How long do you have to work to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! So if I file in January 2025, they'd look at quarters from January 2024 through September 2024? That sounds like it would cover my work period.

Exactly! And if you don't qualify under the regular base period, they can use an alternate base period which looks at the most recent 4 quarters.

That's really helpful, thank you! So it's more about the quarters and wages than just the months worked?

Exactly! The quarters are what matter for Washington ESD eligibility, not just the total time worked.

Wait, so they don't count recent work? That seems weird. I've been working steadily for the past 8 months.

They do count recent work, but there's a lag period. Washington ESD uses completed quarters, so your most recent partial quarter might not be included in the base period calculation.

It's actually based on quarters and wage amounts, not just months. Your friend probably didn't meet the wage requirements even if they worked several months.

That's confusing - what exactly is a quarter? Like 3 months?

Yes, a quarter is 3 months. Q1 is Jan-Mar, Q2 is Apr-Jun, Q3 is Jul-Sep, Q4 is Oct-Dec. Washington ESD looks at your earnings in these periods to determine eligibility.

That's not quite right. Washington doesn't use an hours requirement like some states. It's all based on wages earned during the base period quarters, not total hours worked.

oh ok my bad, i was thinking of a different state probably

Oh no, what's been happening with your claim?

stuck in adjudication forever and can't reach anyone by phone. the automated system just hangs up on you

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it when I was having the same phone issues. They basically call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - there's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

The situation at work really is bad though. My supervisor has been making inappropriate comments and HR won't do anything about it.

That could potentially qualify as good cause, but you'd need to document everything and show you tried to resolve it through proper channels first. Keep records of incidents and your attempts to address them.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made a huge difference for me when I needed to check on my claim status.

Thanks, I'll check that out. I tried calling Washington ESD yesterday and gave up after an hour on hold.

Is this Claimyr thing legit? Sounds too good to be true tbh

Yeah it's legitimate. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Way better than trying to get through the regular phone lines.

Oh no, will quitting that job disqualify me completely? I had to quit because they kept changing my schedule last minute and I couldn't arrange childcare.

Not necessarily. Quitting for good cause like unreasonable schedule changes might still allow you to collect benefits. You'll need to explain the circumstances when you file your claim.

This is getting confusing. How do I know which quarters they'll use for my claim?

When you file your initial claim, Washington ESD will automatically calculate both base periods and use whichever one gives you a valid claim. You don't have to choose.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Much better than spending hours trying to call Washington ESD directly.

That's confusing. What if I only worked one quarter in the base period but earned a lot?

Then you wouldn't qualify because you need at least two quarters of work. The earnings distribution requirement only applies if you meet the basic two-quarter rule first.

No, that's not right. The 18 month thing might be something you're thinking of from another state or a different program. Washington's requirements are what I mentioned above - it's based on earnings and hours in your base period.

omg I could have been getting benefits this whole time?? I've been struggling for months thinking I didn't qualify

Definitely file ASAP if you think you qualify. You can't get benefits for weeks before you actually file your claim.

I understand the frustration. The quarter system exists because it ensures people have a stable work history and sufficient wages to support unemployment benefits.

Still doesn't make sense to me why they can't just use months instead of quarters

The wage-based system is actually designed to ensure people who earned substantial wages get benefits proportional to what they earned. It's more fair than just counting months worked.

i guess but its still confusing as hell

That should be fine as long as your wages are reported correctly to Washington ESD. Multiple employers in your base period is normal.

Okay that makes more sense. So it's really about the money earned, not just time worked.

What if you worked full time for 3 months and made good money but then got laid off?

@profile8 If all your wages were in one quarter, you'd need to have worked in at least one other quarter during your base period to qualify.

That's reassuring. I was making about $18/hour at my recent job so hopefully that helps.

Yeah $18/hour should definitely put you over the minimum wage requirements if you worked consistently.

Do you know what the maximum weekly benefit is right now?

I think it's around $1,015 per week max but most people don't get the maximum. It depends on your earnings history.

I get the frustration, but the quarters system actually makes sense because it ensures people have a substantial work history, not just a brief stint somewhere.

i guess but when you're desperate for benefits the last thing you want is to do math homework just to figure out if you qualify

I'll check out that calculator. Thanks for the tip!

Part-time wages count exactly the same as full-time wages. It's just about the total dollar amount you earned, not whether you were full or part-time.

Good to know, thanks!

Good point, I should just go ahead and apply. Do you remember where the calculator is on their site?

its somewhere on esd.wa.gov but i dont remember exactly where. just poke around you'll find it

So my work from the past few months might not even count? That doesn't seem right.

It can count under the alternate base period if you don't qualify under the standard one. The alternate base period uses the four most recently completed quarters.

Should I file even if I'm not 100% sure I qualify?

I would file anyway. Worst case they tell you that you don't qualify, but if you do qualify you don't want to miss out on benefits while you're figuring it out.

If you file in August, your base period would likely be Q1 2024 (Jan-Mar), Q2 2024 (Apr-Jun), Q3 2024 (Jul-Sep), and Q4 2023 (Oct-Dec). Since you worked Jan-Aug, you'd have wages in Q1, Q2, and part of Q3, so you should meet the two-quarter requirement.

thanks that helps a lot!

Not automatically, but Washington ESD will investigate the reason you quit. If you quit for good cause (like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or major schedule changes that affect childcare), you can still get benefits.

ok thats better than i thought at least

That makes sense. I think I should be good then since I was making above minimum wage.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - couldn't get straight answers about my eligibility and the online system wasn't clear. Once I got connected to an actual Washington ESD agent through their service, they could look at my account and tell me exactly where I stood.

Happy to help! The unemployment system can be really confusing at first.

I was laid off due to company downsizing so that shouldn't be an issue. Thanks for all the info everyone!

Make sure you have all your employment info ready when you file. They'll want employer names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation, etc.

Good point about applying anyway. I was worried about applying if I wasn't sure I qualified.

What kind of documentation did they ask for?

Pay stubs, separation notice from my employer, ID verification. The upload system on their website kept timing out.

I had the same upload problems! When I couldn't reach anyone by phone I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. They got me through to a real person who helped me figure out the document upload issue.

That's a good point - I might have forgotten about some short-term work I did last year.

Same here, I had some freelance work that I didn't think counted but it actually did help my wage base.

Right, I'm worried about the quitting thing. The work situation really is intolerable but I'm not sure how to prove that to Washington ESD.

Document everything - emails, incident reports, witness statements if possible. Good cause determinations can be subjective, so having solid evidence helps.

That sounds like a nightmare. Did she eventually get her benefits?

Yeah, but it was a long fight. She had to provide pay stubs and tax documents to prove her work history. The employer had apparently made some reporting errors.

Seasonal work counts the same as regular work for eligibility purposes. As long as your employer paid unemployment taxes on your wages, it should count toward your base period.

That's a relief! I was worried seasonal work wouldn't count.

Good to know! I was worried I'd have to calculate everything myself.

Nope, they do all the math for you. Just make sure the wages they show match what you actually earned.

You can file an interstate claim in Washington using wages from other states, or you might need to file in the state where you worked. It depends on your specific situation. Washington ESD can help determine which state you should file in.

Thanks! I'll need to look into that since I moved here from Oregon last year.

Exactly! It's designed to ensure people have an established work history rather than just working for a short period.

Self-employment income typically doesn't count for regular unemployment benefits unless you paid into the system as a self-employed person. There might be other programs available though.

Darn, I figured that might be the case. Thanks for the info.

Same here! I was so confused when I first posted but now I understand how it works.

Yes, reported tips should count toward your wages as long as they're included in your employer's reporting to Washington ESD. Make sure you're reporting your tips properly to your employer.

Good to know! I always wondered about that.

Seems like a lot of people have had success with that service. Might be worth trying if I run into issues.

You're welcome! Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions about the process.

Perfect summary! That covers all the main points.

This summary is exactly what I needed. Thanks!

How long does it take to get that letter?

Usually within a week or two of filing your initial claim. It breaks down your base period wages by quarter and employer.

What counts as a job search activity?

applying for jobs, going to job fairs, networking events, some training programs, updating your resume on job sites. they have a list on the washington esd website

That's been my experience too. I qualified but then got stuck in adjudication for weeks because of some question about my previous employer.

This is where having a way to actually reach Washington ESD agents becomes crucial. I used Claimyr when my claim got stuck in adjudication and was able to get it resolved much faster than waiting for them to process it automatically.

I wasn't planning to work part-time, but good to know. I assume they reduce your benefits if you work some?

Yes, they deduct a portion of your part-time earnings from your weekly benefit. There's a small amount you can earn without any reduction, but beyond that they start taking money off.

Thanks, that's helpful. I think I need to start documenting everything that's happening at work before I make any moves.

Smart approach. Also consider consulting with an employment attorney if the situation is as bad as you describe. They might be able to advise on whether you have grounds for a constructive dismissal claim.

Good point. I definitely don't want to lose out on benefits because of timing.

Exactly. And make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week once you start. Missing a week can cause problems with your ongoing eligibility.

That's correct. The specific dollar amounts and quarter requirements are all laid out in Washington state law, but those are the basic criteria most people need to meet.

Thanks for all the detailed explanations. This is way more helpful than trying to decipher the Washington ESD website on my own.

How long did it take to get your first payment?

About 2-3 weeks after filing, which included the waiting week. Pretty standard timing.

Yeah I've heard other states have stricter requirements. Washington seems pretty reasonable.

What other programs are there?

There's stuff like training programs or extended benefits in some cases, but regular UI is usually the first option to try.

Thanks, that's really reassuring! I'll file this week.

Good plan. Even if there are any issues with your claim, it's better to get the process started early.

That makes sense. Better than nothing though!

I'll definitely look that up. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

And remember if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD, Claimyr can save you a lot of time and frustration with the phone system.

Good to know! Do they check up on the job search stuff?

Yeah they can audit your job search log anytime. You have to keep records of where you applied, when, contact info, etc.

The job search requirements are no joke. They can disqualify you if you don't meet them. Make sure you understand what counts as a valid job contact.

That's reassuring! I had a couple different part-time positions before my main job.

Yeah they combine all your earnings from the base period. Just make sure you report all your employers when you file.

This is so important. I know someone who got hit with an overpayment notice because they weren't honest about their work history.

Definitely planning to be completely honest. Not worth the risk of having to pay it all back.

How do they verify the hours? Do employers report that to Washington ESD?

Employers report wages quarterly but not always hours. They might ask you for documentation if there's a question about whether you meet the hours requirement.

Yeah I was planning to file online. Seems like everyone has problems getting through by phone.

The online system works pretty well for filing initially. It's when you need to talk to someone about problems that the phone issues become a nightmare.

That's exactly why services like Claimyr are helpful. When you do need to reach an actual Washington ESD agent, they handle all the calling and waiting for you.

Oh I didn't know about the waiting week. Is that just a one-time thing?

Yeah just once per benefit year. It's like a deductible - you serve one unpaid waiting week then get benefits for subsequent weeks if you continue to qualify.

How would I know if they contested it?

washington esd will send you a notice if there's a dispute. then it goes to adjudication which can take weeks to resolve

Adjudication is the worst part. Mine took 6 weeks and I couldn't reach anyone to check on the status. Finally got through using one of those callback services and found out they just needed one more document.

Yeah their website is not user-friendly at all. This thread has been way more helpful than anything I found on esd.wa.gov

Government websites are the worst. At least the actual filing process isn't too bad once you get started.

Good advice. I'm going to file this week and see what happens. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

Good luck! The process can be frustrating but most people who qualify do eventually get their benefits.