ESD.WA.GOV

Some scenarios include:

Your employer temporarily closes the

business to comply with state guidelines.

You are temporarily laid off or your hours

are reduced due to business slowdown or

lack of demand.

For more on specific scenarios related to COVID-19 that may impact your eligibility for unemployment

benefits, please visit esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19. Basic eligibility criteria for

unemployment benefits:

You must have worked at least 680 hours in your

base year, and you must have earned at least

some of your wages in Washington state.

Your base year is the first four of the last five

completed calendar quarters before the week

in which you file your claim.

For example:

• If you file your claim in March 2020,

your base year is October 1, 2018

through September 30, 2019.

• If you file your claim in April, May or

June 2020, your base year is January 1,

2019 through December 31, 2019.

Find more on eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits at esd.wa.gov/unemployment/

basic-eligibility-requirements.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Language assistance services for limited English proficient individuals are available free of charge. Washington Relay Service: 711 If you think you are eligible, use this checklist, gather your information and get ready to apply.

Before you apply:

Gather the information you’ll need

to complete the application:

Your name, Social Security number,

birthdate and contact information.

Your complete work history for the past

18 months including:

• employer name(s)

• address(es)

• phone number(s)

• start and end dates of employment

for each employer

Your bank account and routing number,

if you want to sign up for direct deposit.

If you normally get your work through a union, had more than 16 employers in your base year, or were in the military during the last 18 months, you may need to provide additional information. Find more at esd. wa.gov/unemployment/have-this-information-ready.

How to apply:

You can apply online or by phone. However, call

volumes are high right now and applying online

will be faster.

Setting up an account to apply online works best on a laptop or desktop computer; You can use a phone

or tablet, but this service is not optimized for mobile and may be difficult to navigate.

Like most Washington state agencies, Employment

Security Department uses SecureAccess Washington

(SAW) to manage access to customer accounts. If

you do not already have a SAW account, you’ll need to create one. If you do, you can use that same

username and password to access eServices.

Start by going to secure.esd.wa.gov/home.

• For more help, use the instructions

in the eServices User Guide posted

on our website under Step 2 at

esd.wa.gov/unemployment.

You may be eligible for unemployment benefits

if you are unable to work due to COVID-19.

Unemployment benefits

application checklist.

Contact this candidate