How long does someone have to work to get unemployment in Washington state?
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington. I've been working at my current job for about 8 months but before that I had a few months gap where I wasn't working. Does anyone know exactly how long you need to work to be eligible for Washington ESD benefits? I'm worried I might not have worked long enough.
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CosmicCruiser
It's not just about how long you worked at one job - Washington ESD looks at your total wages over what they call the 'base period.' You need to have earned at least $1,500 in wages during your base period and have worked in at least two quarters of that period.
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Mateo Hernandez
•What exactly is the base period? Is that the last year I worked?
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CosmicCruiser
•The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January-December 2024.
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Aisha Khan
i think you also need to have earned like 30 times your weekly benefit amount or something like that? the rules are confusing
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Ethan Taylor
•Close! You need total base period wages of at least 30 times your weekly benefit amount. But there's also a minimum threshold - you must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period.
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Yuki Ito
I had a similar situation last year where I wasn't sure if I qualified. Spent HOURS trying to call Washington ESD to get a straight answer about my work history. The phone system is absolutely brutal - kept getting disconnected after waiting forever.
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Carmen Lopez
•OMG yes! I've been trying to reach someone at Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status. It's impossible to get through!
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Andre Dupont
•Have you tried using Claimyr? I found it on claimyr.com and it actually got me through to a Washington ESD agent. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.
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Yuki Ito
•Never heard of that but honestly anything is better than sitting on hold for hours just to get hung up on.
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QuantumQuasar
The work requirement isn't that complicated. You need to have worked and earned wages in at least 680 hours during your base period OR earned at least $1,300 in your highest earning quarter. Washington ESD will calculate this automatically when you apply.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Wait, I thought it was just about earning enough money total? You're saying there's also an hours requirement?
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QuantumQuasar
•It's either/or - you meet the monetary requirements OR the hour requirements. Most people qualify through the monetary test since it's usually easier to meet.
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Jamal Wilson
Does part-time work count toward these requirements? I worked part-time for most of last year.
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CosmicCruiser
•Yes, part-time work absolutely counts! Washington ESD doesn't care if you worked full-time or part-time - they just look at your total wages and hours during the base period.
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Mei Lin
•That's good to know! I was worried my part-time retail job wouldn't count.
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Liam Fitzgerald
What if you worked in multiple states? I worked in Oregon for part of my base period but live in Washington now.
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Ethan Taylor
•You can usually combine wages from different states through something called Interstate Benefits. You'd file in Washington since that's where you live now, but they can pull wage records from Oregon too.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•How do I make sure they get my out-of-state wages? Do I need to provide pay stubs or something?
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Amara Nnamani
The whole system is ridiculous. I worked for 10 months straight and they STILL made me jump through hoops to prove I was eligible. Had to provide all kinds of documentation.
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Giovanni Mancini
•What kind of documentation did they ask for? I'm worried they'll want stuff I don't have.
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Amara Nnamani
•Pay stubs, W-2s, sometimes they want verification from your employer. It's a pain but you gotta do it if you want your benefits.
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NebulaNinja
I've been working gig jobs through apps like DoorDash and Uber. Does that count toward the work requirements for unemployment?
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QuantumQuasar
•That's tricky because gig work makes you an independent contractor, not an employee. Generally independent contractor income doesn't count for regular unemployment benefits, but there might be special programs.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•I think they had pandemic programs for gig workers but I'm not sure if those are still available.
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Dylan Mitchell
Just apply and let Washington ESD figure out if you qualify! The worst they can do is say no. I was surprised - I thought I didn't have enough work history but ended up qualifying.
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Mateo Hernandez
•That's probably the best advice. I've been overthinking this when I could just file and see what happens.
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Sofia Morales
Be prepared for potential delays if your work history is complicated. My claim took forever to process because I had worked for several different employers.
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Dmitry Popov
•How long did it take? I'm already stressed about money and can't afford to wait months.
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Sofia Morales
•Mine took about 6 weeks total but that was because they had to verify wages with multiple employers. If your situation is straightforward it should be faster.
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Ava Garcia
Pro tip: gather all your employment information before you apply. Having your employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and wage information ready makes the application process much smoother.
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StarSailor}
•This! I had to stop halfway through my application because I didn't have all the employer details memorized.
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Miguel Silva
If you're not sure about your wage history, you can request a wage transcript from Washington ESD before applying. It shows all the wages reported by your employers.
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Zainab Ismail
•How do you request that? Through the same website where you file claims?
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Miguel Silva
•I think you can request it online or by calling, but good luck getting through on the phone! The online option is definitely easier.
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Connor O'Neill
Another thing to consider - even if you qualify for benefits, the amount you get depends on your earnings during the base period. Higher wages = higher weekly benefit amount, up to the state maximum.
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Yara Nassar
•What's the maximum weekly benefit in Washington right now?
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Connor O'Neill
•I think it's around $999 per week but that changes annually. Most people get way less than the maximum though.
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Keisha Robinson
Don't forget you also have to meet the reason for separation requirements. Just having enough work history isn't enough - you need to be unemployed through no fault of your own.
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Mateo Hernandez
•I was laid off due to budget cuts, so I think I'm okay on that front.
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Keisha Robinson
•Yeah, layoffs typically qualify. It's when people quit or get fired for misconduct that it gets complicated.
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GalaxyGuardian
I used Claimyr when I had questions about my work history qualification and it was super helpful. The agent was able to look up my exact wage records and tell me if I qualified before I even applied.
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Paolo Ricci
•How much does that service cost? I'm already tight on money.
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GalaxyGuardian
•I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it to get definitive answers instead of guessing. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ to see how it works.
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Amina Toure
Bottom line - if you've worked regularly over the past year and earned at least a few thousand dollars, you probably qualify. The exact calculations are complex but Washington ESD designed the system so most workers who lose their jobs can get benefits.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•That's reassuring. I've been worried I didn't work long enough but I did work pretty consistently.
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Natasha Volkova
One more thing - if you don't qualify for regular unemployment, there might be other programs available like training benefits or extended benefits depending on the unemployment rate.
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Mateo Hernandez
•Good to know there are backup options. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!
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Javier Torres
Just wanted to add that if you're denied initially, you can always appeal the decision. Sometimes they make mistakes or don't have complete information about your work history.
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Emma Davis
•How long do you have to appeal if they deny you?
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Javier Torres
•I believe it's 30 days from the date of the determination notice, but double-check that timeline when you get your decision.
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CosmicCaptain
My advice is to apply as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Even if there are issues with your eligibility, the sooner you file, the sooner they can be resolved. Benefits are typically paid from the date you first file, not from when your claim is approved.
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Malik Johnson
•This is important! I waited a few weeks to apply thinking I needed to get all my paperwork together first, and I missed out on those weeks of benefits.
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