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

So if I started working in March and it's now November, would my base period include the quarters when I wasn't working at all?

Yes, your base period would include Q4 of last year through Q3 of this year. If you had no wages in Q4 and Q1, but worked Q2 and Q3, you might still qualify if you earned enough in those two quarters.

Wait, so you need $1,008 in one quarter AND 1.5 times that total? That sounds like a lot...

It's actually not that much if you're working full time. $1,008 in a quarter is only about $77 per week, which is less than minimum wage for even part-time work.

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

I was skeptical too but it's legit. They basically wait on hold for you and connect you directly to a Washington ESD agent. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.

That actually sounds really helpful. I've tried calling Washington ESD before and it's impossible to get through.

What's an alternate base period? How do you request that?

The alternate base period uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. So it includes more recent work. Washington ESD will automatically check this if you don't qualify under the regular base period.

I feel you! But it's actually designed to be fair to people with different work patterns. Someone who worked full-time for 3 months might earn more than someone who worked part-time for a year.

I guess that makes sense but it's still a pain to figure out if you qualify without doing a bunch of math

Good point. In my case it would be a layoff so that shouldn't be an issue.

Layoffs are usually fine but they might still investigate if your employer contests the claim. Keep any documentation about the layoff just in case.

That's encouraging! I'm in a similar situation with two short-term jobs.

Yeah don't stress too much about job length. Focus on your total earnings during the base period quarters.

If you file in December 2024, your base period would be Q3 2023 through Q2 2024. They use completed quarters only, so Q3 and Q4 of 2024 wouldn't count yet.

Oh wow so recent work might not even count? That seems backwards.

That's why the alternate base period exists - it would use Q4 2023 through Q3 2024 instead, so more recent work counts.

How much does Claimyr cost? Seems like it might be worth it to avoid the phone hassle.

I don't want to get into pricing here but for me it was worth it just to save the time and frustration. Plus you get to talk to an actual Washington ESD agent who can give you definitive answers.

But if I get laid off I can't really control the timing, right?

True, if you get laid off you should apply right away. I was thinking more for people who are considering leaving their job voluntarily.

I tried that calculator but it was confusing. Kept asking for quarterly wages and I don't have all those numbers.

You can get your wage history from WorkSource or request it from Washington ESD. Takes a few days but then you'll have all the numbers you need.

Thanks everyone for the help! I feel much better about my situation now. Hopefully I won't need to use this info but good to know I'd probably qualify.

Just remember to apply as soon as possible if you do get laid off. There's a waiting period anyway so don't delay.

How long do you have to appeal a denial?

30 days from the date of the determination letter. Don't wait because after that it's much harder to challenge.

Good to know it works for more than just basic questions. The appeal process seems really complicated.

Yeah having someone who actually understands the system walk you through it makes a huge difference. Way better than guessing what they want.