Basic information
- Full name, as shown on your identification document.
- Birthdate.
- Social Security number.
- Citizenship status. If you're not an U.S. citizen, we will need your work authorization information.
- Washington state driver's license or ID, if you have one.
- Contact information. For example: mailing address, phone number, email address.
- Your bank or credit union account and routing numbers, If you want to sign up for direct deposit.
Your work history from the last 18 months
In Washington, you need to work 680 hours in covered employment during your regular base year to qualify for unemployment benefits. A regular base year is 18 months.
We will need:
Contact information for your past employers
The names and mailing addresses of all your employers, including part-time and temporary jobs. You can find your employment history by quarter in eServices.
Dates of employment for your past employers
The dates you worked for all employers. Estimate if you don't remember the exact dates. Our system will not accept a future date. If you are still working, use the date you last worked before you apply for benefits.
Your DD-214, if you were in the military
Any member copy 2 through 8. Do not send copy 1. It will not have all the needed information.
Your Standard Form 8 (SF8), if you were a federal employee
SF8 is the "Notice To Federal Employees About Unemployment Insurance." We do not require your Standard Form 50 (SF50) "Notice of Personnel Action." But it will help us process your claim more quickly.
The name and local phone number of your union, if you are a union member
Have this information ready if you normally get your work through a union.
After you gather this information
Find full instructions about how to apply for unemployment benefits.
Your claim takes effect on Sunday of the week you first apply, regardless of when you last worked.