How long do you have to be working somewhere to get unemployment in Washington?

Oh okay that makes sense! So they look at all my jobs combined, not just the most recent one?

Exactly! All your W-2 jobs that reported wages to Washington ESD count toward your base period earnings.

That's partially correct. You need either earnings in 2 quarters OR total earnings of at least $1,000 with earnings in one quarter being at least $2,000. There are multiple ways to qualify.

oh wow didnt know about the $2000 in one quarter option, thanks for clarifying

Interesting, I'll check that out. The Washington ESD phone system is already driving me crazy and I haven't even filed yet.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already stressed about money.

It's worth it just to get through and verify your eligibility quickly. Check out claimyr.com for details.

That's such a relief to hear! I worked at my previous job for almost a year before starting this new one, so hopefully that helps my case.

You should be fine then! Just make sure to include ALL your employers when you file your initial claim.

what if you quit your job vs getting laid off? does that affect eligibility?

Generally yes, if you quit voluntarily you may be disqualified unless you had good cause like unsafe working conditions or harassment. Layoffs due to budget cuts typically qualify as separations through no fault of your own.

Good thing I was laid off and didn't quit then. Thanks for the detailed explanation!

What does 'actively seeking employment' mean exactly? Is there a specific number of jobs I need to apply to each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc. All the details are in your WorkSource registration.

Same here! I've called probably 50 times and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting on hold.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. It's designed specifically for this problem - getting through to ESD when their phones are swamped.

at this point i'm willing to try anything to talk to a real person there

I tried that but it's only showing my current employer, not my previous ones. Is there a delay in updating?

Sometimes there can be delays, especially if your previous employer was slow to report wages. You might need to call to get the complete picture.

How long does the whole process usually take from filing to getting your first payment?

if everything goes smoothly maybe 2-3 weeks. but if there are any issues with your claim it can take much longer

That's actually really helpful to know. I was thinking it was just the past year from today.

yeah the quarter system is weird but once you understand it makes more sense. they use completed quarters so the data is already processed

That's exactly what I needed to hear! I was so worried that 2 months wasn't enough time.

Length of time at your MOST RECENT job doesn't matter as much as your total earnings history. File that claim!

I didn't get any severance, they just said my last day was Friday and walked me out. Does that make the process easier?

yeah no severance means no complications with that. you should be able to start benefits right away assuming you meet the monetary requirements

Good point! I had a temporary job last spring that I almost forgot about.

every dollar counts toward your base period earnings so don't leave anything out

I keep hearing about this service. At this point I might need to try it just to get my questions answered.

i was skeptical at first but honestly after trying to call esd for weeks with no luck, services like that start to make sense

That's definitely a relief. I was worried there might be some gray area since I was so new.

nope, layoffs are pretty straightforward. the hard part is usually the monetary eligibility which sounds like you should be fine with

Thanks everyone! I'm going to file my claim tomorrow morning. This thread has been incredibly helpful.

good luck! remember to keep track of all your job search activities once you start receiving benefits

Will do! Hopefully the whole process goes smoothly.