Unemployment Benefits for Apprentices

The following are guidelines apprentices should follow when applying for Unemployment Assistance. Because of the situation with Covid-19, there are multiple funding streams available to assist those who are currently out of work. It is recommended that you apply for unemployment online at https://esd.wa.gov. If you prefer to apply over the phone at 1-800-618-3022, expect long wait times.

If you do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance (UI), you will need to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). This will only be available if you apply for regular unemployment, and get denied. Additionally, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) is a 13-week extension to unemployment benefits that is available after you run out of money from your initial claim. There is no need to apply for PUA or PEUC unless you meet the situations listed above.

Below are some specific guidelines that will help you complete your application as an apprentice:

• During the initial unemployment application, apprentices should answer “Yes” when it asks if they are in school or a training program. After they apply, they will get a questionnaire that asks for more information about their training, either online or by mail.

The questionnaire will ask: • Program Start Date: this will need to be the date their current quarter started, and the date their current quarter will end, NOT the overall AJAC apprenticeship. • Do you want to apply for Commissioner Approved Training (CAT)? - all apprentices should say “No” (the only people who are eligible are those attending full-time school) • School info – write the name of the college they attend classes, their teacher’s name, and the school address. Even though classes are online right now, please put the address of the building where classes are normally held. They will also need to indicate what days/times they go to class. For the name of the program they should put “AJAC” before the program name. Example “AJAC Industrial Maintenance Mechanic” • Are you enrolled in Full-Time Training? – apprentices should answer “No” • Are you continuing to look for work? – apprentices should answer YES. Because of Covid-19, no one is required to look for work, but this document isn’t being updated to reflect that. If they put no, their entire unemployment claim will be denied, even though they are eligible. So they should just put yes, and this won’t be fraudulent. • Are you willing to drop classes or quit training to take a job? – apprentices should answer YES. This is similar to above – no one is required to look for work right now. • The rest of the questionnaire is specific to CAT, so apprentices do not need to answer anything after this.

If you have questions about this process, please contact AJAC’s Regional Program Manager, Heather Collins via email or by phone (509-680-8966).