How long do I have to work to claim unemployment benefits in Washington?

Thanks! So if I started working in March 2024, would I have enough quarters by now?

It depends on when you file and how much you earned each quarter. You'd need to look at your earnings from Q2 2024 through Q1 2025 if you filed now.

Washington doesn't use hours, it's based on earnings in quarters. You're thinking of a different state maybe.

oh ok my bad, thought it was hours like my friend in oregon

How long did you have to wait on the phone? I've heard the wait times are crazy.

Over 2 hours! It was ridiculous. Someone later told me about Claimyr.com which helps you get through to agents faster. Wish I knew about it then.

Claimyr really works? I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status.

This is super helpful! Where do I find my quarterly wage information to check if I meet these requirements?

You can check your wage records on your eServices account through Washington ESD, or look at your pay stubs and calculate quarterly totals.

Because it's designed to ensure you have a sufficient work history and earnings base to support the benefit amount you'd receive.

still annoying tho

It depends on your total quarterly earnings. At 15 hours/week minimum wage you might be close but would need to calculate your actual quarterly totals to know for sure.

I'll have to dig up my old pay stubs then. This is more complicated than I thought.

How do you know if your employer reported wages correctly?

Check your eServices account and compare it to your pay stubs. If something's missing you can contact Washington ESD to get it corrected.

Yes, wages from all employers during your base period count toward the requirements. Washington ESD will combine wages from multiple jobs.

cool that helps, i had like 3 different jobs last year

Good point! I hadn't even thought about the job search requirements yet.

Yeah there's a whole list of ongoing requirements once you start receiving benefits. Worth reading up on before you need to file.

That's amazing! I'm definitely going to try that. I've been trying to reach them about my claim for days.

Is there a cost for using Claimyr or is it free?

There is a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of wasting hours on hold.

How do they calculate the benefit amount? Is it based on your highest earning quarter?

It's based on your total base period wages but there's a formula. The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator you can use to estimate.

Good advice! Though you can't collect benefits while you're still employed full-time, so timing matters.

Right, I meant more like if you know layoffs are coming and you have some control over timing.

Same here! I keep putting it off but I should really check now while I'm still working.

Yeah better to know ahead of time than find out when you actually need to file a claim.

What kind of alternative programs? I hadn't heard about those.

Things like training programs or extended benefits in certain circumstances. The eligibility worker can explain what might be available.

i guess that makes sense but its still confusing for regular people

True, they could definitely explain it better on their website.

How exactly does Claimyr work? Do they call for you or something?

They help you get through the phone system faster and connect you with an actual agent. Check out their site at claimyr.com for more details.

Any other tips for someone who might need to file soon?

Keep good records of everything - pay stubs, termination notice, job search activities. Makes everything smoother if you need to file appeals or answer questions later.

Yeah I made that mistake initially and was looking at federal guidelines instead of state ones.

Easy mistake to make! Washington state rules are what matter for state unemployment benefits.

Agreed! This thread answered so many questions I didn't even know I had.

Glad to help! Knowledge is power when it comes to navigating the unemployment system.

Good to know! I definitely would have waited thinking I needed to be sure about everything first.

Exactly - you can always withdraw the claim if you don't actually need it, but you can't get back time if you wait too long to file.