How many days do you have to work to collect unemployment in Washington?
I've been working part-time at a retail job for about 8 months now, maybe 3-4 days a week. My hours just got cut to almost nothing and I'm wondering if I can file for unemployment benefits. Does Washington ESD have a minimum number of days you need to work before you qualify? I'm confused about the work requirements and can't find clear info on their website.
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Noah Torres
It's not really about days worked, it's about your earnings during your base period. You need to have earned at least $1,685 in your highest earning quarter and total wages of at least $2,120 during your base period to qualify for Washington ESD benefits.
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Natalie Wang
•What exactly is the base period? Is that the last 4 quarters or something different?
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Noah Torres
•The base period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024.
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Samantha Hall
ugh the washington esd website is so confusing about this stuff!! i worked for like 6 months last year but only made about $1200 total so i probably dont qualify right?
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Noah Torres
•Unfortunately no, you'd need at least $2,120 total during your base period to meet the minimum wage requirement.
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Samantha Hall
•that sucks :( why do they make it so hard for people who really need help
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Ryan Young
I had a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to Washington ESD on the phone to get answers. Ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually connect with an agent who explained everything clearly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Sophia Clark
•Never heard of that before - does it actually work? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks with no luck.
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Ryan Young
•Yeah it worked for me. Got connected to an actual person who could look at my claim and explain the wage requirements. Much easier than the automated system.
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Katherine Harris
The wage requirements are separate from how many days you worked. You could work 2 days a week but if you made enough money in those quarters, you'd still qualify. Conversely, you could work 5 days a week at minimum wage and not meet the earnings threshold.
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Madison Allen
•This is confusing - so someone making $20/hour working 2 days could qualify but someone making $12/hour working 4 days might not?
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Katherine Harris
•Exactly. It's all about total earnings, not hours or days worked. That's why it's important to calculate your base period wages carefully.
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Joshua Wood
I think there's also something about needing to work in multiple quarters? Can someone confirm this?
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Noah Torres
•Yes, you need wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period. You can't just work one really good quarter and qualify.
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Natalie Wang
•Good to know! I've been working consistently for 8 months so I should meet that requirement.
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Justin Evans
washington esd system is so broken!! they make it impossible to understand what you need to qualify and then when you do qualify they make you jump through hoops every week just to get your money
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Samantha Hall
•seriously! and don't even get me started on their job search requirements
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Noah Torres
•The system has its problems but the wage requirements are actually pretty straightforward once you understand them.
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Ryan Young
For anyone still confused about their specific situation, I'd recommend using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. The agent I spoke with was able to look at my work history and tell me exactly whether I qualified based on my earnings. Saved me a lot of guesswork.
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Natalie Wang
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.
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Ryan Young
•It's worth checking out their site for current info. For me it was worth it to get definitive answers instead of wondering if I was eligible.
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Madison Allen
I worked seasonal retail last year from October through January. Made about $3000 total. Think I'd qualify?
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Noah Torres
•Possibly, but it depends on how that $3000 was distributed across quarters and whether you met the minimum in your highest quarter.
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Madison Allen
•Most of it was in Q4 2024, probably around $2200 in that quarter alone.
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Katherine Harris
•That sounds like you'd meet the requirements. You should definitely file a claim and let Washington ESD determine your eligibility.
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Emily Parker
Also remember that if you don't qualify under the regular base period, Washington ESD will automatically check your alternate base period (last 4 completed quarters). Sometimes people qualify under that instead.
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Natalie Wang
•I didn't know about the alternate base period! That's good to know.
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Joshua Wood
•Yeah the alternate base period can help if you just started working or had a gap in employment.
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Sophia Clark
This is all so complicated. I wish there was just a simple calculator on the Washington ESD website where you could enter your wages and it would tell you if you qualify.
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Noah Torres
•There actually is a benefit calculator on their website, but it's not always easy to find. Look under the 'Before You Apply' section.
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Sophia Clark
•Thanks! I'll look for that.
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Samantha Hall
wait so if i worked gig jobs like doordash and uber does that count toward the wage requirements??
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Katherine Harris
•Only if you were paying into the unemployment system as an employee. Most gig work is independent contractor so it wouldn't count for regular UI benefits.
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Samantha Hall
•ugh of course not :( this system really screws over people who need help the most
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Ezra Collins
I had to appeal my initial denial because Washington ESD miscalculated my wages. Turned out I did qualify but their system didn't pick up wages from one of my employers. Always double-check their calculations!
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Natalie Wang
•How long did the appeal process take? I'm worried about filing if there might be complications.
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Ezra Collins
•About 6 weeks total, but I got back pay once it was approved. Don't let fear of complications stop you from filing if you think you qualify.
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Ryan Young
Just want to mention again that if anyone needs help getting through to Washington ESD to verify their eligibility, Claimyr really does work. I know it sounds like I'm pushing it but I was genuinely frustrated with not being able to get answers until I found that service.
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Madison Allen
•I might try that. Been trying to call for 2 weeks with no success.
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Justin Evans
•anything is better than their broken phone system tbh
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Victoria Scott
One thing to keep in mind - even if you qualify based on wages, you still need to be able and available for work and actively job searching. The wage requirement is just the first hurdle.
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Natalie Wang
•Good point. I am actively looking for more work so I should be fine on that front.
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Joshua Wood
•The job search requirements are 3 job contacts per week minimum in Washington.
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Natalie Wang
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Sounds like I probably do qualify since I've been working consistently and making decent wages. Going to file a claim this week.
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Noah Torres
•Good luck! Make sure you have all your employer information ready when you file.
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Ryan Young
•And if you run into any issues with your claim, remember that Claimyr option for getting through to an agent. Sometimes having a real person explain things makes all the difference.
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Benjamin Johnson
Pro tip: keep track of all your wages and employers because Washington ESD will ask for detailed information going back 18 months when you file your claim.
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Natalie Wang
•Good advice! I'll gather all my pay stubs before I start the application.
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Sophia Clark
•I wish I had known this before I started filing. Had to scramble to find old pay stubs.
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Zara Perez
just remember that even if you meet the wage requirements you can still be denied if you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct. the wage thing is just one piece of the puzzle
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Natalie Wang
•In my case my hours were cut due to slow business, so I think I should be okay on that front.
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Zara Perez
•yeah reduction in hours usually qualifies you for benefits assuming you meet all the other requirements
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Daniel Rogers
The Washington ESD website actually has a pretty good FAQ section about wage requirements but you have to dig around to find it. Look under 'Eligibility Requirements' and then 'Monetary Eligibility'.
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Sophia Clark
•Thanks! Their website navigation is terrible but good to know where to look.
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Natalie Wang
•I'll check that out too. Always good to have official sources.
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Aaliyah Reed
Been through this process twice now and the key thing is just to file even if you're not 100% sure you qualify. Let Washington ESD make the determination rather than talking yourself out of it.
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Natalie Wang
•That's probably good advice. Better to try and get denied than not try at all.
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Noah Torres
•Exactly. The worst they can say is no, and if you don't file you definitely won't get benefits.
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Ella Russell
Also worth noting that if you're still working part-time you might qualify for partial unemployment benefits. You don't have to be completely unemployed to get some help.
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Natalie Wang
•That's actually my situation! My hours got cut way down but I'm still working a little. Good to know I might still qualify for something.
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Ella Russell
•Yeah they'll calculate your weekly benefit based on your reduced earnings. Could definitely help bridge the gap.
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