How long must you work for a company to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! So even though I only worked 8 months at this company, my previous job history could count too?

Exactly! All your covered employment in the base period counts, not just your most recent job.

Those numbers sound right for 2025. I had to meet those same requirements when I filed last year.

Good to know about the wage requirements. I think I should meet those since I was making decent money at the startup.

Interesting, I've been trying to call ESD for days but keep getting busy signals. How does that service work?

It basically calls ESD repeatedly until it gets through, then connects you. Saved me hours of redial frustration when I needed to check my claim status.

That's a common misconception. It's based on your earnings over 4 quarters, not necessarily a full year of continuous employment.

Yeah I made the same mistake when I first looked into this. The quarters thing is weird but makes sense once you understand it.

That's reassuring. I'll go ahead and file the claim online then. Better to find out for sure than keep worrying about it.

Exactly. The worst they can say is no, but based on what you described you should qualify. Make sure to file as soon as possible since there's a waiting week.

Good to know! I feel much better about my situation now.

Same here, gig work and short term contracts can still add up to qualifying wages.

The wage-based system is actually more fair because it accounts for different income levels and work patterns. Someone who worked part-time for a year might not have enough wages to qualify, while someone who worked full-time for 6 months might.

I guess that makes sense when you put it that way.

Right, I've heard about the job search requirements. How many jobs do you have to apply to each week?

It varies but generally 3 job search activities per week. Can be applications, networking, interviews, etc.

How do I request that? Through the SecureAccess Washington site?

Yes, you can request it online or by calling ESD. Though calling might be tough with their current call volumes.

That's frustrating but there might have been other factors. The standard base period is pretty straightforward - first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters.

Did you try filing an appeal? Sometimes initial determinations get overturned.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll keep that in mind if I need to speak to someone at ESD.

How much does claimyr cost? Is it worth it?

I thought it was worth it to avoid the phone frustration, but you can try calling ESD directly first to see if you get through.

You're right, I'm probably overthinking this. Going to file today.

Good tip! I didn't realize you had to keep filing weekly claims during processing.

Yeah, you need to file every week to maintain your claim even if you're not getting paid yet.

Will do! I'm feeling much more confident about applying now thanks to everyone's help.

That's really encouraging to hear. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this stuff.

Agreed. It's more flexible than a simple time-based requirement would be.

Good to know there's a backup option! This forum has been incredibly helpful.

The alternate base period uses the most recent 4 quarters instead of the standard calculation. Can help people who recently started working.

Right, it's just a tool to help with the phone connection issues. The actual eligibility rules are the same either way.

Thank you! I really appreciate all the helpful information from everyone here.

Will do! I've got all my records organized and ready to go.