How long do you need to be working to get unemployment in Washington?

That's a relief! So they combine all my jobs during that time period? I was worried it had to be continuous employment with one employer.

Exactly right. They look at total wages earned from all employers during your base year period. As long as you hit the minimum wage requirement, you should qualify.

Yes, you need wages in at least two quarters of your base year. But with 11 months total work history, the original poster should easily meet this requirement.

Good to know about the two quarters thing. I definitely worked in multiple quarters so that shouldn't be an issue.

How long did it take you to get through to someone at Washington ESD? I've been trying to call for weeks about my own claim issues.

Honestly, I never got through the normal way. I ended up using this service called Claimyr that gets you connected to actual Washington ESD agents. Found it at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Worked way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Did it actually work for getting answers about your base year calculation?

Yeah, got connected within like 20 minutes and the agent walked me through exactly how they calculated my benefits. Much better than the automated system.

Not necessarily screwed, but it depends on how much you earned in those 6 months. If you made at least $1,320 total and worked in at least 2 different quarters, you might still qualify. The key is total wages, not just time worked.

ok that makes me feel a little better. i was making decent money so hopefully i hit that threshold

The requirements exist to ensure people have a substantial work history before claiming benefits. It's not really arbitrary - it's designed to prevent people from working very briefly just to collect unemployment.

I get the reasoning but the system is still frustrating to navigate, especially when you can't get anyone on the phone to explain your specific situation.

Yes, the reason for separation matters. Being laid off due to company downsizing is typically considered 'no fault of your own' which means you should qualify. Being fired for misconduct or quitting without good cause can disqualify you.

Perfect, layoffs due to downsizing should definitely be covered then. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!

How long was forever? I'm worried about how long it might take if I need to apply.

About 6 weeks for me, but I think that was longer than usual. Most people I know got theirs processed in 2-3 weeks.

That 1.5 times rule is new to me. Is that hard to meet if you've been working steadily?

Not usually. It just ensures you had consistent work rather than working intensively for just one quarter. With steady employment, your wages are typically spread across multiple quarters.

that gives me hope since i was also making decent wages during my 6 months

yeah just make sure you have all your pay stubs when you apply, they might ask for documentation

So if I file in March 2025, they'd look at October 2023 through September 2024?

Exactly! Though they might use an alternate base year if it gives you a higher benefit amount. The system automatically calculates both and uses whichever is better for you.

Have you tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier? I used it last week and actually got through to a real agent who answered all my questions about my claim status. Way better than calling the regular number.

I'm considering it at this point. The regular phone system has been useless for weeks.

Which callback service did you use? I'm getting desperate to talk to someone about my claim.

Used Claimyr - they basically call Washington ESD for you and connect you when they get through. Found them at claimyr.com and watched their demo video first. Worked great for me.

That's reassuring. I think I'm overthinking this - sounds like most people with steady work history qualify without issues.

Exactly. The requirements seem complicated but they're designed to catch people who barely worked, not people with nearly a year of employment.

Good point. I'll worry about that stuff after I hopefully get approved. One step at a time!

The job search requirements are pretty manageable - you need 3 job contacts per week and they have to be documented. WorkSourceWA has tools to help track everything.

Perfect, since my first 3 months were part-time. Good to know it all gets included in the calculation.

Great suggestion! I'll look for that calculator so I can get an idea of where I stand before anything happens with the layoffs.

I tried using that calculator but got confused about which wages to include. Is it just W-2 wages or does 1099 income count too?

Primarily W-2 wages from regular employment. 1099 contractor income usually doesn't count toward regular unemployment benefits, though there might be other programs for self-employed individuals.

Thanks for the reassurance. This whole thread has been super helpful for understanding the requirements.

Good advice. Hopefully it won't come to that, but if it does, I'll file right away. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!

Will do! I'm pretty good about keeping records but I'll make sure everything is easy to find just in case.

Smart thinking. Having your documentation ready can speed up the whole process significantly.