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

What counts as earning wages? Does it have to be a certain amount per quarter?

You need to have earned at least $1,000 in wages during one quarter of your base period, and your total wages must be at least 1.5 times your high quarter earnings.

Actually, Washington doesn't use an hours requirement - it's all based on wage amounts earned during specific quarters. The 680 hours thing might be from a different state.

oh okay thanks for the correction, i was confusing it with something else

How much does that cost? I'm already worried about money if I don't qualify for benefits.

It was worth it for me because I needed to know my exact base period calculation and couldn't wait weeks for a callback. Way cheaper than missing out on benefits I was actually entitled to.

That makes sense. How do I figure out what my base period is?

When you file your claim online, the system will automatically calculate your base period. It's usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file.

The wage-based system actually protects workers better than hour-based systems. Someone working part-time at higher wages might qualify even with fewer hours, while someone working many hours at minimum wage might not earn enough.

i guess that makes sense but its still confusing when you're trying to figure out if you qualify

Exactly! And the quarters are calendar quarters - January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December. So timing of when you worked matters a lot.

That's really helpful, thank you. I think I need to look at my pay stubs and figure out which quarters I actually worked.

Wait, you can choose when to file to get a better base period?

Not exactly choose, but timing matters. If you wait until after a quarter ends, that quarter might be included in your base period depending on when you file.

This is why it's worth talking to someone at ESD before filing if you're unsure about timing. They can help you understand which base period would be better for your situation.

The gap itself doesn't matter for initial qualification - it's only about wages earned during the base period quarters. The gap might affect other things like job search requirements once you're on benefits though.

Oh good, I was worried that gap would disqualify me completely.

How do you get them to use the alternate base period?

Usually ESD will automatically check the alternate base period if you don't qualify under the regular one. But you can also request it specifically when you file your claim.

What other ways? I've been trying to call for days and just get busy signals.

You can try calling right at 8am when they open, or sometimes the online chat works better than calling. But honestly, when I needed quick answers about my base period, the callback service was the most reliable.

Yes, your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings. So if your highest quarter was $2,000, you'd need at least $3,000 total in base period wages.

Thanks for clarifying the exact math on that!

Good plan. Also keep in mind that if you do qualify, you'll need to meet ongoing requirements like job searching and filing weekly claims.

Yeah, I've heard about the weekly claims. One step at a time though - first I need to see if I even qualify!

How do they calculate the weekly amount?

It's based on your average weekly wage during your base period, but there's a formula and maximum amounts. The ESD website has a benefit calculator you can use.

That's the part I was getting confused about. Thanks for emphasizing that - wages not hours.

Exactly. And make sure you have all your wage information before you file, because they'll ask for details about each employer during your base period.

Good point. I did have a couple different part-time jobs during that period.

Definitely include all of them when you're calculating your base period wages. Every dollar counts toward meeting the qualification requirements.

I used it and it was pretty close to what I actually got approved for. It's a good way to get an estimate before you file.

Good to know, thanks! I'll try that before I file my claim.

The quarterly wage system actually provides more flexibility and can help people who have irregular work schedules or seasonal employment. It's more complex but often fairer.

I guess that makes sense from a policy perspective, even if it's harder to understand.

Actually, I'd recommend being sure first if possible. If you file and get denied, it can be harder to fix issues later than to get it right the first time.

That's a good point. Better to be prepared than to have to deal with appeals and stuff.

Glad it helped you too! I feel like I actually understand how it works now.

Yeah, way clearer than trying to read through the official ESD website!

What kind of job search requirements?

You have to actively look for work and document your job search activities. The requirements can be pretty specific, so it's worth understanding them upfront.

This is covered in the initial claim process, but it's good to pay attention to those requirements because they're strictly enforced.

Thanks! I'm going to go through my pay stubs this weekend and calculate everything. Fingers crossed I qualify.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.