Can you collect unemployment if you worked less than 90 days in Washington ESD?

That's a relief! So even though the recent job was short, it still adds to my base period calculation?

Exactly. Every day you worked and earned wages during your base period counts toward determining your benefit amount.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved? I'm worried about the adjudication process.

Mine took about 2 weeks, but that was pretty typical timing. No adjudication issues since it was a straightforward layoff.

Never heard of that service. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit. I was skeptical too but I was desperate after weeks of busy signals. Got connected to an agent within an hour.

Might try this if I run into issues with my claim. Thanks for sharing!

My August job paid really well, so that's encouraging. I should probably file sooner rather than later?

Yes, file as soon as possible. You can't collect benefits for weeks before you file, so there's no advantage to waiting.

I know it seems complicated, but the base period system actually helps more people qualify since it looks at your earnings over a longer timeframe.

i guess that makes sense but still wish there was an easier way to figure out if you qualify before going through the whole application

That's a common misconception. There's no minimum time requirement, just minimum earnings requirements during your base period.

Oh wow, I've been putting off filing because I thought I didn't qualify. I only worked 4 months at my last job.

You should definitely file! The worst thing that can happen is they deny your claim, but you might be surprised and qualify.

Good for you! Make sure to file your weekly claims on time once you start receiving them.

Will do. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly with the review process.

Hope it goes well for you! Let us know how it turns out.

Thanks! Will update once I hear back from Washington ESD.

That's really encouraging. I had two part-time jobs for about 3 months each, so hopefully the combined earnings will be enough.

Multiple jobs definitely help! Washington ESD counts wages from all employers during your base period.

I didn't know about the alternate base period option. Good to know there's a backup if needed.

Yeah, it's not widely advertised but it can make the difference for people with recent job changes.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.

I'd rather not discuss pricing here, but they're upfront about costs on their website. For me, it was worth it to get my questions answered quickly rather than spending weeks trying to reach Washington ESD directly.

I feel your frustration. The phone system is definitely overwhelmed. Have you tried calling right at 8am when they open?

YES! I've tried everything - calling at 8am, during lunch, late afternoon. Nothing works.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The regular phone system is basically unusable right now.

It seems like there are a lot of myths floating around about unemployment eligibility. Glad to get the real information here.

yeah people just repeat stuff they heard without actually checking. always better to just file and see what happens

Thanks for the tip! I gathered all that info before filing and you're right, it made things much easier.

Wish I had seen this earlier - had to log out and gather paperwork halfway through my application.

Those numbers are really helpful. I think I should qualify based on my previous job earnings.

You can also check your quarterly earnings on the Washington ESD website to get an idea of where you stand before filing.

Good luck! Sounds like a lot of us were in similar situations. Hope it works out for you.

Thanks! It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this.

That's really important to know. I'll make sure to stay on top of the weekly claims once my claim is processed.

Good point. I almost made that mistake with my last claim a few years ago.

Awesome! Keep us posted on how it goes.

The waiting is the hardest part, but sounds like you should be fine based on what you described.

Easy to say but impossible to actually do! The phone system is completely broken.

I know it's frustrating. I had better luck with the online chat feature when it's available.

Or try Claimyr if you really need to talk to someone. That's honestly the most reliable way I've found to reach an agent.

Glad we could help! This is exactly the kind of situation where community knowledge really makes a difference.

Hope everything works out for you. Thanks for starting this thread - I'm sure it'll help other people in similar situations.