Can I qualify for ESD benefits if I quit a new job after leaving a contract position?

The 6 month thing is FALSE!! You don't need to be at a job for any specific time period to qualify for UI. What matters is your base year earnings and if you have a qualifying reason to leave. BE CAREFUL tho - if you quit without

Thanks for replying. So if I understand right, my 5-month contract position would count toward my base year earnings? What would count as \

There's some confusion here I want to clear up. The 6-month rule isn't about qualifying for unemployment in general - it's about how your most recent employment affects your claim.\n\nYour eligibility is based on:\n\n1. Having enough hours/wages in your base year (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters)\n2. Being unemployed through no fault of your own\n\nThe challenge you'll face is that voluntarily quitting a job without \

my cousin quit her job bcuz they kept changing her hours without notice and she got benefits. u just gotta show u tried to fix the problem first. document EVERYTHING.

I went through something similar in 2025. The key factor ESD looks at isn't time at a job, but whether you have \

This is really helpful, thank you. My new job pays about 30% less than what I was making at the contract position, and the hours are completely different than what I was told in the interview. I'll start documenting everything and maybe talk to my doctor about how it's affecting my mental health.

everybody talking bout good cause but missing the OBVIOUS - if ur contract job ENDED then u were laid off and thats automatic qualification!!! why u even worried bout the new job just apply based on the contract ending!!! ESD doesnt care what happened AFTER the layoff theyre looking at what happened BEFORE

That's not entirely accurate. While the contract ending would normally qualify as a layoff (depending on the specific circumstances), starting a new job and then quitting complicates things. Once you accept and start a new position, ESD will consider that your most recent work separation when evaluating eligibility. \n\nThe timing between the contract ending and starting the new job matters. If there was a gap where the person could have filed but didn't, that gets factored into the determination as well.

I tried calling ESD about a somewhat similar situation (quit a job after a previous layoff) and spent HOURS on hold for 3 days straight before giving up. Finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an ESD agent in like 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works too: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3\n\nThe agent told me that quitting within a few weeks of starting a new job is a common scenario and whether you qualify depends on the specifics of your situation. In my case, they determined I had good cause because the job duties were substantially different than what was described in the interview.

I was about to suggest this too!! Been there with the endless hold times. OP definitely needs to talk to an actual ESD agent because this situation is too specific for general advice. When I called they asked about my previous job (the one before the one I quit) so they'll definitely consider the contract position in their determination.

just say the job is causing u anxiety and depression and get a drs note!! thats a qualifying reason its worked for like 3 ppl i know!!!

Please be careful with this advice. ESD takes fraud very seriously. You should only claim health issues if they're genuine and documented by a healthcare provider who has been treating you. Making false statements on your claim can result in penalties, having to pay back benefits with interest, and even legal consequences.

Update: I spoke with my doctor yesterday about the situation, and she agreed that the stress from the job combined with financial pressure is negatively affecting my health. She's providing documentation. I also found our employee handbook which clearly shows the hours I'm working are outside what was described for this position. \n\nI'm planning to talk to my manager tomorrow about the issues, but honestly I don't expect much to change. I'll make sure to document the conversation. Thanks everyone for the guidance!

You're taking all the right steps. Make sure that conversation with your manager is in writing if possible (email is best). If it's in person, send a follow-up email summarizing what was discussed. \n\nRemember that if you do file for benefits, you'll need to continue with job search activities (3 per week) and accept suitable work if offered. Best of luck with your situation - I hope either the current job improves or you find something better soon.

Has anyone mentioned that if you go ahead and quit this job you should do it BEFORE hitting the 680 hour mark in your base year??? Those hours carry over to your next claim period and if u quit without good cause you lose them!!!

That's a good point about hours potentially being lost if there's a disqualification, but the concern about the specific 680 hour mark isn't quite accurate. \n\nWashington's minimum qualifying hours for a valid claim is 680 hours in your base year, but all hours worked in the base period count toward benefit calculation regardless of how many there are. There's no benefit to quitting before hitting a specific number of hours - what matters is the determination about whether the quit was for good cause.