How long do I need to work for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! So if I started working in September 2024, would I have enough quarters? I'm a bit confused about how the quarters work.

If you started in September 2024, you'd have worked in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, so yes, that's two quarters. Just make sure your earnings meet the minimum thresholds I mentioned.

This is really helpful! I had no idea it was based on calendar quarters instead of just consecutive months.

Yeah the base period calculation trips up a lot of people. Washington ESD has a calculator on their website that can help figure out if you qualify.

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 was actually pretty easy to use.

Thanks for the tip! I'll check that out. Getting hung up on after waiting 2 hours is driving me crazy.

That's a different issue - you're asking about qualifying for benefits vs. working while receiving benefits. If you get laid off from your part-time job, your qualification is based on your work history in the base period.

Got it, so the work requirement is just for qualifying initially. Thanks for clarifying that!

There's no specific hour requirement in Washington. It's all based on earnings in calendar quarters. You might be thinking of a different state's requirements.

oh okay my bad, i was thinking of something else then

How much do you need to earn? The person above mentioned some dollar amounts but I want to make sure I understand correctly.

For 2025, you need at least $1,822 in your highest-earning quarter and your total base period earnings need to be at least $2,733. These amounts go up each year.

Yes, any covered employment counts as long as your employer paid into the unemployment insurance system. Most regular jobs do, but some contractor positions don't.

Great, both were regular W-2 jobs so I should be good then. Thanks!

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr when I needed to get clarification on my claim. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere.

Is that service actually legit? Seems too good to be true to actually get through to Washington ESD easily.

Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but it worked for me. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you.

Good point. I'm not planning to quit, just wondering about the work history requirement in case something happens.

Smart to plan ahead! As long as you meet the earnings and quarter requirements, you should be eligible if you get laid off.

I'll definitely check that out. Thanks for the tip!

That calculator is pretty helpful but it doesn't always account for complex situations. Sometimes you still need to talk to an actual person.

Good advice. I'll start keeping better track of my pay stubs just in case.

Also keep records of any job separation paperwork if you do get laid off. They'll want to know the reason for separation.

That's a common problem with gig work and some retail positions. If you suspect misclassification, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor.

I'm pretty sure my employer is paying into the system since they take taxes out of my check, but good to know about the misclassification issue.

I didn't know about the waiting week. Thanks for mentioning that!

The waiting week was actually eliminated in Washington a few years ago, so you should get paid for your first eligible week now.

Oh that's right, I forgot they changed that. Thanks for the correction!

That makes sense. So even though I'm part-time, if I meet the minimum requirements I should still get something, just not as much as someone who worked full-time?

Exactly. The benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website can give you an estimate of what your weekly benefit amount would be.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I keep seeing people mention it for getting through to Washington ESD. Might be worth checking out if you're still having issues.

I'll look into it. At this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid spending entire days on hold.

Good to know! I was worried it might be really hard to qualify working part-time, but it sounds like it's doable if you work consistently.

Yeah, as long as you're earning decent wages in those quarters, part-time work can definitely qualify you. The key is consistency and meeting those earnings thresholds.

You're welcome! It's always smart to understand your benefits before you need them.

Agreed. Most people don't think about unemployment until they're already unemployed, which makes everything more stressful.