How long to work before unemployment eligibility in Washington ESD?

Oh that's a relief! I was worried the 6 weeks wouldn't be enough. Do I need to provide proof of my Oregon employment when I file?

Yes, you'll need W-2s or pay stubs from Oregon employers. Washington ESD can also request wage records from other states through interstate agreements.

That's a common misconception. There's no specific time requirement - it's based on earnings during your base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file.

omg thank you for clarifying that! i've been putting off filing because i thought i needed 6 months

Did you have any issues with the verification process? I'm worried about delays.

It was pretty smooth actually. I used Claimyr.com to get through to an agent when I had questions about my interstate claim. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how their callback service works.

Never heard of that service but might be worth it if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD quickly

That alternate base period might work better for me since most of my Oregon work was in 2024. How do I request that?

Washington ESD automatically checks the alternate base period if you don't qualify under the standard one. You don't need to request it separately.

I get the frustration, but the current system actually helps more people qualify because it's based on earnings rather than just time worked. Someone could work part-time for a year and still not meet a flat time requirement.

i guess that makes sense when you put it that way

Perfect, I definitely worked multiple quarters in Oregon plus the recent Washington job. Sounds like I should be good to file.

Good point, I'll just go ahead and file. Thanks everyone for the help!

yeah same here, gonna file mine today too

It was just a regular office job, so should be standard wages. Thanks for the heads up though.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it to avoid the phone tree nightmare.

They focus more on the convenience than cost - check out their site at claimyr.com for details. The peace of mind was worth it for me.

That's unusual if you had consistent work. Did you appeal the decision? Sometimes there are issues with how wages are reported by employers.

yeah i appealed and won actually. turned out one employer hadnt reported my wages correctly to washington esd

This is exactly why it's important to keep your own records of wages and hours worked. Employer reporting errors happen more often than people realize.

Wow, I didn't know about that second requirement. That could actually be tricky depending on how your wages were distributed.

Exactly. Someone could earn $1,200 total but if $1,100 was in one quarter and only $100 in the others, they wouldn't qualify under the formula.

This is exactly when services like Claimyr are helpful - they can get you connected to an actual agent instead of spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

might have to try that, this is ridiculous

Good reminder! I'll make sure to set up my WorkSourceWA account right away.

That's what I was thinking too. Plus I'm already living here now so it makes sense.

Agreed, the interstate claims process has improved significantly. Most wage transfers happen electronically now instead of requiring paper documentation.

Yes, I'm planning to file this weekend. Thanks for all the advice everyone - this thread has been super helpful!

Will do! I've got all my Oregon employment records saved so should be ready to go.

Thanks! Feeling much more confident about the process now.