How long do you have to be a job to get unemployment - Washington ESD work history requirements?

Oh wow, so my old part-time job might actually count then? That's a relief. Do you know what the minimum amount you need to earn is?

Yes, you need to have earned at least $1,096 in your highest quarter and total base period wages of at least 1.25 times your high quarter wages. But there are other requirements too like being able and available to work.

That's really helpful to know! Did you have any trouble proving your work history from multiple jobs?

nah washington esd already has records from employers so they knew about all my jobs automatically. just had to verify a couple details

What do you mean by 'no fault of your own'? Does getting laid off count as that?

Yes, layoffs due to budget cuts or lack of work definitely qualify. It's things like getting fired for misconduct or quitting without good cause that can disqualify you.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work to get through to someone at Washington ESD?

Yeah, I used it when I had adjudication issues last year. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific work history.

How many job searches do you have to do each week?

Usually 3 job search activities per week, but it can vary depending on your situation. WorkSourceWA has the specific requirements.

That's a common misconception. There's no minimum time you have to work at one specific job. It's all about your total earnings during the base period quarters.

Yeah my brother got unemployment after only working somewhere for 2 months because he had other jobs before that. The earnings from all his jobs combined met the requirements.

I think it's because they want to look at your recent work history to make sure you're genuinely in the workforce, not just someone who worked briefly years ago. The quarter system also aligns with how employers report wages.

I guess that makes sense from their perspective, just wish it was easier to understand as someone filing for the first time.

Gaps don't matter as long as the work falls within your base period timeframe. What matters is whether your total earnings meet the dollar thresholds I mentioned earlier.

If you want to check your exact earnings history and see if you qualify, that's another good reason to use something like Claimyr to talk to Washington ESD directly. They can look up your specific records.

You can actually check your potential eligibility before filing by looking at your Social Security earnings statement or calling Washington ESD. But I agree the system could be more user-friendly.

calling them is impossible though!! always busy or they hang up on you

true i heard in some states you have to wait like a week before you get anything even if you qualify

Exactly, we used to have that too but they got rid of it. Small victories I guess.

Oh really? I didn't know there was a calculator. Is it on the main ESD website?

Yeah, it's in the 'before you apply' section. Not perfect but gives you a general idea of whether you meet the earnings requirements.

Yeah, getting laid off should qualify as 'no fault of my own' right? It's not like I'm choosing to leave.

Correct, layoffs due to lack of work or budget cuts definitely qualify. Just make sure you document everything in case they ask questions later.

The job search requirement is important though. They do audit people and if you can't prove you were actively looking for work, you might have to pay benefits back.

oh for sure im doing the searches just saying its a pain to keep track of everything. wish there was an easier way to log it all

That's smart advice. I should probably gather my pay stubs and W-2s just in case.

Exactly, better to have the documentation ready than scramble for it later when you're already stressed about being unemployed.

WorkSourceWA is good for general info, but if you need to check your actual earnings record or have specific questions about your case, you really need to talk to Washington ESD directly. That's where Claimyr comes in handy.

True, they can only give general guidance. For specific earnings history you'd need to go through ESD.

I think it's because quarters align with how businesses report wages and taxes. The system wasn't really designed with user-friendliness in mind, more for administrative efficiency.

Well that explains a lot about government systems in general I guess...

Good point, I was thinking I should wait until I know for sure but maybe it's better to just try?

Exactly, and if you do get laid off, apply as soon as possible. There's usually no penalty for applying and being denied, but there can be delays if you wait too long to apply.

Oh I hadn't thought about that. Do you know what the maximum weekly benefit is in Washington?

i think its around $999 per week now but dont quote me on that. depends on your earnings and gets updated every year

That's generally true, but 'consistently' is relative. The key is meeting those dollar thresholds in the base period, which usually requires steady work but not necessarily at one employer.

Right, makes sense. Thanks for all the detailed explanations in this thread!

And if you can't get through to them on the phone (which is super common), that's exactly when services like Claimyr are worth it. Sometimes adjudication issues can be resolved quickly once you actually talk to someone.

Good point, I waited weeks thinking my adjudication would resolve automatically and it just sat there until I finally got through to someone.

Glad we could help! Just remember to keep good records of your work and earnings, and don't hesitate to apply if you need to.

good luck! hopefully you dont need to use this info but at least now you know