How long do you have to be at your job to collect unemployment benefits in Washington?

Thanks for the info! So if I started working in March and it's November now, would I have enough quarters? I'm still a bit confused about how they calculate this.

Yes, you'd likely qualify. March would be Q1, then you'd have Q2 and Q3 completed. Washington ESD looks at your total wages earned, not just employment duration at one company.

That sounds about right from what I've read online. I think I should meet those requirements since I've been working full-time.

Actually I think the minimum is higher now, maybe $1,685 in your highest quarter? The amounts change every year so you'd want to check the current Washington ESD website for exact figures.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that before. Have you actually used it yourself?

Yeah, used it when I needed to verify my work history was showing up correctly in their system. Much easier than spending entire days trying to get through their phone lines.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be expensive.

Good point about filing quickly. How soon after losing your job do you need to file?

You should file as soon as possible because benefits don't backdate. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving payments if you qualify.

Oh that's really helpful! I did work part-time at another place for a few months before this job, so that would help with the requirements.

Exactly! A lot of people don't realize this and think they don't qualify when they actually do.

Yeah, in my case it would definitely be a layoff situation, not quitting or anything like that.

Even if you quit, there are some circumstances where you might still qualify - like if you quit for good cause. But layoffs are definitely the clearest path to benefits.

I know it seems complicated, but the quarterly system actually protects workers better because it accounts for people who might have gaps in employment or work multiple part-time jobs.

i guess that makes sense when you explain it that way

That's a great idea! I should probably do that just to be prepared, even if I don't end up needing it.

Yeah, better to know ahead of time than scramble if something happens unexpectedly.

Yes, you have to be able and available for work, and you need to actively search for new employment. Washington ESD requires you to make job search contacts each week and keep a log of your activities.

Good to know, thanks! How many job contacts do you need to make per week?

I believe it's typically 3 job search activities per week, but the exact requirements can vary based on your situation and local job market conditions.

Same experience here! I probably called 50 times before I finally got through to someone.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - got tired of calling all day and never reaching anyone. Worth checking out if you run into the same problem.

Thanks for breaking that down! That makes it much clearer how they calculate everything.

And if you don't qualify using the standard base period, Washington ESD can sometimes use an alternate base period which includes more recent wages.

I'm a regular W-2 employee so that shouldn't be an issue, but good point for people to be aware of.

Yeah, if you've been getting paystubs with UI taxes taken out, you should be all set on that front.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about understanding the requirements now.

Good luck with everything! Hopefully the layoffs don't actually happen, but at least you'll be prepared if they do.

Glad it helped! These kinds of questions come up a lot, especially when companies are doing layoffs.

Yeah, it's always better to understand your options before you actually need them.

That's reassuring to hear! It sounds like the system is actually pretty fair about considering all your work history.

Exactly! They want to help people who've been working and contributing to the system, regardless of whether it was all at one job or multiple jobs.

Good reminder! I'll make note of that if I end up needing to file.

Yeah, missing your weekly claim filing can mess up your benefit payments, so it's important to stay on top of it.