How long do you have to be at a job before you can collect unemployment in Washington?

So if I worked for like 8 months last year but then was unemployed until 6 weeks ago, would my earnings from last year still count?

Yes, those earnings would likely be included in your base year calculation. The Washington ESD looks at your total covered wages, not just your most recent job.

That's a common misconception. There's no minimum time requirement at a single employer. It's all about your total earnings during the base year period.

oh wow I had no idea! thanks for clearing that up

I actually discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. They have this system that handles all the calling and waiting for you. I used it last month when I was stuck in adjudication hell and it worked great. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they even have a video demo showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

What counts as 'good cause'? My supervisor has been making inappropriate comments and creating a hostile work environment but I don't have everything documented.

Hostile work environment can qualify as good cause, but you'll need to document everything and possibly file a complaint with HR first. Washington ESD will investigate these claims during adjudication.

THIS!! Documentation is everything! I learned this the hard way when I quit my toxic job last year.

How long did you stick it out? I'm already losing sleep over this situation and it's affecting my health.

About 3 months total, but honestly if it's affecting your health that badly, that could be considered good cause for quitting. Health issues caused by work stress are taken seriously.

You can actually log into your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account and view your wage history online. That'll show you exactly what quarters and wages are being counted for your base year.

I tried that but my account keeps getting locked out. The website is terrible.

That's another reason why I used Claimyr - the agent I spoke to was able to look at my account and explain everything clearly instead of me trying to navigate that awful website.

Two months?! I can't afford to wait that long for benefits if I do end up losing this job.

Unfortunately that's pretty normal these days. Make sure you have some savings if possible because the wait times are brutal.

It depends on the circumstances. If it was due to chronic tardiness or unexcused absences, that could be considered misconduct and result in disqualification. But if there were legitimate reasons like transportation issues or family emergencies, you might still qualify.

what if it was mostly because of anxiety issues that made it hard to get to work on time?

Mental health issues that affect your ability to work could potentially be considered good cause, but you'd need medical documentation and it would go through adjudication review.

Was it expensive to use? I'm already tight on money which is why I'm worried about this job situation.

It was worth it for me considering how much time and stress it saved. Much cheaper than missing work to sit on hold all day.

Good to know! I had no idea about that rule.

Exactly right. You can only backdate one week in most cases, so file as soon as you become unemployed even if your claim is still being processed.

That sounds like a good plan. Just remember that finding another job while you're still employed is always easier than job hunting while unemployed.

Definitely document everything! Even if you don't end up needing it for unemployment, it could be useful for other legal purposes if the harassment continues.

What kind of records do they want to see?

Company name, contact person, date of contact, method of contact, and position applied for. They can audit your job search log at any time so keep everything organized.

How long did her adjudication take?

About 6 weeks I think? She said it was stressful waiting but worth it in the end.

What kind of discrepancies cause problems?

Mainly incorrect employer information, wrong dates of employment, or not reporting all your wages. Double check everything before submitting.

I was skeptical about using a third party service but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken that it's almost necessary at this point.

Exactly! I wasted so much time trying to get through on my own. Should have used it from the beginning.

That's terrifying. Did you eventually get backpay for those months?

Yes but it was a nightmare to get sorted out. I ended up having to appeal even though it was clearly their mistake.

I doubt my small company would offer severance, but maybe it's worth asking.

Even small companies sometimes prefer to avoid potential lawsuits or unemployment claims. Doesn't hurt to ask professionally.

26 weeks should be enough time to find something better hopefully. This job market is tough though.

Yeah it's definitely challenging right now. But having the safety net of unemployment can give you more time to find the right job instead of just taking the first thing available.

What information did you need to have ready?

Employer names and addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation, and your Social Security number. Having it all written down beforehand saved a lot of time.

Thanks, I really appreciate all the support and advice from everyone here. This thread has been incredibly helpful.

That's what this community is for! We've all been through similar struggles with the unemployment system.