How does the base period affect my eligibility for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

That makes sense why my amount is low then. My highest earning quarter was probably when I had both jobs running at the same time.

Wait, so if I just started a good paying job but then got laid off, those wages wouldn't count? That seems unfair.

How do I request the alternate base period? Do I need to call Washington ESD or is there a form?

You can request it when you file your initial claim or call them to request a redetermination. They'll automatically check if you qualify for ABP if your regular base period doesn't establish a valid claim.

Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than trying to get through their regular phone line. Did they charge you a lot?

They focus on the value of actually reaching someone rather than the cost. When you're dealing with potentially thousands in benefits, it's worth it to get proper guidance.

Interesting, might have to check that out. I've been trying to reach someone about my base period for weeks.

Close but not exactly right. You need to have earned wages in at least 2 quarters, and your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your high quarter wages. The $5,000 minimum is approximately correct for 2025.

yeah thats what i meant lol. point is if your wages are too low or spread out weird you might not qualify even if you worked

Washington ESD gets quarterly wage reports from all employers, so they have records of what you earned and when. That's why it's important that your employers report correctly and that you report any discrepancies.

What if one of my employers didn't report correctly? Can I submit my own pay stubs?

Yes, you can submit wage documentation if there are discrepancies. Contact Washington ESD with your pay stubs, W-2s, or other proof of earnings.

How long does a wage investigation take? I think I have the same problem with missing wages.

They said it could take 4-6 weeks to investigate and potentially adjust my base period wages. At least there's a process for it.

I get the frustration but there has to be some system to verify wages and prevent fraud. At least the alternate base period helps some people.

Still doesn't help if your recent work was your best paying job. The whole system needs an overhaul.

Unemployment benefits do NOT count as wages for base period calculation. Only wages from actual employment count toward establishing a new claim.

Thanks! That's what I thought but wanted to make sure.

Yes, you can request a redetermination if you find errors or missing wages. That's actually when I used Claimyr to get through to an agent - they helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed to submit.

Good to know there's hope! I'll look into that service if I can't get through the regular way.

Generally, only W-2 wages count for regular UI claims. 1099 income usually doesn't count unless you've been paying into the unemployment system as self-employed, which is rare in Washington.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. My freelance work was actually my highest earning quarters.

But then you would have missed out on 3 months of benefits while waiting. Sometimes it's better to file right away even with a lower amount.

True, it's definitely a trade-off. Depends on your specific situation and how much higher the benefits would be.

That's really helpful to know! I was wondering about some year-end bonuses and when they would count.

Wait, so if I got a big commission check in January for December sales, that counts as December earnings?

Exactly! It's based on when the work was performed, not when you received payment.

Same here! At least now I know what questions to ask when I call Washington ESD.

If you do need to call them about base period issues, I'd really recommend checking out that Claimyr service. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through.

How does that work? Do you file in Washington or the other state?

You file in Washington since that's where you're claiming benefits. Washington ESD will request the wage information from the other state. It can slow down the process though.

Absolutely. That's why it's often worth talking to an actual Washington ESD representative if your situation is anything other than straightforward W-2 employment in Washington.

Good luck getting through to talk to someone though. Their phone system is a nightmare.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist - to get around that phone system bottleneck and actually reach a knowledgeable agent.