How long to work somewhere for unemployment in Washington - confused about base period
I'm trying to figure out how long you need to work at a job to qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington. I've been at my current job for about 8 months but might get laid off soon. I worked at another place for 6 months before this job too. Does Washington ESD count all your work history or just your most recent job? I'm really confused about the base period thing and whether I've worked long enough to get benefits.
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Gianna Scott
Washington ESD uses what's called a 'base period' to determine if you qualify. It's not about how long you worked at one specific job, but your total earnings and hours during a specific timeframe. The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.
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Edwards Hugo
•So they look at multiple jobs during that time? Not just my current one?
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Gianna Scott
•Exactly! They count earnings from ALL employers during your base period, as long as those employers reported your wages to Washington ESD.
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Alfredo Lugo
i think you need to work at least 680 hours during your base period OR earn at least $5,265 in wages. thats the minimum requirement for washington unemployment
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Edwards Hugo
•That's helpful! I think I probably meet both requirements with my two jobs combined.
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Sydney Torres
•Yeah those numbers sound right. I qualified last year with about 700 hours total from two different jobs.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to verify your work history, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr. They can help you get connected to an actual ESD agent without waiting on hold forever. Really saved me time when I needed to verify my base period wages. You can see how it works at claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ
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Caleb Bell
•Is that service legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks to check on my eligibility.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Yeah it's real. I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got through to someone at ESD in like 10 minutes instead of calling all day.
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Danielle Campbell
Don't forget that Washington ESD also has an alternative base period if you don't qualify under the regular one. They'll look at the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. This can help people who worked more recently but didn't have enough wages in the earlier period.
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Edwards Hugo
•Oh that's good to know! Since I've been working more recently, that might actually help me.
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Rhett Bowman
•The alternative base period saved me when I qualified. My wages were higher in the more recent quarters.
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Abigail Patel
ugh the whole base period thing is so confusing!! why cant they just make it simple like 'worked 6 months = eligible' or something
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Gianna Scott
•I know it seems complicated, but it's actually designed to be fair. Someone who worked full-time for 3 months might have higher earnings than someone who worked part-time for 8 months.
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Abigail Patel
•i guess that makes sense but its still annoying to figure out
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Alfredo Lugo
You can also check your wage history online through your SecureAccess Washington account. It'll show you exactly what wages Washington ESD has on file for you during your base period.
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Edwards Hugo
•I'll definitely check that. I want to make sure both my employers reported my wages correctly.
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Danielle Campbell
•Good idea. Sometimes there are delays in wage reporting, especially if an employer is behind on their quarterly reports.
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Sydney Torres
One thing to remember is that the base period is set when you file your initial claim. So if you're close to qualifying, sometimes waiting a few weeks to file can help if you're still working and earning wages.
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Edwards Hugo
•That's smart! I'm still working right now so maybe I should wait until I actually get laid off to file.
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Gianna Scott
•Just don't wait too long after you become unemployed. You want to file as soon as possible after your last day of work.
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Caleb Bell
I was in a similar situation last year. Had worked at 3 different jobs during my base period and Washington ESD counted wages from all of them. The key is that your employers need to have paid unemployment taxes on your wages.
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Edwards Hugo
•How do I know if my employers paid unemployment taxes? Both jobs took taxes out of my paychecks.
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Caleb Bell
•Most regular employers do, but independent contractors and some very small businesses might not. If you got a W-2, you should be good.
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Rhett Bowman
Wait, what if you worked out of state? Does that count toward your Washington unemployment eligibility?
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Danielle Campbell
•Good question! If you worked in another state, those wages might not count for Washington ESD benefits. You'd typically need to file in the state where you worked.
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Edwards Hugo
•Thankfully both my jobs were in Washington so I don't have to worry about that.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
Another thing - if you do qualify for benefits, your weekly benefit amount will be based on your earnings during the base period too. Higher earnings generally mean higher weekly benefits, up to the maximum.
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Edwards Hugo
•Do you know what the maximum weekly benefit is right now?
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•I think it's around $929 per week for 2025, but that's for people with really high earnings. Most people get less than that.
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Abigail Patel
this is all making me nervous about my own situation. i worked part time for like 10 months but not sure if i made enough money
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Gianna Scott
•You should definitely check your wage history online. Even part-time work can qualify you if you worked enough hours or earned enough wages.
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Alfredo Lugo
•yeah dont stress about it until you check. i qualified with mostly part time work
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Sydney Torres
One more tip - keep all your pay stubs and tax documents. Sometimes there are discrepancies in wage reporting and you might need to provide proof of your earnings to Washington ESD.
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Edwards Hugo
•Good advice! I have most of my pay stubs saved but I should organize them better.
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Danielle Campbell
•Yeah, and if there's a wage discrepancy, it can really delay your claim processing. Better to have the documentation ready.
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Caleb Bell
Has anyone used that Claimyr service mentioned earlier? I'm curious if it's worth trying since I can never get through to ESD on the phone.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•I mentioned it earlier - it definitely works. Saved me hours of calling and redialing. They basically get you through to an actual person at Washington ESD.
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Rhett Bowman
•I tried it last month when I had questions about my eligibility. Got connected to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes. Was pretty impressed.
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Edwards Hugo
Thanks everyone for all the info! I feel much better about my situation now. Sounds like I should qualify since I've been working steadily for over a year between my two jobs.
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Gianna Scott
•You're welcome! Just remember to file as soon as you become unemployed. Don't wait.
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Sydney Torres
•Good luck! Hope you don't need to use unemployment benefits but it's good to know you're covered.
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Alfredo Lugo
one last thing - make sure to keep looking for work even while collecting benefits. washington has pretty strict job search requirements
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Edwards Hugo
•How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?
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Alfredo Lugo
•i think its 3 job search activities per week but check the current requirements when you file
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Danielle Campbell
The job search requirements are important. You need to register with WorkSourceWA and keep a log of your job search activities. It's not just about applying - you can also do things like attending job fairs or networking events.
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Abigail Patel
•wait so its not just applying to jobs? what else counts as job search activities?
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Danielle Campbell
•Lots of things count: job applications, networking, attending workshops, updating your resume, even some online training courses. The key is documenting everything.
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Rhett Bowman
I learned the hard way that you need to keep detailed records of your job search. Washington ESD can audit your claim and ask for proof of your activities.
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Edwards Hugo
•That's scary! What happens if you can't prove you were looking for work?
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Rhett Bowman
•They can deny your benefits or even make you pay back what you already received. So definitely keep good records.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
The whole system can be overwhelming, but once you understand the basics like the base period and job search requirements, it's manageable. The key is staying organized and following the rules.
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Edwards Hugo
•Agreed! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much more prepared now.
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Gianna Scott
•That's what this community is for! We've all been through the unemployment system and it helps to share what we've learned.
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Sydney Torres
Final reminder - if you do need to contact Washington ESD and can't get through, that Claimyr service really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration.
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Caleb Bell
•I'm definitely going to try it if I run into issues. Beats spending all day on hold.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Exactly! Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get answers, and Claimyr makes that possible.
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Edwards Hugo
Thank you all so much! This has been incredibly helpful. I'm bookmarking this thread in case I need to reference it later when I file my claim.
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Gianna Scott
•You're very welcome! Feel free to post again if you run into any issues during the filing process.
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Alfredo Lugo
•good luck with everything! hopefully you wont need the benefits but its good to be prepared
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Danielle Campbell
•Definitely come back if you have questions. The filing process can be confusing the first time around.
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