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

Thanks! So it's not just about how long I worked but how much I earned? I made around $8,000 in those 4 months so that should be enough right?

Yes exactly! It's about earnings not just time. $8,000 should definitely meet the minimum requirement as long as you earned wages in at least two different quarters.

Yeah I've been trying to call for two days straight and can't get through. How did you manage to file?

I actually used this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual Washington ESD agent. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me literally hours of calling.

That's good to know! Since I just got laid off this week, the alternate base year would probably include more of my recent earnings.

Wait I'm confused about this base year stuff. Can someone explain it in simpler terms? I've been working for 6 months and got fired last month but still haven't been able to file because I can't reach anyone at Washington ESD.

Sure! Think of it like this - Washington ESD looks at your earnings from a specific 12-month period to see if you qualify. The standard base year is quarters 2-5 before you file. The alternate base year is quarters 1-4 before you file. They use whichever one qualifies you.

That's not entirely fair. Yes the system has issues but most people who qualify do get their benefits eventually. The key is having all your documentation ready when you file.

maybe but try calling them when you have questions. ive been on hold for 3+ hours multiple times just to get hung up on

Seasonal work absolutely counts as long as it was covered employment and you received W-2s. The earnings requirements are the same regardless of whether the job was seasonal, part-time, or full-time.

Good to know, thanks! I was worried seasonal jobs wouldn't count for some reason.

In my case it was definitely a layoff due to budget cuts, so that shouldn't be an issue. Good point though!

What exactly counts as 'good cause' for quitting? I'm thinking about leaving my job because my hours got cut to almost nothing.

Hours being substantially reduced can qualify as good cause in some cases. You'd need to document the hour reduction and possibly try to work with your employer first. It's pretty fact-specific so you might want to talk to Washington ESD about your situation.

I tried that but still couldn't get through. Spent my entire morning calling over and over.

Same here. I heard about that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and honestly might try it. This is ridiculous that we have to pay a third party just to talk to our own state agency.

I get the frustration but sometimes you have to weigh the cost against the time and stress. If you need to get your claim filed or have urgent questions, it might be worth it.

Employers report wages quarterly to Washington ESD, so your wage information should already be in their system when you file. However, it's always good to have your pay stubs handy in case there are any discrepancies or if you need to verify recent earnings.

Perfect, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

That's really helpful to know! So I can probably tell pretty quickly if I qualify once I manage to get my application submitted.

Wait, you can file online? I thought you had to call them.

You can definitely file your initial claim online through the Washington ESD website. It's actually much easier than calling. You only really need to call if you have complicated questions or issues with your claim.

Yeah I figured it wouldn't be a huge amount but every bit helps while I'm job searching. Better than nothing!

Exactly! Even a small weekly benefit can help cover basic expenses while you look for work. Plus you get job search assistance through WorkSource.

Correct, Washington eliminated the waiting week permanently in 2023. You can be paid for your first week of unemployment as long as you meet all other eligibility requirements.

Great news! That was always such an unnecessary burden when people are already struggling financially.

Good reminder! I'm already actively job searching anyway so that shouldn't be a problem.

What counts as a job search activity? Is it just applying for jobs or are there other things you can do?

Job applications count, but you can also attend job fairs, networking events, career workshops through WorkSource, informational interviews, etc. There's a pretty comprehensive list on the Washington ESD website.

Interesting! I didn't know you could potentially get partial benefits while working part-time. That's really good to know.

Yeah it's called partial unemployment. Pretty helpful if you can only find part-time work while searching for full-time employment.

That's awesome! Congratulations on getting it sorted out. How long did it take with Claimyr to reach an agent?

They got me connected to an agent within about 15 minutes. So much better than the hours I wasted trying to call on my own.

Glad it worked out! Now you just need to keep up with your weekly claims and job search requirements.