How long do you have to be at a job to file for unemployment in Washington?

Oh wow, I had no idea it was based on quarters! So even if I've only been at this job 6 weeks, my previous job earnings would count too?

Exactly! Washington ESD looks at all your covered employment during the base period, not just your most recent job. So if you worked somewhere else before this job, those earnings would definitely count toward your eligibility.

How long did it take you to get through when you called? I'm already dreading having to deal with that if I do get laid off.

I spent literally hours trying to call. Kept getting busy signals or getting disconnected after waiting on hold. I ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get through - they have some kind of system that keeps calling until they connect you with an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com, they even have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

Never heard of that service before but sounds interesting. Did they charge you for it?

Yeah there's a fee but honestly it was worth it to not have to spend my entire day redialing Washington ESD. Saved me so much frustration.

The $1,000 minimum is correct for the base period, plus you need at least $500 in your highest quarter. These amounts haven't changed recently. You might be seeing different numbers from other states or older information.

ok thank you for clarifying that! this whole system is so confusing to navigate

Good to know about the part-time thing. What exactly do I need to do for the job search requirements?

You have to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of all your activities. Washington ESD can ask to see your job search log at any time, so make sure you're keeping detailed records.

And make sure you're using WorkSource! They have tons of resources and some of your job search activities through them count toward your weekly requirements.

Oh no, did you eventually get it sorted out? I'm worried about technical issues on top of everything else.

Yeah I got it figured out eventually. Try filing your claim early in the morning or late at night when there's less traffic on their system. And have all your employment information ready - previous employers, dates, wages, etc.

Yes! If you don't qualify using the standard base period, Washington ESD will automatically check your alternate base period, which uses the most recent 4 completed quarters. This can help if you've had recent earnings that wouldn't show up in the standard base period.

That's really helpful to know, thanks!

A whole week? That seems like a long time when you're already stressed about money.

The waiting week is standard policy. You'll file for that week but won't receive payment for it. However, you might be able to get it paid later under certain circumstances.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely file right away if it happens.

Yeah don't wait like I did. I thought I needed to get all my paperwork together first but you can always provide additional documentation later.

Yes, bonuses and overtime count as long as they're part of your covered wages that had unemployment taxes taken out. Basically any W-2 income from covered employment counts toward your base period earnings.

Perfect, that definitely helps my situation then.

Same here! I've been calling every day for a week and can't get through. Someone mentioned that Claimyr service earlier - has anyone else tried it?

I used Claimyr when I couldn't reach Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. It actually worked - they got me connected to an agent within a few hours instead of me spending days trying to call myself.

Might have to look into that. This is ridiculous that we need a third party service just to talk to our own state agency.

Good point. In my case it would definitely be a layoff due to company downsizing, not anything I did wrong.

That should be fine then. Just make sure you have documentation about the layoff if possible - it can help if there are any questions later.

That's really reassuring to hear. I was worried that 6 weeks wouldn't be enough.

Nope, you're good! Just focus on your total base period earnings, not the length of time at any particular job.

You can definitely file online through the Washington ESD website. That's actually the preferred method. Calling is usually only necessary if you run into issues or need to speak with someone about your specific situation.

Thanks! Online sounds much easier than trying to get through their phone system.

How long did it take for you to get your first payment?

about 3 weeks after I filed, and that was with no issues on my claim. some people wait much longer if their claim goes into adjudication

That gets complicated. You might be able to combine wages from different states through an interstate claim, but you'd need to contact Washington ESD to determine the best approach for your specific situation.

Sounds like I'd definitely need to call them then. Ugh, back to the phone system nightmare.

That's exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr might be worth it. Complex questions like interstate claims really need to be handled by talking to an actual person, not trying to figure it out through their website.