How long do you need to be employed to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! What exactly counts as a quarter though? Like January-March would be one quarter?

Yes exactly - quarters are Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, and Oct-Dec. As long as you earned wages in at least 2 of those quarters during your base period, you should qualify.

That doesn't sound too high if I've been working full time for 8 months. Should I be worried about anything else?

Just make sure you're laid off or terminated through no fault of your own. If you quit without good cause or get fired for misconduct, you won't qualify regardless of how long you worked.

Oh that's good to know! I did work part-time at another place for a few months before this job.

Perfect! Those wages will definitely help your claim. Just make sure to report all your employers when you file.

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

It's actually pretty reasonable for what you get - being able to talk to an actual person instead of getting hung up on constantly. Way less stressful than trying to call yourself.

Same here! It's so frustrating when you just need to ask one simple question.

That's exactly why I started using Claimyr - I was wasting entire days trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD.

What kind of job search activities? Like just applying to jobs?

You need to make at least three job search contacts per week and keep a log. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking contacts, etc. Washington ESD is pretty strict about this requirement.

They randomly audit people too so make sure you keep good records of your job search activities!

Yes, you need to be able and available for suitable work. Going to school full-time can affect your eligibility, but there are some exceptions for approved training programs.

Good thing I'm not in school then. This is all really helpful info, thanks everyone!

What's adjudication? Is that something bad?

Not necessarily bad - it just means Washington ESD needs to review something about your claim before they can approve benefits. Could be verifying why you lost your job, checking your work history, stuff like that.

Mine was in adjudication for like 6 weeks because they had to contact my old employer. Super stressful but it eventually got approved.

So true! The actual requirements aren't that complicated but their website and phone system make everything seem impossible.

That's why services like Claimyr are so helpful - takes the headache out of trying to reach someone when you have questions.

Should I start gathering that stuff now just in case?

Definitely wouldn't hurt! Better to be prepared than scrambling to find everything if you do get laid off.

I wish I had done that - spent forever trying to remember exact dates and addresses of old jobs when I had to file.

Thanks everyone! This thread has been super helpful and made me feel a lot less anxious about the whole situation.

Good luck! Hopefully the layoff rumors at your work don't turn into anything.