How long do you have to work somewhere to file unemployment in Washington?

Oh that's good to know! So my previous job would count toward the requirement then?

Yes exactly! As long as you were paying into the unemployment insurance system at both jobs, those wages should count.

You're right about needing work in multiple quarters. The exact requirement is earning wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period, with total wages of at least $1,000.

This is getting confusing with all the quarters and base periods. Is there an easy way to check if I qualify?

That's what I did too. Applied online and got approved within a week. The system pretty much does all the calculations for you.

Good point, I was overthinking it. Better to just apply when the time comes.

never heard of that but sounds useful. washington esd phone lines are always jammed

Thanks for the tip! I'll keep that in mind if I need to call them.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true that they can actually get you through to someone.

So if I file in January 2025, my base period would be January 2024 through September 2024?

Not quite - it would be October 2023 through September 2024. They use completed quarters, so Q4 2024 wouldn't be complete when you file in January.

That happens sometimes if one of your employers didn't report your wages correctly to Washington ESD. Always good to double-check your wage history when you apply.

Yeah I learned that the hard way. Now I keep all my pay stubs just in case.

That's reassuring, thanks! I was worried I hadn't worked long enough.

Yeah you should be fine. The hard part isn't qualifying, it's dealing with all the weekly claim requirements once you're approved.

There's no specific length of time requirement - it's all based on wages earned. You could work somewhere for 2 years but if you only earned $500 total, you wouldn't qualify. Or you could work 2 months but earn $2000 and you would qualify.

Oh ok that makes more sense. So it's really about the money you made, not the time you worked.

Good to know there's a backup option! This stuff is more complicated than I thought.

The alternate base period uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. It's automatic if you don't qualify under the standard period.

Yeah you're probably right. I tend to overthink these things.

Same here. The application process is pretty straightforward once you actually do it.

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

Layoffs are usually straightforward for unemployment. Just make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work.

I'll check that out. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

Yeah their website is actually pretty good for basic info. It's when you need to talk to an actual person that things get difficult.

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

It's not free but totally worth it when you actually need to reach someone. Way better than wasting your whole day redialing.

Same! I probably called 200+ times over a few weeks trying to get through about an adjudication issue.

Ugh yes the adjudication process is the worst. That's when you really need to be able to talk to someone.

How do I check if they reported my wages correctly?

You can check your wage history on the Washington ESD website once you create an account. It should show all the wages employers reported for you.

Smart thinking! I'll start putting together a file with all that stuff.

Yeah definitely do this. I scrambled to find everything after I got laid off and it was stressful.

It's because wages can vary so much between jobs and industries. Someone working part-time at minimum wage needs different consideration than someone working full-time at a higher wage.

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

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much better prepared now if I do need to file a claim.

Good luck with everything! Hopefully the layoff rumors don't pan out for you.

Good advice! I was wondering about the timing of when to file.

Yeah it's one of those things where acting fast saves you money later. The system has a waiting week anyway so there's no downside to filing right away.