Bottom line - you don't need to work for any specific company for a minimum amount of time. It's all about your total earnings during the base period. With 18+ months of work history, you should be fine. Just file your claim and see what happens!

Just wanted to add that I went through something similar last year. I had worked at 4 different jobs over 15 months - some only for a few weeks, others for several months. I was worried I wouldn't qualify because I kept switching jobs, but it turned out my total earnings during the base period were more than enough to meet the requirements. The application process was pretty straightforward once I gathered all my employer information and separation details. Don't let the multiple jobs discourage you from applying - Washington ESD really does just care about your total wages during those specific quarters, not how long you stayed at each place.

An important update based on a rule change: As of 2025, ESD has slightly modified their approach to part-time work while on unemployment. They now place greater emphasis on whether the part-time work is impeding your ability to search for and obtain work in your regular occupation. If you can demonstrate that: 1. The part-time work schedule conflicts with interview opportunities 2. The hours/schedule prevent you from attending job fairs or networking events in your field 3. You're too exhausted from the part-time work to effectively search for suitable employment These factors now carry more weight in determining if quitting would be considered for good cause. Again, documentation is critical here - keep records of any missed opportunities due to your part-time schedule.

I went through almost exactly this situation about 8 months ago. I was a laid-off marketing manager who took a part-time cashier job while on unemployment. Like you, I was actually losing money after the benefit deduction and it was killing my job search efforts. Here's what worked for me: I kept a detailed log for 3 weeks showing every interview I had to decline or reschedule due to my retail shifts, plus all the networking events and career fairs I missed. I also tracked my job applications - before the part-time job I was applying to 8-10 positions per week, but with the retail schedule I could barely manage 3-4. When I presented this documentation to ESD along with my wage comparison (marketing salary vs retail), they approved my quit as "good cause" under the unsuitable work provision. The key was showing how the part-time job was actively preventing me from returning to suitable employment. One tip: if you do decide to quit, apply for your weekly benefit the same week and include a detailed explanation right away. Don't wait for them to ask questions later. Be proactive with your documentation and reasoning. The process took about 3 weeks to get resolved, but I did continue receiving benefits and eventually found a position in my field. Good luck!

My husband went through something similar with his construction job layoff. When we called, nobody even mentioned a supervisor review? I wonder if that's only for certain types of claims or if his adjudicator just skipped telling us that part. His took exactly 24 hours to change from pending to paid after talking to the adjudicator. I remember because we were checking constantly too!

So relieved to see your update! I went through almost the exact same thing 3 months ago - adjudicator said it looked approved, then I spent 2 days obsessively refreshing my account. The waiting is honestly the worst part when you're stressed about money. For anyone else going through this, the overnight system updates seem to be pretty consistent. Mine switched to paid at like 3am and the funds were in my bank account by noon the next day. Hope your rent situation works out okay now!

Thanks everyone for all this advice! I feel way more confident about managing my work search requirements now. Going to start a spreadsheet today and be more systematic about everything.

I just wanted to share what's been working for me - I created a simple template in Google Docs that I fill out each time I do a work search activity. It has fields for date, company name, position title, method of contact, and a notes section. Then I just copy and paste the info when I file my weekly claim. Having a consistent format makes it so much easier to stay organized and I never forget important details. Plus Google Docs saves everything automatically so I don't have to worry about losing my records.

Does anyone know if the OAH hearings are still all by phone because of COVID or are they doing in-person again? I had mine over the phone last year and felt like it was harder for the judge to connect with my situation. Would've been better in person where they could see how genuinely upset I was about the whole thing.

I'm facing a similar situation right now and this thread is incredibly helpful! My employer created such a hostile work environment that my panic attacks got worse, but ESD is treating it like I just decided to quit one day. One question for those who won their OAH hearings - did you submit your medical documentation before the hearing or bring it up during? I have detailed records from my psychiatrist about how work stress was affecting my PTSD, but I'm not sure about the timing of when to present everything. Also, has anyone dealt with an employer who claims they "offered accommodations" that weren't actually reasonable? My boss said I could "just ignore" the coworker who was triggering my episodes, which obviously isn't a real accommodation. I'm worried the judge might think that counts as them trying to help.