Do you have to work 90 days to get unemployment benefits in Washington?

Thanks! So it's more about how much you earned than how many days? I made about $3,800 in those 10 weeks, so I might be close to the $4,000 minimum.

Exactly! And since you worked 10 weeks, you probably worked in at least 2 quarters depending on when you started and ended. You should still apply even if you're not sure - let Washington ESD determine your eligibility.

That's encouraging! How long did it take for your claim to get approved?

About 2 weeks. But I had to provide pay stubs and employment verification since it was a short-term job.

Wait, so if I just started working in November 2024, would that count in my base period for a claim filed now?

No, November 2024 wouldn't be included in your current base period. You might want to consider the alternate base period option if your recent work doesn't fall in the standard base period.

Good point about the alternate base period! Washington ESD will automatically check that if you don't qualify under the standard base period.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It actually got me connected to an agent who helped sort out my base period confusion.

Interesting, I've never heard of that. Is it legit? I'm desperate at this point because I need to know if I qualify before I waste time filing.

Yeah it's legit. They basically handle the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Saved me a lot of frustration when I needed to get my adjudication issue resolved.

That makes sense. So it's more flexible than I thought. I was worried because my 10 weeks weren't consecutive - there was a gap when the company had no work.

Gaps don't matter as long as you meet the overall requirements. The base period is 4 quarters, so there's plenty of room for gaps in employment.

I know it's confusing! The easiest way is to just file your claim and let Washington ESD calculate it for you. They'll tell you exactly what wages they're using and which quarters count.

but what if i file and dont qualify? does that hurt my chances later?

No, filing and being denied doesn't hurt your chances for future claims. Each claim is evaluated separately based on your work history at that time.

Those are good faith exceptions, but they don't change the basic monetary and base period requirements. You still need to meet the earnings threshold regardless of why you left your job.

Ah okay, so the work requirements are the same but you might qualify even if you quit instead of being laid off.

It does get adjusted periodically, but $4,000 has been the minimum for a while now. Washington ESD publishes the current requirements on their website.

Good to know. I should probably check their website before filing just to make sure I have the current numbers.

You'd meet the earnings requirement for sure, but you'd also need to have worked in at least 3 quarters of your base period. If those 8 weeks were all in one quarter, you might not meet the quarters requirement.

Oh right, I forgot about the quarters thing. So I'd need to have worked in 3 different quarters during my base period?

Actually, you need to have worked in at least 2 quarters of your base period, not 3. The 3 quarters thing is a different requirement I think.

You're right, it's 2 quarters minimum. My mistake on that detail.

Same here! I wish this stuff was explained better when you start a new job.

Right? Like maybe they could include UI eligibility info in new employee packets or something.

Federal and military unemployment benefits are handled separately from regular state UI. They have their own eligibility requirements that might be different from the standard Washington ESD rules.

That makes sense. I figured they'd be different since they're federal programs.

That's good advice. I was worried about filing if I wasn't sure, but it sounds like there's no downside to trying.

Exactly! And if you do qualify, you want to get your claim filed as soon as possible because benefits don't go back to before your filing date.

You typically file in the state where you last worked, so that would be Washington in your case. But Washington ESD can request wage information from Oregon to include in your base period calculation.

Oh that's helpful! So I don't have to choose between the wages from different states?

Right, they'll combine wages from all states where you worked during your base period to determine if you meet the requirements.

If you file today (in 2025), your base period would be October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. It's always the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters.

So they're looking at work from over a year ago? That seems like a long time back.

I know it seems weird, but that's how they ensure they have complete quarterly wage data. If you don't qualify under the standard base period, they'll check the alternate base period which is more recent.

You'll need to contact Washington ESD about that. Bring your pay stubs and any other proof of your actual wages. They can correct the wage records if you have documentation.

I've been trying to call but can't get through. This is so frustrating because the wrong wage info might affect my eligibility.

This is exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr really helped me out. I had a wage discrepancy that was affecting my benefit amount and needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD urgently. The service got me connected to an agent who could actually fix the problem instead of just telling me to file an appeal.

Seasonal work counts the same as any other work as long as your employer was paying into the unemployment insurance system. The wages would be included in your base period calculation.

Good to know! I wasn't sure if seasonal jobs were treated differently.

Same here! I feel much better about my situation now. I think I probably do qualify based on what everyone's explained.

Definitely file your claim! Even if you're not 100% sure, it's worth trying. The worst they can say is no.

Yes, each time you file a new claim, they evaluate your eligibility based on your work history at that time. A previous denial doesn't automatically disqualify you from future claims.

That's reassuring. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

Good luck with your claim! Remember to keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still being processed.

Will do! This forum has been incredibly helpful.