How long do you have to work somewhere before you can collect unemployment in Washington?

Thanks! So my 2 years at my previous job would count toward qualifying? That's a relief.

Yes exactly. As long as you earned enough wages during those quarters you should be fine. But remember, if you quit voluntarily you might face disqualification unless you can prove good cause.

No, there's no minimum time at one specific job. It's about total wages earned during your base period across all employers. If you were laid off, that's different from quitting - you'd likely qualify as long as you meet the wage requirements.

oh ok that makes more sense! thanks for clarifying

Interesting, I've never heard of that service. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked for me. I was stuck trying to call for weeks and getting nowhere. With Claimyr I was able to get through and get my questions answered about my base period wages.

I'm skeptical of paying for something like that when you should be able to call Washington ESD directly for free.

What kind of documentation would I need for a toxic work environment? I don't have anything written down.

Start documenting everything NOW. Emails, witness statements, HR complaints if you made any. Washington ESD takes this stuff seriously during adjudication.

This is correct. Good cause for quitting includes harassment, unsafe working conditions, or significant changes to your job duties. But the burden of proof is on you to show it.

Did you file an appeal? Sometimes the initial determination gets overturned if you can provide more evidence during the appeal process.

nah i didnt know i could appeal. this was like 6 months ago anyway

Those numbers seem higher than what someone else mentioned earlier. Which is correct?

The amounts do change each year. I'd recommend checking the current Washington ESD website for the most up-to-date figures, but those are the 2025 amounts as far as I know.

I understand the frustration, but the requirements exist to prevent fraud and ensure the system is sustainable. The base period calculation helps verify you were actually working recently.

I guess that makes sense but it's still confusing for regular people trying to figure out if they qualify

50 times?! How did you finally get through? I've been trying to call but it's always busy.

Honestly it was luck. I kept calling right at 8am when they opened and eventually got in the queue. Took about 3 hours on hold but I finally talked to someone.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr when I needed to reach Washington ESD. Couldn't handle spending entire days trying to get through their phone system.

How long does it take to get that determination letter?

Usually within a week of filing your initial claim, but it can take longer if there are issues with your wage records.

Good point. I should probably try to stick it out while looking for something else, even though this place is awful.

Smart thinking. Having some income is better than potentially waiting months for unemployment benefits to get sorted out.

How long is the disqualification period typically?

It varies, but usually 5-10 weeks depending on the circumstances. Plus you have to work and earn a certain amount before you can requalify.

This is accurate. The disqualification isn't permanent, but it definitely delays when you can start receiving benefits.

Did she get approved? That gives me some hope that maybe I could build a case.

Yeah, it took a while and she had to go through an appeal, but she eventually got benefits. The key was having all that documentation to back up her claims.

Exactly right. It's designed to give you credit for all the work you've done recently, not just your most recent position.

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind if I do end up leaving this job.

This is important advice. Don't wait thinking you need to job search first - file immediately when you become unemployed.

I tried looking but found it confusing. Maybe I need to spend more time reading through it carefully.

yeah it takes some patience but its all there. look for the monetary eligibility section

Yeah, I'm starting to think that might be my best option. Better to have income while job hunting than risk being without anything for weeks or months.

6 weeks?! That's a long time to wait without income. Did you eventually get approved?

Yes, but it was stressful not knowing. During adjudication they contacted my former employer and interviewed me about the situation.

This is another situation where being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD helps. I used Claimyr to check on my adjudication status when I was waiting for a decision.

Transfer isn't really an option at this small company, but you're right about documenting everything. I'll start keeping records of incidents starting today.

Smart approach. Having contemporaneous documentation is much stronger than trying to remember events later during an appeal.