How long do you have to be at a job to qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Oh that makes more sense! So if I worked somewhere else before this job, those earnings would count too?

Exactly! All your W-2 earnings from covered employers in Washington during that base period count toward the minimum.

No, only Washington state earnings count for Washington ESD benefits. If you worked in another state, you'd need to file in that state or possibly combine wages through an interstate claim.

ugh that sucks, guess i better hope i dont get fired anytime soon

That's reassuring to hear! How long did it take for your claim to get approved?

About 2 weeks. Though I know some people have been waiting much longer lately. If you need to reach someone at Washington ESD about claim status, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

If you don't meet the regular base period requirements, Washington ESD will automatically check your 'alternate base period' which uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. This can help people who recently started working.

Omg thank you! I was seriously panicking thinking I'd be screwed if I lost my job.

Good point. What counts as 'actively seeking work'? Do you have to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?

Yes, you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of all your activities. Washington ESD can audit your job search log at any time.

And register with WorkSourceWA! That's required too.

Same here! I must have called 50+ times before I finally got through to someone. The phone system is absolutely terrible.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - I was getting nowhere with the regular phone system. Much less frustrating than constantly redialing.

How do you check if your wages were reported correctly?

You can request a wage statement from Washington ESD, but honestly it's easier to just check your Social Security statement online. That shows all your reported wages by year.

If you file in January 2025, your base period would be July 2023 through June 2024. They skip the most recent quarter (October-December 2024) because wage data isn't available yet.

that seems really weird to skip the most recent work but ok i guess thats how it works

Ugh so many requirements! This is way more complicated than I thought.

Yeah it's a lot to keep track of. But once you understand the basics it's not too bad. The good news is if you worked full-time for even a few months you'll probably qualify.

Did you win your appeal? That sounds like constructive discharge which should qualify you.

Yeah I eventually won but it took 3 months and multiple hearings. The process is exhausting.

Perfect summary, thank you! This really helped clear things up.

This should be stickied somewhere, these questions come up constantly.

Yes, commission earnings count as long as they're reported on your W-2. Washington ESD looks at all covered wages, regardless of whether they're salary, hourly, or commission.

awesome thanks! was worried about that since my base salary is pretty low

I was skeptical too but I tried it when I couldn't get through after weeks of calling. It actually worked - got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of spending hours on hold.

Interesting, might have to check that out if I end up needing to file a claim.

Good advice but remember you won't qualify if you quit voluntarily anyway, unless it's for good cause.

True, was thinking more about layoffs or getting fired without misconduct.

Same basic rules apply for state employees. Washington state employees pay into the UI system just like private sector workers.

good to know, thanks!

Yes, all your covered wages from all employers during the base period get combined to determine if you meet the minimum requirements.

Perfect, that should put me well over the minimum then. Thanks everyone!