Definitions of terms

Dislocated workers are those who lost their job and are not likely to return to the same occupation. The reason could be due to plant closure, mass layoffs, foreign competition or lack of demand for your skills. Contact the WorkSource office near you for more information about programs to help dislocated workers.

Someone who meets some of these criteria:

• Has been serving family members in the home without pay.
• Depended on the income of another family member and is no longer supported by that income.
• Is unemployed or underemployed.
• Is having trouble getting a job.

We denied your unemployment benefits for the week or for an undefined time. We consider multiple factors when we decide to allow or deny benefits. You can learn more about weekly unemployment claims. You can also log into your eServices account and select “Manage my active claim” for more information. And you can contact the Unemployment Claims Center to find out what issue is affecting your claim.

Sometimes, the reason you are denied can be resolved and you could become eligible for benefits. You should continue submitting weekly claims for weeks you want to receive benefits.

 All compensation you earn for personal services, including:

• Wages.
• Commissions and bonuses.
• The cash value of compensation paid in any way other than cash.
• The value of tips earned during a specific time. 

If you underreport your earnings, we might deny or reduce your benefits. And you might need to pay us back for benefits we paid you. If you’re ever unsure if you need to report earnings, it’s best to report them until you can speak with an agent at the Unemployment Claims Center. An agent can correct your earnings if you overreport them.  

The date your claim began. Your effective date will always be a Sunday.

Unemployment claimants who meet all eligibility requirements can receive benefits.

The condition of having paid work.

You can work and receive unemployment benefits at the same time. But if you earn too much or work too many hours in a week, you will not be eligible to receive benefits for that week. That's when you will see the terms "excess hours" or "excess earnings." Your situation could change each week, depending on how much you work. Continue filing weekly claims. We evaluate your eligibility each week.

A tax based on the amount of unemployment benefits charged to an employer's account over the past 4 fiscal years. We base tax rates on an employer’s experience tax rate plus a social tax rate. Read more about tax rates.

A benefit program that becomes available during times of high unemployment. It is for claimants who have used up all other available unemployment benefits and do not qualify for a new unemployment claim in Washington or any other state. The U.S. Department of Labor tells states when EB is available, depending on each state's unemployment rate.

A law that governs federal unemployment taxes employers pay. FUTA funds the federal share of administering state unemployment law. States can borrow from FUTA to pay benefits temporarily when their own unemployment trust fund does not have enough to pay benefits.

The last unemployment benefit payment you receive before you use up your benefits on each claim or benefit program. This payment might be smaller than your regular weekly payment. Continue filing weekly claims if benefit extensions are available. If approved, we will pay you for any weeks you claimed and are eligible.

A "fiscal year" is July 1st to June 30th each year.

Regarding discharge from work:

• Shockingly bad or offensive disregard for the law, morals or rights of others.
• Behavior that is so contrary to what is right or proper that it is easy to identify.  
   

Giving false information, misrepresenting or knowingly withholding information.

 A union that does not allow you to look for non-union work within your trade. These unions require you to get all your work through them.

A temporary, unpaid leave from work. When employers place employees on furlough, they plan to bring the employees back to work. Furloughed employees are still “attached” to their employer but could qualify for unemployment benefits. If they later receive back pay from their employer for the furloughed period, they will need to repay benefits received. Go to the furloughs page to read more.

Reasons that would cause a sensible person in similar circumstances to act in the same manner. We use good cause to decide issues on your unemployment claim, such as reasons for quitting your job or failing to open your claim on time.

You do not qualify for unemployment benefits. To qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington, you must have worked a minimum of 680 hours in your base year. If you believe the information we have is not correct, contact the Unemployment Claims Center and request a monetary redetermination. You cannot request a monetary redetermination online.

Based on the information we have right now, you do not qualify for unemployment benefits. Your claim might be in "ineligible pending" status because we are waiting for more information about your eligibility to work in the U.S. Or we might be waiting for more information about your military, federal or out-of-state wages. If you believe you are eligible for benefits, you should continue filing weekly claims.

You are not eligible to receive benefits for this week. However, you could be eligible for future weeks and should continue filing weekly claims.

You are filing weekly claims on an unemployment claim for which you do not qualify.

While collecting unemployment benefits, you need to look for suitable work and keep a record of your job search to remain eligible for benefits, unless we tell you otherwise. It is very important that you understand your responsibilities to look for work and document your job search. We want to help you avoid mistakes that could result in having to repay benefits you received. Learn more about job search requirements. 
 

The document you use to record and track your weekly job search contacts and activities. We recommend using our job search log to do this.

When an employer, or two or more employees, disagree about workplace conditions, causing a strike or lockout. The issues in dispute are wages, hours, working conditions or terms of employment. Workers affected by labor disputes could qualify for unemployment benefits. Go to the labor disputes page to read more.