How long do you need to work somewhere to get unemployment benefits in Washington?

Thanks! I make about $18/hour so I should have enough earnings. What's this base period thing though? Is that different from just how long you worked?

The base period is how Washington ESD calculates your eligibility. They look at your wages from specific quarters, not just continuous employment at one job. So even if you worked multiple jobs during those quarters, it all counts toward the $3,850 minimum.

Ugh that's what I was worried about. What counts as good cause? My supervisor has been harassing me but I don't have much documentation.

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties/pay. But Washington ESD is pretty strict about proof. Start documenting everything now if you haven't already.

Never heard of that service before. Did they actually help you get through to Washington ESD or is it just another call center?

No they actually connect you to real Washington ESD staff. I was able to speak with someone who looked at my account and explained exactly what I needed to do. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

How do I figure out what my base period quarters are? This is all confusing.

If you file today, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024. Washington ESD uses the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. You can see your wage history when you apply online.

That's terrible advice. If you quit without good cause and get denied, you might be disqualified for weeks or months. Better to understand the rules first.

idk worked for my friend, maybe different situations

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, interviews, updating your resume with WorkSourceWA, even some training activities. They're pretty specific about what qualifies.

Adjudication delays are the worst. That's actually another reason I ended up using Claimyr - to check on my claim status when it was stuck in adjudication for weeks with no explanation.

At least you found a way to get through to them. I was calling every day for a month and never got past the busy signal.

I wish I had started documenting earlier. Most of the harassment has been verbal with no witnesses.

Start now and see if you can get the supervisor to put anything in writing via email. Even if it's just asking for clarification on their verbal instructions, it creates a paper trail.

Be careful with that strategy. If you get fired for misconduct, you can be disqualified from benefits. Only works if you're laid off or fired for reasons beyond your control.

True, but most firings that aren't for gross misconduct still qualify. Performance issues, personality conflicts, etc. usually don't disqualify you.

It's gross wages before taxes and deductions. Washington ESD gets your wage information directly from employers, so they see the full amount you earned.

Good to know, thanks. I should be over that threshold then.

I might look into that if I can't get through on my own. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible.

Is there a cost for that service? Seems too good to be true.

There is a fee but honestly it was worth it just to avoid the frustration of calling Washington ESD over and over. They explain everything upfront.

That's a good point. In my case it's just the toxic environment, I'm totally able to work somewhere else.

Don't panic! You can always apply and see what happens. Sometimes people are surprised by what wages show up in their base period, especially if they had multiple jobs or forgot about short-term work.

I guess it can't hurt to try. Just worried about being denied and having that on my record.

It's because they use completed quarters and need time to process wage reports from employers. The lag period ensures they have accurate data. Not user-friendly but there's a reason for it.

Will do! I'm going to try calling Washington ESD first to see if I can get through. If not I might try that Claimyr thing people mentioned.

Yeah I'm starting to realize quitting might not be the best strategy here. Maybe I need to try other options first.

Smart thinking. Try HR, union if you have one, or even just a direct conversation with management about the issues. Document all of that too.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr when my claim got stuck. Being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD about what was happening with my case was a huge relief.

I should have known about that earlier. Now I'm just waiting and stressing about bills.

Smart approach. Remember you can always apply for UI benefits later if the situation doesn't improve, but you want to do it from the strongest position possible.

Good luck! Feel free to ask if you have more questions about the process. It's complicated but understanding the rules helps you make better decisions.