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

What counts as enough wages though? Is there a minimum dollar amount?

Yes, you need to have earned at least $3,850 in your base period, with at least $1,925 in your highest quarter. These amounts can change yearly so check the current requirements on the Washington ESD website.

What exactly is a quarter? Is that like 3 months?

Yes, a quarter is a 3-month period. Q1 is Jan-Mar, Q2 is Apr-Jun, Q3 is Jul-Sep, and Q4 is Oct-Dec.

So it's not just about how long I worked but how much I made? That makes more sense I guess.

Yeah and you also need to earn at least 680 hours worth of wages or earn wages in your highest quarter that are at least 1.25 times what you earned in your lowest quarter.

Thanks! So it's more about earnings than time worked? What's the minimum amount you need to earn?

Yes, for 2025 you need at least $1,540 in your highest earning quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times that amount during your entire base period. So minimum $2,310 total.

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

Not quite - it would be October 2023 through September 2024. The base period doesn't include the most recent quarter because employers haven't reported those wages yet.

That sounds really confusing with all the quarters stuff. How do I figure out what my base period is exactly?

If you file your claim today, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024. Washington ESD will automatically calculate this when you apply - you just need to report all your employers from the last 18 months.

What's a quarter exactly? Like 3 months?

Yes, a quarter is 3 months. So Q1 is Jan-Mar, Q2 is Apr-Jun, Q3 is Jul-Sep, Q4 is Oct-Dec.

So if I file now in January 2025, they'd look at my earnings from January 2024 through September 2024?

Exactly! And you need to have earned at least $1,000 total during that time period with work in at least 2 different quarters.

So it's not about how long you worked at one job, but about earning wages over multiple quarters? That's confusing.

exactly, and you also need to meet the monetary requirements - minimum earnings in your highest quarter plus total base period earnings

That's confusing - so it's not just about how long you worked but how much you earned? What if you worked part-time for a longer period?

Exactly right - it's earnings-based, not just time-based. Part-time work can still qualify you if you hit those wage thresholds across the base period quarters.

That's confusing. So they don't look at my current job at all? What if I just started working again after being unemployed?

Right, they use the base period to calculate your benefits. Your current job earnings won't count until after you've worked a full quarter. The gap you mentioned might actually help since it means your earlier work history could still be in the base period.

Thanks! So it's not just about how long you worked but also how much you earned? I think I might be close to that amount.

Yeah the earnings requirement changes every year too, so make sure you're looking at current numbers on the Washington ESD website.

What exactly counts as a quarter? Is that 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.

That's helpful but I'm still confused about the quarters. How do they calculate which quarters count?

Quarters are just 3-month periods - Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec. So if you file in December 2024, your base period would typically be July 2023 through June 2024.

So quarters means like 3-month periods? I think I've only worked in maybe 3 quarters total if I count right.

Yes, quarters are 3-month periods. Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec. If you've worked 8 months you should have wages in at least 2-3 quarters which could qualify you.

No, Washington doesn't use hours worked - it's all based on wages earned. The 680 hours requirement is from a different state's system.

oh ok my bad, got confused with where my friend lives

That's correct - you need at least $680 in wages outside your highest earning quarter. So it's not just about time worked, it's about how much you earned.

Oh wow, so it's based on earnings not just hours worked? That makes more sense now.

That sounds helpful but is it legit? I don't want to get scammed trying to apply for unemployment.

Yeah it's totally legitimate - they just help you get connected to Washington ESD faster. I was skeptical too but it actually worked and saved me hours of calling.

Where exactly is that calculator on their website? I looked but couldn't find it.

It's under the 'Unemployment Benefits' section, then look for 'Eligibility Calculator' or something similar. Sometimes their website is hard to navigate though.

Good point, I'll check out that calculator. Do you know if having gaps in employment affects eligibility?

Gaps don't matter as long as you have enough wages in your base period. It's all about the earnings, not continuous employment.

What counts as enough wages though? Is there a minimum dollar amount I need to have earned?

Yes, you need to have earned at least $1,005 in your highest earning quarter during the base period. Plus your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings.

Thanks! So it's based on quarters not just continuous employment? That makes more sense.

Wait, what if you haven't worked 680 hours? Are there any alternatives?

Thanks! So it's not just about how long you worked but how much you earned? That makes more sense.

Yeah the quarters thing confused me too when I first filed. It's not about continuous employment, it's about having enough wages spread across the right time periods.

What exactly is a quarter? Is that like 3 months?

Yes, a quarter is 3 months. Q1 is January-March, Q2 is April-June, Q3 is July-September, and Q4 is October-December.

Wait so it's about money not time? That's confusing. How do I know if I earned enough?

Right, it's wage-based. You can check your quarterly wage reports on the Washington ESD website or look at your pay stubs to calculate if you've earned enough in any single quarter.

I'll check that out, thank you!

That calculator is pretty helpful but sometimes it's hard to get through to verify everything with an actual person at Washington ESD.

Oh wow, I didn't know there was a money requirement too. That's good to know.

What exactly counts as a quarter? Is that like every 3 months?

Yes, quarters are January-March, April-June, July-September, and October-December. Washington ESD looks at your earnings in those specific periods.

You're close! You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, and the total wages must be at least 1.5 times the wages in your highest quarter.

ok thanks for clarifying that, the requirements are so confusing

Oh that makes sense! So they look at quarters not just consecutive months of work?

Exactly. It's based on calendar quarters - Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec. As long as you meet the wage and hour requirements across those quarters you should be good.

How does that work exactly? Do they call for you or something?

They basically handle the waiting and callback process so you don't have to sit on hold. Pretty straightforward and way less frustrating than calling yourself.

Thanks! What's the minimum amount you need to earn? I was making about $15/hour part-time.

You need to have earned at least $1,005 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times your high quarter amount. So if your highest quarter was $1,500, you'd need at least $2,250 total in your base period.

That sounds complicated. How do I figure out what my base period is? And what if I only worked part-time?

Part-time work counts! Your base period is just the timeframe they look at for your earnings. If you file in January 2025, they'd typically look at wages from April 2023 through March 2024. Washington ESD has a calculator on their website.

This is so confusing! I've been trying to figure this out for weeks. When I called Washington ESD the wait times were insane and I kept getting disconnected.

I had the same problem trying to reach them by phone. I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made it so much easier to get my questions answered.

This is so confusing with all the quarters and base periods. I wish they made it simpler.

I know it seems complicated but once you understand it, it's pretty straightforward. The key is making sure you have enough work history spread across multiple quarters.

Oh that's good to know! How do I know which base period they'll use for my claim?

Washington ESD automatically checks both when you apply. They'll use whichever one gives you a valid claim if you qualify under either.

The requirements haven't changed much. It's still the same two-quarter rule and the $1,000 minimum in your highest quarter. Your situation might have been different for other reasons.

That's good to know! So they'll try both ways to see if I qualify?

Yes, they automatically check both. The alternate base period uses more recent quarters which can help if you just started working recently.

Okay that makes more sense. I think I probably meet those requirements since I've been working full time for 8 months.

dont forget you also have to be able and available for work and actively searching for jobs once you start claiming

OMG the phone situation is ridiculous! I gave up trying to call them directly and found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent in like 20 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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

It's totally worth it when you consider how much time you save. I was able to get my questions answered about my base period wages and confirm my eligibility without spending days trying to get through.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Is that some kind of service?

Yeah it's claimyr.com - they help you get through to Washington ESD agents when the phones are jammed. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Super helpful when you need to talk to someone instead of guessing about your eligibility.

That's confusing - what exactly counts as a quarter? Like January-March would be one quarter?

Yes exactly! Q1 is Jan-Mar, Q2 is Apr-Jun, Q3 is Jul-Sep, Q4 is Oct-Dec. So if you file in November 2025, your base period would likely be Q3 2024 through Q2 2025.

What exactly is a quarter? Like 3 months? And how do they calculate which quarters count?

Yes, quarters are 3-month periods. Q1 is Jan-Mar, Q2 is Apr-Jun, Q3 is Jul-Sep, Q4 is Oct-Dec. Washington ESD looks at your wages from employers who paid into the unemployment insurance system.

Thanks for the info! So if I file in March 2025, my base period would be October 2023 through September 2024? And I need wages in at least 2 of those quarters?

Exactly right! And remember, it's not just about time worked but also about wages earned. Washington ESD looks at both factors when determining eligibility.

This is confusing to me. What if you worked full time for 3 months then got laid off? Would that qualify or do you need to spread it out over more quarters?

If you worked full-time for 3 months and earned enough wages, you could potentially qualify. The key is having wages in at least 2 quarters and meeting the $7,000 minimum. Three months of full-time work could easily hit both requirements if it spanned across quarters.

Thanks! So it's not just about how many months you worked, but also about which quarters and how much you earned?

Exactly. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your highest earning quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times your high quarter wages during the entire base period.

Thanks! So the 12 months total should be enough? I was worried I needed a full year at one job.

Exactly! It's about total work history during the base period, not continuous employment at one place.

This is so confusing! Why can't they just say you need to work X number of months like other states?

I know it's complicated but the quarter system actually helps people who had varying income or worked multiple jobs.

It's actually more complex than that. You need wages in at least 2 quarters AND your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter wages. So if your highest quarter was $3000, you'd need at least $4500 total.

ugh these rules are so confusing why cant they just say work 6 months and youre good

What exactly is a quarter? Like 3 months? And how do I know what my base period is?

Yes, a quarter is 3 months. Q1 is Jan-Mar, Q2 is Apr-Jun, Q3 is Jul-Sep, Q4 is Oct-Dec. Your base period depends on when you file your claim.

I tried looking at the Washington ESD site but got confused by all the different requirements. Is there a minimum number of hours you have to work too?

No minimum hours requirement in Washington, just the wage requirements. But you do need to be able and available for work when you file your weekly claims.

But part-time is different right? I worked part-time for over a year and still didn't meet the wage requirements initially.

True, it really depends on how much you were earning per week. The quarters thing is confusing but it's really about total wages earned.

It's not actually based on hours worked, it's based on wages earned. But generally if you've been working consistently for 6+ months you probably meet the requirements.

oh ok that makes more sense. i was getting confused between different states requirements

I'll check that calculator. Hopefully my part-time wages are enough because I really need help right now.

The calculator is pretty accurate. Just make sure you have your pay stubs handy when you use it.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work?

Yeah it worked for me. I was trying to call for weeks and kept getting hung up on. This got me through in like 20 minutes.

That's a different state's requirement. Washington uses the wage/earnings method, not hours worked.

oh ok thanks for clarifying

You're mixing up different requirements. The 680 hours is for certain federal programs. For regular state UI, it's about wage amounts in quarters, not hours worked.

Is there a way to check this without calling Washington ESD? Their phone lines are impossible to get through.

I had the same problem trying to reach them last month. Kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

How much were you making per week if you don't mind me asking? I'm only making like $400-500 a week at my retail job.

I was making about the same, maybe $450 a week. My unemployment benefit ended up being around $180 per week after taxes.

That sounds about right. Washington unemployment is roughly 50% of your average weekly wage up to the maximum benefit amount.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I discovered it last month when I was having the same problem reaching Washington ESD. It's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work? I'm desperate at this point.

It worked for me! I was able to get through and speak with someone about my eligibility questions within a couple days instead of spending weeks trying on my own.

It's not based on hours worked, it's based on wages earned during specific quarters. The 680 hours thing might be from a different state or an old requirement.

oh ok thanks for the correction. i was thinking of something else then

How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money if my hours are getting cut.

It was worth it for me because I was spending so much time trying to get through on my own. The peace of mind knowing exactly where I stood with my eligibility was huge.

Never heard of that but might be worth checking out. I spent weeks trying to get answers about my base period wages.

That's not really fair to say. The requirements exist to prevent fraud and ensure benefits go to people who actually lost substantial income.

Tell that to someone working 25 hours a week who suddenly loses their job and can't pay rent.

Is that one of those paid services? I'm already broke, can't afford to pay someone just to make a phone call.

I get the concern about cost when money's tight, but for me it was worth it to actually get answers instead of calling 50+ times. The peace of mind was huge when I was stressing about my eligibility.

I got laid off due to budget cuts, so I think I should be ok on that part.

Yeah layoffs due to budget cuts definitely qualify as unemployed through no fault of your own.

Really? How does that work exactly? I've been dreading having to call Washington ESD.

It basically calls for you and waits in the queue, then connects you when an agent picks up. Super easy to use and way better than sitting on hold for hours.

That sounds too good to be true honestly. How much does something like that cost?

How does that even work? Do they actually get you through faster?

Yeah, they handle the calling for you and get you connected to a real person at Washington ESD. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Sounds too good to be true but I'm desperate at this point.

It depends on how much you earned in each quarter. You'd need to meet the minimum earning requirements too, not just the time requirements. Do you have your pay stubs or W-2 from last year?

yeah I have my W-2 but I made like $12,000 total for the whole year working part time. not sure if that's enough

That could work if it was distributed properly across quarters. The key is having enough in your highest quarter and meeting the total threshold.

Oh man, the phone situation is terrible! I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my claim status. Have you found any tricks for getting through?

Actually yeah, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah, worked for me. Check out claimyr.com if you're having trouble reaching them.

Good to know there's an option if I can't get through the normal way.

Is that legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services when it comes to government stuff.

Yeah it's real, they just help you get through the phone system. I was able to talk to someone at Washington ESD in like 10 minutes instead of calling for days.

I used Claimyr too when I had questions about my base period wages. Really does work and saved me so much frustration.

How does that work exactly? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks.

It basically handles the calling and waiting for you. You don't have to sit on hold for hours - they call you back when they get an agent on the line.

Did you win your appeal? That sounds really stressful.

Yeah I eventually got approved but it took like 2 months. The problem was they were using the wrong base period initially. Make sure you understand which quarters they're looking at before you apply.

Unfortunately that's correct. Washington ESD has minimum wage requirements to ensure the program serves people who were significantly attached to the workforce. You might qualify for other assistance programs though.

ugh this system is so broken. how are people supposed to survive

This is really helpful! I think I meet the requirements but I'm worried about the part-time work aspect. Does it matter if most of my work was part-time?

Part-time work absolutely counts toward your eligibility. What matters is that you earned enough wages, not whether you worked full-time or part-time hours.

That's frustrating but not uncommon. Sometimes there are delays in wage reporting from employers, which can make it look like you don't have enough work history when you actually do.

Yeah that's exactly what happened! My employer was late reporting my wages so it looked like I only worked 3 months instead of 6.

I agree it's complicated, but the wage-based system is actually designed to ensure benefits are proportional to what you contributed through payroll taxes.

How much is decent money? I make about $15/hour but only work like 25 hours a week.

that should work out to around $1500+ per month so you'd probably hit the minimum requirements

Never heard of that service before. Did they charge you for it?

Yeah there's a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD instead of spending hours every day trying to get through. Check out claimyr.com if you're interested.

Good to know there are options if I run into phone issues. The whole system seems pretty complicated to navigate on your own.

Oh I didn't know about the earnings requirement. How do I find out what my quarterly earnings were?

You can check your quarterly wage reports on the Washington ESD website or ask your employers for your wage statements.

That's encouraging! Did you have any trouble with the application process?

The application itself was straightforward, but I had issues reaching someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. The phone lines are always busy and it took forever to get through.

Ugh this is so confusing! Why can't they just say 'work 6 months and you qualify' or something simple?

I know it seems complicated but it's actually designed to make sure you have substantial work history. The quarter system accounts for seasonal work and varying schedules better than just counting months.

So if I started working in March and might get laid off in December, would I qualify? I've been making about $3200 per month.

This is getting confusing. How do I even figure out what my base period is?

If you file today, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. You can check your wage history on the Washington ESD website once you create an account.

Ugh tell me about it! I spent 3 hours on hold yesterday just to get disconnected.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to agents. They basically call for you and connect you when they reach someone. Check out claimyr.com - there's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

It's not based on hours worked, it's based on wages earned during your base period quarters. The hour requirement varies by state but Washington uses wage requirements.

oh ok my bad, always get confused about this stuff

That's a relief! Did you have any trouble with the application process?

Actually yes - I had issues getting through to Washington ESD on the phone when I needed to verify some information. Kept getting busy signals or hung up on after waiting forever.

Ugh yes the phone lines are impossible. I tried calling for weeks about my claim status.

Actually I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains how it works.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true.

Yeah I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

Might try this if I can't figure out my eligibility on my own.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money if I lose my job.

It's way less than what you'd lose by not being able to file your claim on time or get issues resolved quickly. Plus you can check your wage history with ESD to see if you actually qualify before you even need to file.

It's actually $405 in your highest quarter now, not $680. The requirements did change recently so a lot of people have outdated info.

oh thanks for the correction! see this is why i get confused lol

It depends on when exactly you worked and when you would file your claim. The base period is specific to when you apply. Washington ESD has a calculator on their website that can help you figure out your base period and whether you meet the wage requirements.

I'll check that out, thanks. This is more complicated than I thought it would be.

That's reassuring. I was worried the gap would disqualify me completely.

Gaps don't automatically disqualify you, but you still need to meet the able and available requirements when you do file your claim.

I get the frustration but the quarterly system actually helps more people qualify. Someone who worked part-time for a year might still meet the requirements even if they didn't work full-time.

i guess that makes sense when you put it that way

Part-time work definitely counts toward your base period earnings. If you made $800/month for 6 months, that's $4,800 total which is well above the $1,000 minimum.

ok good because i was worried i didn't work enough hours or something

Right, in my case it would be a layoff so that shouldn't be an issue.

what counts as good cause for quitting? asking for a friend lol

Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, significant changes to your job duties or pay. But Washington ESD reviews each case individually.

Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about. I was only making about $300 a week.

At $300/week you'd be making about $3,900 per quarter which should meet the minimum requirement. You'd need to check all your quarters though.

If you started in March 2024, you'd have wages in Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 of 2024. That would be four quarters of work, so yes you'd likely meet the requirement as long as your total earnings hit the minimum.

Okay that makes more sense. Thanks for explaining it clearly!

I was making about $15/hour for maybe 25 hours a week, so that's around $1,500-1,800 per month. Does that sound like enough?

That should definitely meet the minimum requirements. You're looking at around $4,500-5,400 per quarter, which is well above the thresholds.

Just make sure you report all your wages accurately when you apply. Washington ESD cross-checks everything with employers.

What other programs are there? I haven't heard about alternatives.

There's standby unemployment if you're temporarily laid off, and sometimes training benefits if you're going back to school. Washington ESD can explain the options.

Oh right, I forgot about that part. So even if I qualify, I'd need to be job searching while in school? That might not work for my situation.

There are some exceptions for students, but it's complicated. You'd need to check with Washington ESD about your specific situation since going to school can affect both eligibility and job search requirements.

What's an alternate base period? Is that if you haven't worked long enough?

The alternate base period uses the last four completed quarters instead of the first four of the last five. It can help if you recently started working or had a gap in employment.

I've had good luck using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. It's a service that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work? I'm so tired of wasting hours on hold.

Yeah it worked for me. I was able to get through and talk to someone about my claim status within like 20 minutes instead of calling all day.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you?

They handle the calling process and get you connected to an actual Washington ESD representative. Much better than spending entire days redialing the same numbers.

That sounds too good to be true... what's the catch?

Interesting, I've never heard of that service before. Did it actually work for you?

Yeah, it connected me within about 10 minutes when I'd been trying to call for three days straight. The agent was able to pull up my work history and walk me through the base period calculation.