How long do you have to be employed to get unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

Oh wow, I didn't realize it was about earnings instead of just time worked! That makes more sense. Do you know if part-time work counts the same as full-time for meeting those requirements?

Yes, part-time work absolutely counts! As long as you meet the dollar thresholds, it doesn't matter if you were working 20 hours or 40 hours per week. The key is having enough total earnings in your base period.

That's confusing - what exactly is a 'base year'? Is that the last 12 months I worked?

The base year is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you filed today, it would be January 2024 through December 2024. Washington ESD looks at your earnings during those specific quarters.

Probably not with just 2 months, but it depends on how much you're earning. If you're making really good money, you might hit the $3,850 threshold faster than someone making minimum wage.

I'm only making like $15/hour part time so probably not enough yet. guess I better hope I don't get laid off anytime soon lol

That's encouraging! How much were you making if you don't mind me asking? Just trying to gauge if my wages would be enough.

I was making about $18/hour full time. Made sure I had over $1,150 in at least one quarter and my total was way more than 1.5 times my highest quarter.

Interesting, I've never heard of that. Does it actually work to get through to someone at Washington ESD? I always assumed those phone lines were impossible.

Yeah it definitely works. I was skeptical at first but got connected to an actual Washington ESD representative who could pull up my account and verify everything. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

How much does something like that cost though? Seems like it might be expensive for what it is.

It's worth checking out their site for details, but for me it was worth it just to get actual answers about my claim eligibility instead of guessing.

That's a common misconception! You don't need a full year of employment. It's all about meeting the monetary requirements in your base year quarters, which could be from multiple jobs too.

So if I worked 3 months at one job and 4 months at another job in the same base year period, that could count together?

Exactly! Washington ESD combines all your covered employment during the base year period. Multiple employers, different jobs - it all counts toward your monetary eligibility.

That sounds really helpful! Do you remember what the calculator is called or where to find it on their website?

I think it's called the 'Unemployment Benefits Estimator' or something like that. Should be under the 'Apply for Benefits' section on the Washington ESD website.

How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim and can never get through.

From what I understand, they basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent becomes available. Saves you from sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that before. Might be worth looking into since calling ESD directly is such a nightmare.

I didn't know there was an alternate base period! That's good to know. Does Washington ESD automatically check both periods or do you have to request it?

They'll usually check the alternate base period automatically if you don't qualify under the regular one. But it's always good to mention it when you file your claim just to be sure.

Right, I'm hoping this potential layoff would be due to restructuring, so that should count as no fault of my own.

Layoffs due to company restructuring typically qualify as job loss through no fault of your own, so you should be good there.

Good advice! I'll start collecting my pay stubs. Is there anywhere I can check my quarterly earnings online before filing?

You can check your Social Security earnings record, but for the most recent quarters you might need to calculate from your pay stubs since there's usually a reporting delay.

You need to complete 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of what you did. This includes things like applying for jobs, attending job fairs, or doing interviews. You also need to register with WorkSource Washington.

Thanks! Do you know if online applications count as job search activities?

Yes, online applications definitely count. Just make sure you keep detailed records of where you applied, when, and for what position.

That's confusing! So they don't count your most recent earnings when determining eligibility?

Right, there's usually a lag. If you file in January 2025, your base period would be January-December 2024, not including the quarter you're currently in.

That makes sense. Do you know what the maximum weekly benefit is in Washington?

I think it's around $1,015 per week maximum right now, but most people get way less than that. Your benefit is based on your average earnings in your highest quarter.

Three weeks isn't that unusual unfortunately. My claim took about a month to get approved, and that was with no complications. The system is just really backed up.

A month?! I can't wait that long, I have bills to pay. Is there any way to speed up the process?

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. If you need to check on your claim status or push for faster processing, being able to actually talk to an ESD agent can make a huge difference.

Gig work can count, but it's more complicated. You need to have been paying into the unemployment system as a contractor, which most gig workers don't do automatically. You might want to check with Washington ESD directly about your specific situation.

ugh that's what I was afraid of. I probably haven't been paying into it then since I just drive whenever I want extra money

That's good to know as a backup option. Hopefully my regular base year will be sufficient though.

Yeah, it sounds like with 8 months of work you should be fine with the regular base year, assuming you're making decent wages.

I'll definitely look for that calculator. Thanks for the tip!

Yes, the benefit estimator is really helpful for planning. Just remember it's an estimate - your actual benefit determination might be slightly different.

That's good advice. I should probably start organizing my paperwork now just in case. Better to be prepared than scrambling later.

Exactly! And if you do qualify, having all that information ready will make the application process much smoother.

Tell me about it! I spent more time dealing with ESD bureaucracy than I did actually job searching some weeks. But the benefits were worth it when I needed them.

True, I'm grateful the system exists. Just wish it was more user-friendly. Half the time I couldn't even log into the website.

That's encouraging! I guess there's no harm in trying. How long did it take for them to make a decision on your claim?

About 3 weeks, but this was before the holidays so it might be faster now. The key is to make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply.

I've only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me. But good to know for others who might have worked elsewhere.

Yeah, it's not common but it comes up. The main thing is just being honest about all your work history when you file.

How much did that cost? I'm already tight on money and can't afford expensive services right now.

I'd rather not get into pricing details here, but I will say it was worth it for the peace of mind. Check out their website for current rates.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about understanding the requirements now. Hopefully I won't need to use this knowledge, but it's good to be prepared.

You're welcome! That's what these forums are for - helping each other navigate the system. Good luck with everything!

Right, and I'll need to do job searches too, correct?

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

You can only collect if you quit for 'good cause' like unsafe working conditions, significant pay cuts, or harassment. Just quitting because you don't like the job won't qualify you.

That makes more sense. I figured there had to be some kind of restriction there.

That's reassuring. It sounds like this Claimyr thing is pretty popular for getting through to Washington ESD?

It seems to be getting more well-known. The agent I talked to wasn't surprised that I used their service to get connected. Made the whole verification process much smoother.

Good point. How long after you file your initial claim do benefits usually start?

If there are no issues with your claim, usually within 2-3 weeks. But if they need to verify anything or there's an adjudication issue, it can take much longer.

Yeah, that's why I'm asking here instead of trying to decode their website. Real people's experiences are much more helpful.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr are useful - you can actually talk to a real Washington ESD person who can give you definitive answers about your specific situation.

Oh right, I hadn't thought about the tax implications. Thanks for reminding me.

Yeah, it's 10% federal withholding if you choose that option. Better to have it withheld than get surprised at tax time.

I'm working full-time at $16/hour, so hopefully that's sufficient.

At $16/hour full-time for 8 months you should easily meet the requirements. That's well over the minimum thresholds.

So there's automatically a one week delay in payments?

Right, the first week you're unemployed is considered a 'waiting week' and you don't receive benefits for it, even though you still have to file a weekly claim.

That's good advice. I'll definitely apply right away if I do get laid off.

Exactly. You can always appeal if they deny you incorrectly, but you can't backdate your application very far if you wait too long to apply.

Good to know for future reference. Hopefully I won't need to use any of this information, but it's better to be prepared.

Exactly the right attitude. Hope your job situation works out, but at least now you know you'd likely qualify if needed.

Glad we could help! Remember, if you do need to file and have questions, getting through to an actual Washington ESD representative is your best bet for definitive answers.

And if you can't get through the regular phone lines, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Really made a difference for me when I needed quick answers about my eligibility.