How long must I work to get unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

That's confusing - what exactly counts as sufficient wage credits? Is there a dollar amount I need to hit?

Yes, you need to have earned at least $1,500 in wages during your base period, and your total wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings.

Actually, Washington uses a wage-based system, not hours. You're thinking of some other states that have hour requirements. Here it's all about your earnings in the base period quarters.

oh ok thanks for clearing that up, i was getting confused with my friend who moved here from oregon

Have you tried using Claimyr? I discovered it when I was having the same problem getting through to Washington ESD agents. It's this service at claimyr.com that helps you actually connect with real people instead of sitting on endless hold. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that but at this point I'm willing to try anything. The hold times are absolutely insane.

Wait, you have to pay for that though right? Seems sketchy to pay someone to make a phone call for you.

So if I just started working last month, I probably don't have enough quarters built up yet?

Exactly. If you only have one month of work, you likely won't meet either the standard or alternate base period requirements. You'd need to work longer to build up sufficient wage credits.

This is exactly why the unemployment system is broken. You work for years, lose your job, then they tell you that you haven't worked long enough in the right time periods to qualify. It's ridiculous.

At least we're not alone in this situation! Maybe we both need to stick it out a bit longer to build up those wage credits.

yeah exactly, crossing my fingers this place holds together for at least a few more months

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? Like if the working conditions are unsafe or if they're not paying you properly?

Good cause includes things like unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, harassment, or other compelling reasons. But you need to document everything and try to resolve issues with your employer first before quitting.

I quit my last job because my boss was a nightmare and they still denied my claim initially. Had to go through the whole appeal process.

How soon is 'as soon as possible'? Like within a week or is there more flexibility?

You should file within the first week if possible. Benefits don't start until you actually file your claim, so every day you wait is money you're potentially losing.

How many job searches do you have to do each week? I've heard different numbers.

Currently it's 3 job search activities per week, and they have to be documented in WorkSourceWA. The activities can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc.

The WorkSourceWA system is such a pain to navigate. Half the time the job postings are outdated or fake.

That's a good point! I did work for about 8 months before this current job, so maybe those wages would count toward my base period.

Exactly! The base period looks at ALL your covered employment, not just your most recent job. Definitely worth checking your wage records.

How do you request that? Is it something you can do online or do you have to call?

You can request it through your SecureAccess Washington account online, or by calling Washington ESD. Though good luck getting through by phone - the wait times are brutal.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr when I needed to talk to someone about my wage records. Saved me hours of sitting on hold just to get basic information about my account.

What about gig work like DoorDash or Uber? Does that count?

No, gig work through apps like that is typically considered independent contractor work, so it wouldn't build wage credits for regular UI benefits. There were special pandemic programs for gig workers, but those have ended.

I get the frustration, but the requirements exist to prevent fraud and ensure the system is sustainable. It's not perfect, but it does help a lot of people who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

Easy to say when you're not the one trying to pay rent while jumping through all their hoops.

Good suggestion. I guess I'm hoping it doesn't come to that, but it's good to know there might be other options if I don't qualify for unemployment.

Where's the best place to find the most up-to-date requirements?

The official Washington ESD website has the current requirements, though sometimes it takes some digging to find the specific numbers. The UI eligibility section should have the latest information.

How long did it take you to actually get through to someone?

It was horrible - probably spent 6-8 hours over several days just trying to reach a human. Eventually I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get connected without all the waiting. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

I keep seeing people mention that service. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It worked for me. I was skeptical at first too, but I was desperate after days of busy signals and disconnections. They have a video demo that shows exactly how it works - helped me understand what I was signing up for.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! Sounds like I need to stick with this job a bit longer and hope for the best, but at least now I understand how the system actually works.

Good luck! And remember, even if you don't qualify now, keep working and building those wage credits. The system will be there when you need it.