitate to call your Washington unemployment office for a more through explanation.
In the letter that notified you of your rejection, you should be notified of the specific state laws that rendered you ineligible. Before filing an appeal, make sure you understand these laws and how they may be applicable to your case.
When employment agents make a decision on a case, they often reference a digest that catalogs other cases and their decisions. This digest is a public document and should be available to you through your Washington unemployment office. Once you have access to the digest, seek out cases that resemble your own and reference them when making your case for unemployment benefits.
There’s no harm in offering too much information. Work schedules, positive evaluations, personal testimonies and accolades that you received in your former position are all relevant to your case. Don’t be afraid to show that you were a good employee and deserve to be compensated.
Draft a letter explaining how your case was not one of misconduct or that the decision to quite your former job was not one made without good cause. This letter should cite relevant cases that you found during your research.
After you have filed your appeal, you should be notified fairly quickly as to whether or not your appeal has been accepted. If it has, you will then be issued a date for a hearing. In preparing for the hearing, make sure you have assembled evidence to back the case you wish to present. It never hurts to demonstrate confidence and if you have done your homework and are prepared, this should come quite easily.

If You Had Not Earned Sufficient Wages

Gather and be prepared to present any documents or materials that could prove your eligibility for unemployment benefits. This could include check stubs, W-2s and letters from your former employer(s).
After gathering your information, calculate whether or not the materials you found are a sufficient justification for your unemployment appeal. You can locate this formula on the Washington Web site or by calling the Washington office.
Draft a letter of appeal that includes all of the materials you have located and how they equate to your being eligible for unemployment benefits.
Send the letter, including a copy of your initial denial, to the appeals division of the Washington unemployment office.

If you need more information about your particular situation or filing an unemployment appeal, go to the official Washington State unemployment website: Official Site

Find Your Local Unemployment Office

Aberdeen
511 W. Heron
Aberdeen, WA 98520
phone: 360-533-9318

Auburn
2707 I Street North East
Auburn, WA 98002
phone: 253-804-1177

Bellevue
3000 Landerholm Circle SE
Bellevue, WA 98007
phone: 425-564-4054

Bellingham
101 Prospect Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
phone: 360-676-1521

Bremerton
1300 Sylvan Way
Bremerton, WA 98310
phone: 360-337-4810 ext 0

Chehalis
151 NE Hampe Way
Chehalis, WA 98532
phone: 360-748-2360

Clarkson
1013 Bridge Street
Clarkston, WA 99403
phone: 509-758-5461

Colville
956 S. Main, Suite B
Colville, WA 99114
phone: (509) 685-6158, (800) 451-1549

Ellensburg
309 East Mountainview Avenue
Ellensburg, WA 98926
phone: 509-925-5311

Everett
3201 Smith Ave
Everett, WA 98201
phone: 425-258-6330

Goldendale
116 East Main
Goldendale, WA 98620
phone: 509-773-5503

Kelso
305 S. Pacific Ave
Kelso, WA 98626
phone: (360) 577-2250

Kennewick
815 N. Kellogg, Suite D
Kennewick, WA 99336
phone: 509-734-5900

Lakewood
4500 Steilacoom Boulevard SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
phone: 253-589-5510

Lakewood
9401 Farwest Drive South West
Lakewood, WA 98498-1999
phone: 253-964-6265

Lakewood
4650 Steilacoom Blvd. South West
Lakewood, WA 98499
phone: 253-583-8800

Long Beach
2601 Pacific Avenue North
Long Beach, WA 98631
phone: 360-642-6213 or 800-269-6126

Lynnwood
20311 52nd Avenue West, Suite 300
Lynnwood, WA 98036
phone: 425-673-3300

Mattawa
403 Boundary
Mattawa, WA 99349
phone: 509-932-4297

Moses Lake
309 E. 5th Avenue
Moses Lake, WA 98837
phone: 509-766-2559

Mount Vernon
2005 E. College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
phone: 360-416-3600

Newport
301 Spruce Avenue
Newport, WA 99156
phone: 509-550-7049

Oak Harbor
31975 SR 20, Suite 3
Oak Harbor, WA 98277
phone: 360-675-5966

Omak
126 South Main
Omak, WA 98841
phone: (509) 826-7310 (800) 887-8057

Port Angeles
228 W. First Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362-2639
phone: 360-457-2103

Port Hadlock
207 West Patison
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
phone: 360-379-5036

Port Orchard
1211 Bay Street
Port Orchard, WA 98366
phone: 360-473-2144

Pullman
350 South East Fairmont Road
Pullman, WA 99163
phone: 509-332-6549

Raymond
600 Washington Street
Raymond, WA 98577
phone: 360-875-9470

Redmond
7735 178th Place NE
Redmond, WA 98052
phone: 425-861-3700

Renton
500 SW 7th Street, Suite 100
Renton, WA 98057
phone: 206-205-3500

Republic
72 N Clark Street
Republic, WA 99166
phone: (509) 775-2009 / Unemployment Insurance 1-800-451-1549

Seattle
2024 3rd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
phone: 206-436-8600

Seattle
9600 College Way North
Seattle, WA 98103
phone: 206-440-2500

Seattle
2531 Rainier Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98144-5328
phone: 206-721-6000

Seattle
6000 16th Avenue South West
Seattle, WA 98106
phone: 206-764-5304

Shelton
2505 Olympic Hwy N, Suite 420 (Physical address)
Shelton, WA 98584
phone: 360-427-2174

Spokane
130 S Arthur
Spokane, WA 99202
phone: 509-532-3160

Spokane
130 S. Arthur Street
Spokane, WA 99202
phone: 509-532-3030

Spokane
130 East Third Avenue
Spokane, WA 99202
phone: 509-838-4246

Spokane
901 East Second Avenue
Spokane, WA 99202
phone: 509-340-7800

Spokane
1810 North Green Street,
Spokane, WA 99217-5399
phone: 509-533-7249

Spokane
3410 West Ft. George Wright Drive
Spokane, WA 99224
phone: 509-533-3521

Stevenson
704 South West Rock Creek Drive
Stevenson, WA 98648
phone: 509-427-4464

Sumner
1701 Elm Street
Sumner, WA 98390
phone: 253-863-5173

Sunnyside
1925 Morgan Rd.
Sunnyside, WA 98944
phone: 509-836-5405

Tacoma
1305 Tacoma Ave South, Suite 201
Tacoma, WA 98402
phone: 253-593-7300

Tacoma
1101 South Yakima Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98405
phone: 253-680-7240

Tacoma
714 South 27th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
phone: 253-272-5166; 800-584-7980

Tacoma
1314 South L Street
Tacoma, WA 98415
phone: 253-383-3951

Tacoma
1724 East 44th Street
Tacoma, WA 98404
phone: 253-207-4447

Toppenish
706 Rentschler Lane
Toppenish, WA 98948
phone: 509-865-7630

Tumwater
1570 Irving St. SW
Tumwater, WA 98512
phone: 360-704-3600

Vancouver
5411 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Suite 15
Vancouver, WA 98661-7046
phone: 360-735-5000

Walla Walla
1530 Stevens
Walla Walla, WA 99362
phone: 509-527-4393

Walla Walla
342 Catherine Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
phone: 509-529-4980

Walla Walla
500 Tausick Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362
phone: 509-527-1827

Wenatchee
233 North Chelan
Wenatchee, WA 98801
phone: 509-663-3091 or 800-999-8694

Wenatchee
1300 5th Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801
phone: 509-682-6890

Wenatchee
215 Bridge Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801
phone: 509-665-6605

White Salmon
107 West Jewett Blvd.
White Salmon, WA 98672
phone: 509-493-1210

Yakima
306 Division Street
Yakima, WA 98902
phone: 509-574-0174

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