How long do you need to work to be eligible for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Oh that's confusing. So they look at quarters not just continuous employment? What if I worked part time for some of those quarters?

Part time counts as long as you earned enough. The key is total earnings in the base period, not whether it was full or part time work.

That's not quite right. Washington doesn't use an hours requirement - it's based on earnings. You need $4,995 total in your base period AND earnings in at least 2 different quarters.

oh ok thanks for correcting me

Never heard of Claimyr before. Does it actually work to get through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked for me. I was getting nowhere calling on my own but they got me connected to an agent who could actually answer my eligibility questions.

sounds too good to be true but maybe worth a try if you're stuck

I get the frustration but the rules are actually pretty straightforward once you understand the base period concept.

STRAIGHTFORWARD?? Try calling them and see how straightforward it is when you're on hold for 3 hours!

This is super helpful! How do I figure out what my base period is exactly?

If you file your claim today, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024. It's the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters.

what if you don't meet the regular base period requirements? are you just out of luck?

That might apply to me since I've only been at my current job 8 months. Would that put me in the alternate base period?

Possibly. Washington ESD automatically checks the alternate base period if you don't qualify under the regular one when you apply.

Yes, temp work counts as long as taxes were taken out and it shows up on your wage records. All W-2 employment counts toward your base period earnings.

good to know thanks

How do you check if all your wages are in their system?

You can request a wage transcript from Washington ESD or check when you file your claim. If something's missing you'll need to provide pay stubs.

Don't even get me started on the job search log. 3 contacts a week is exhausting when there aren't that many relevant jobs.

Exactly! And they're so picky about what counts as a valid job contact.

Generally you have to be laid off or fired for reasons other than misconduct. If you quit, you usually won't qualify unless it was for 'good cause' like unsafe working conditions or harassment.

Ok that makes sense. I was thinking about quitting but sounds like I should wait to see if they lay me off instead.

be careful with that strategy - if they fire you for performance or attendance issues that could be considered misconduct

It's not necessarily a whole year - remember the base period is 4 quarters but could be spread across parts of 2 calendar years depending on when you file.

Still seems like a pretty low bar which is good I guess

How much does Claimyr cost? I'm in the same boat trying to get through to them.

They don't publish the cost on their site but for me it was worth it to get immediate answers instead of spending weeks trying to call.

Good point, I only worked in Washington though so that shouldn't apply to me.

Then you're good to go as long as you meet the earnings requirements we talked about.

This is probably the best advice. The Washington ESD system will automatically calculate your eligibility when you apply.

True, I'm probably overthinking it. I'll just apply and see what they say about my wage history.

Good to know! I haven't lost my job yet but want to be prepared in case it happens.

Smart to research ahead of time. The application process can take a few weeks so the sooner you file the better.

How long does the appeal process take? I'm worried about the gap in income if I have to wait months.

Appeals can take 6-8 weeks but if you win you get back pay for all the weeks you should have been eligible.

That's a long time to wait when you have bills to pay though. Better to make sure your initial application is complete and accurate.

Oh that's a good point! I did some freelance work during my gap but I'm not sure if that counts since I got 1099s not W2s.

1099 income generally doesn't count toward regular unemployment eligibility in Washington. It has to be W-2 employment where taxes were withheld.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more confident about applying now.

Good luck! Hope it works out for you.

That's true but there are specific rules about how much your earnings can be reduced. Worth looking into if your hours got slashed.

My hours are still normal but good to know for the future. This thread has been super educational!

Will do, thanks for all the advice everyone. Feeling much better prepared now!