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

Thanks! So it's not about how long you worked at one job, but about having wages in different quarters?

Exactly. You could work one week in one quarter and the rest in another quarter and still qualify, as long as you meet the wage requirements.

So it's more about how much I earned than how long I worked? That's good to know, I think I probably meet those requirements.

Yeah exactly. I qualified even though I'd only been at my last job for 5 months because I had good earnings from my previous jobs in the base period.

That helps a lot! I think I definitely made more than that last year between all my jobs.

One thing to watch out for though - if you quit voluntarily, you might not qualify even if you meet the wage requirements. Washington ESD is pretty strict about that unless you have good cause.

Ugh that does sound confusing. How do you even calculate that?

Washington ESD will calculate it for you when you file your application. You just need to provide your work history and they'll determine if you meet the monetary requirements.

That's what I'm worried about! How did you finally get through?

I actually found this service called Claimyr that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual Washington ESD agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

Never heard of that but sounds interesting. Did it actually work?

Yeah it did! Got connected within like 20 minutes and was able to ask all my questions about qualifying. Way better than spending my whole day redialing.

I had the same problem trying to get through to them. If you really need to talk to someone, you might want to check out Claimyr.com - they help you get through to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that before but might be worth looking into. I've literally spent hours on hold just to get disconnected.

Nope, that's a common misconception. It's all about your earnings during the base period, not how long you stayed at one specific job. You could have worked 5 different jobs and still qualify if your total wages meet the requirements.

well that changes everything for me lol. i've been staying at this terrible job thinking i had to hit the one year mark

I guess you're right, but I don't want to mess anything up by filing wrong

You can't really file wrong - the application asks for your work history and Washington ESD verifies everything with your employers. If you don't qualify they'll just send you a denial letter explaining why.

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? My job situation isn't great but I don't know if it would qualify.

Things like harassment, unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, or health issues that prevent you from doing the work. It has to be something where a reasonable person would feel they had no choice but to quit.

Good point, I was probably looking at info for other states. Where's the best place to find the official Washington requirements?

The Washington ESD website has all the details, but it's pretty dense. Look for the monetary eligibility section.

That's a good point about spreading earnings across quarters. I think mine are pretty well distributed since I've had different jobs throughout the year.

Yeah the quarter thing can trip people up. I've seen people who made good money but it was all concentrated in one or two quarters and they didn't qualify.

Washington ESD uses a standard base period unless you don't qualify, then they might look at an alternate base period which is the last 4 completed quarters. Gaps in employment don't change how they calculate it, but they might affect whether you meet the requirements.

Thanks, that makes sense. I was worried a gap would reset everything somehow.

That's really helpful, thank you! I think I do meet those requirements based on my pay history.

This is the clearest explanation I've seen. I was confused about the quarter thing too but this makes sense.

No problem! The quarter system is confusing at first but once you understand it, it's pretty straightforward.

Right, I know about the job search requirements. How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week, but they can include things like attending job fairs or networking events, not just applications. You have to keep a log of everything you do.

That's reassuring! Did you have any issues with the application process?

Nope, pretty straightforward. Just had to list my employers and dates worked. They verified everything automatically.

Oh no, what happened with your case?

They said I didn't have enough wages in one quarter even though I clearly did. Had to provide like 50 documents to prove it. Eventually won the appeal but took forever.

That sounds like it might have been a data entry error on their end. Appeals are there for exactly these situations.

If you think you might qualify, it's worth applying. The worst they can do is say no, and then you'll know for sure. Plus if you wait too long, you might miss out on benefits you're entitled to.

True, I should probably just go ahead and file. Better to know either way.

How long did the appeal process take? Was it complicated?

It took about 6 weeks total, but that was during COVID when everything was backed up. The appeal itself wasn't too bad - I just had to provide documentation of my wages during the base period.

That matches what others have said, so sounds right

Really? I was skeptical but might have to try it. Did you have to give them a bunch of personal info?

Not really, just basic stuff to set up the callback. Way less hassle than trying to get through on your own.

Yeah that's what I'm trying to avoid. Someone mentioned that Claimyr service earlier - might be worth trying that.

I looked it up after seeing that comment and it seems legit. Might try it myself next time I need to reach them.

Good point. You have to be ready, willing, and able to accept suitable work. If you're not available due to school, travel, or other commitments, it can affect your eligibility.

yeah i had to postpone school to keep my benefits. wasn't worth losing the UI over

That's a relief! I was worried that gap would hurt my chances.

Nope, they only care about wages earned during the base period, not whether you had continuous employment.

You should definitely file if you think you qualify. Benefits are backdated to when you first become unemployed, not when you file, so don't wait too long.

Good to know! I did have some part-time work during that gap period.

Yeah, any W-2 wages count toward your base period earnings. Even if it was just a few weeks of work.

That's a good point. I think I'm overthinking this.

Exactly! And if you do get denied, you can always appeal if you think it was a mistake.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll make sure to read up on all the requirements if I get approved.

How long did they say it would take to determine eligibility?

They said up to 3 weeks typically, but could be longer if they need to verify employment with your employers.

How much does it cost though? Seems like it might be expensive.

Honestly didn't think about the cost when I was spending hours trying to call myself. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person and this was the only way to make it happen.

You're right, I'm going to file tomorrow. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Perfect timing on that advice - I'll gather all that info before I start the application.

True, but remember you also need the total base period wages to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. So if your highest quarter was exactly $1,085, you'd need at least $1,628 total.

Right, forgot about that part. Still seems doable though if you've been working consistently.

The wage requirements are the same regardless of whether you worked full or part time. It's just about meeting those dollar thresholds during your base period.

Makes sense. I guess part time workers might have a harder time hitting those numbers though.

Totally agree. The website is not user-friendly at all. Half the links don't work and the information is scattered all over the place.

Exactly! And when you call for help, good luck getting through to anyone who can actually answer your questions.

Yeah that's what I'm thinking too. My wages should be fine, it's more about the circumstances of leaving. Thanks for all the help everyone!

No problem! Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Good to know! I'll definitely file right away if I do end up leaving my job.

Yes, this is super important. I've seen people lose weeks of benefits because they waited to file thinking they'd find a job quickly.

Is it really that bad? I mean, if you need the money you gotta do what you gotta do right?

True, it's not impossible, just more complicated than I expected. Worth it if you need the income though.

Glad we could help! Feel free to ask if you have any other questions about the process.

Same here, this was exactly what I needed to know. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain everything.