How long do u need to work to get unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

what counts as enough wages? i made like $15k total in those 8 months at the warehouse

That should be enough if it was spread across two quarters. Washington ESD looks at your highest quarter earnings to determine your weekly benefit amount, and you need wages in a second quarter to establish eligibility.

oh crap i dont think i reported all the gig work stuff properly... will that mess me up?

It might make things more complicated during adjudication, but unreported income is more of a tax issue than an unemployment qualification issue. Just be honest on your application.

Never heard of that, sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

They don't make you pay upfront or anything sketchy like that. It's just about getting through the phone lines when you actually need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

thats not helping me figure out if i qualify though...

The requirements are actually pretty straightforward. The confusion comes from people not understanding the base period calculation, not from Washington ESD trying to trick anyone.

ok that makes way more sense, thank you! should i apply right away or wait?

Apply immediately. There's a waiting week, and benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you lost your job. Don't delay.

This is really helpful info, I've been putting off applying because I thought I needed to work for a full year or something

what happens if it goes into adjudication?

Adjudication means they need to verify something about your claim - could be employment history, reason for separation, or wage discrepancies. It can take weeks to resolve and delays your benefits.

That's when services like Claimyr become really valuable. Adjudication issues usually require talking to an actual Washington ESD representative, and getting through by phone is nearly impossible during normal business hours.

Only if you paid into the UI system. Most gig work is 1099 contractor work, which doesn't qualify for traditional unemployment benefits. You'd need W-2 wages from actual employment.

damn that sucks, i made good money doing that but it was all 1099

The wage/time requirements are the same regardless of how you lost your job. Being fired might affect your eligibility if it was for misconduct, but that's a separate determination from the monetary qualification.

THEY'LL FIND ANY EXCUSE TO DENY YOU! Even if you get fired for something stupid like being 5 minutes late they'll call it misconduct!

It wasn't misconduct, just company downsizing but they called it termination instead of layoff on my paperwork

was it pretty straightforward? im not great with computer stuff

yeah the website walks you through it step by step, just have your social security card and employment info ready

how many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

The standard requirement is 3 job search activities per week, but it varies based on your individual reemployment plan. Activities can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc.

Keep detailed records of your job search activities! Washington ESD can audit your claims and ask for proof at any time.

Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims even while it's pending, and don't be discouraged if it takes longer than a few days.

Hope yours goes smoother than mine did! Keep that Claimyr info handy just in case you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

glad it helped someone else! this forum is way more useful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website

You might still have other wage quarters that qualify you. Don't assume you're ineligible without actually checking your earnings history.

good point, i did work at a restaurant for a few months before the gig stuff

ok we get it you dont like the system but the person got their question answered

I mean they have a point though, the requirements are pretty complicated for something that should be straightforward

no shame in not knowing! the whole unemployment system is confusing as hell

How does that even work? Do they just keep calling for you?

They have some system that navigates the phone tree and waits on hold, then connects you when a real person picks up. Check out their demo video if you're curious.

The information is there, but it's scattered across different pages and written in bureaucratic language that's hard to understand.

thanks! keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly

This should be pinned or something, really clear explanation

agreed, way clearer than anything on the actual Washington ESD website

Part-time work counts the same as full-time for qualification purposes. It's all about the total wages earned in each quarter, regardless of hours worked.

thats a relief, thank you!