How many hours do I have to work to qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Oh wow, I had no idea it was based on wages instead of hours! So if I made enough money it doesn't matter if I was part-time?

Exactly! As long as you meet the wage requirements and are able and available to work, part-time work history can still qualify you for benefits.

This is really helpful! I think I probably meet that requirement but I'm not 100% sure about my exact wages from each quarter.

You can check your wage history on the Washington ESD website once you create an account. It shows all the wages reported by your employers.

That sounds really useful! I've heard horror stories about trying to call Washington ESD. How does that service work exactly?

You just go to claimyr.com and they basically handle the calling and waiting for you. When they get an agent on the line, they connect you. Saved me so much frustration.

I've used Claimyr too - super helpful when you need to talk to someone about your specific situation rather than just guessing from the website.

Good point - I definitely want to make sure I understand all the requirements if I do end up needing to file.

The job search requirement is no joke - you need to keep detailed records of your work search activities each week.

That makes sense - so I could potentially still get some benefits even if I keep working part-time?

Yes, as long as you're earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. It's called partial unemployment benefits.

I think it's because wages are a better measure of your actual work attachment than just hours. Someone making $15/hour working 20 hours has contributed more to the system than someone making $7.50/hour working 20 hours.

i guess that makes sense when you put it that way

You're right - the amounts I mentioned are from 2024. For 2025, you need at least $1,305 in your highest quarter and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times that amount.

Thanks for the updated numbers! I'll make sure to use the current requirements when I calculate my eligibility.

Good point - in my case I'm worried about being laid off rather than quitting, so hopefully that wouldn't be an issue.

There are some exceptions to the quit disqualification, like if you quit for good cause related to the work. But it's definitely more complicated than being laid off.

That's encouraging! I've been worried that having multiple part-time jobs instead of one full-time job would hurt my chances.

Nope, Washington ESD counts all your covered wages regardless of how many employers you had.

Wait, so recent wages don't count? That seems weird.

There's an alternate base period you can use if you don't qualify under the standard one, which includes more recent wages. But the standard base period has that lag built in.

Seems like a lot of people have had good luck with that service. I might need to try it if I can't figure out my eligibility on my own.

yeah definitely worth it if you get stuck, way better than spending hours on hold for nothing

Good to know! I hadn't heard about the waiting week. Is that just for the first week after you file?

Yes, it's just one week that you have to serve before benefits begin. You still need to file your weekly claim for that week though.

That's reassuring! I've been at both jobs for over a year so I should have a good work history built up.

Yeah, a year of steady work should definitely put you over the minimum wage requirements. You'll probably be fine if you need to file.

Thanks for the reminder! I'll make sure to stay on top of that if I do end up needing to file.

I'll definitely look for that calculator! It would be helpful to know what to expect.

Yeah it's pretty helpful for planning purposes. Just remember the actual amount might be slightly different when you file.

That's exactly what I was hoping to hear! Thanks for sharing your experience.

No problem! The process was way less scary than I thought it would be. Just make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file.

Ha, that's what I'm really worried about! But at least now I know I probably qualify if I need to file.

Yeah the qualification part is usually straightforward - it's everything that comes after that gets complicated sometimes.

Great advice! I'll start gathering that information now so I'm prepared if I need it.

Smart thinking ahead! Better to have it ready and not need it than to scramble for documents when you're already stressed about losing a job.