How many hours do I need to collect unemployment in Washington ESD?

Thanks! So it's 680 hours total, not per quarter? I think I might be close to that number but I'll need to add up all my paystubs.

yeah its 680 total hours not per quarter, but you also need to make sure you earned enough wages too

Oh wow, I didn't know about the wage requirement too. This is getting complicated. Where exactly is this calculator on the Washington ESD website?

It's under the 'Am I Eligible' section on the Washington ESD homepage. You'll need your wage information from the past 18 months to use it properly.

OMG yes the phone situation with Washington ESD is terrible! I found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me get through to a real person at ESD. They have this system that waits on hold for you and calls you back when someone answers. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Interesting, I've never heard of that before. Did you actually use it? How much does it cost?

Yeah I used it when I needed to talk to someone about my adjudication issue. They focus on getting you connected rather than charging crazy fees. Way better than sitting on hold for 3 hours just to get hung up on.

No, you don't need to work full-time! As long as you meet the 680 hour requirement and the wage requirements during your base period, part-time work counts. Many people qualify for UI benefits even if they were working part-time.

Oh that's a relief! I was worried I'd be out of luck since I've never had a full-time job.

Yeah the system is designed to help part-time workers too. Just make sure you keep track of all your hours and wages because you'll need that info when you file your claim.

Yes, all W-2 employment hours count toward the 680 hour requirement, even if they're from different employers. However, freelance work might be trickier - if you were classified as an independent contractor (1099), those hours typically don't count for regular UI benefits.

Ah okay, my freelance work was 1099 so I guess that doesn't count. Good thing I have enough hours from the coffee shop job.

I totally agree! The unemployment system is way too complicated. I think they make it confusing on purpose to discourage people from applying.

While it is complex, the system is designed to ensure benefits go to people who have a substantial work history. The base period calculation helps verify you were actively working and contributing to the system.

I guess that makes sense, but it's still really hard to navigate when you're already stressed about potentially losing your job.

That's really good advice. I should probably start collecting my paystubs now just in case. Better to be prepared.

Yes! I learned this the hard way. When I got laid off, I had to track down old paystubs from a job I left 6 months earlier. It was a nightmare.

It's based on total hours worked during your base period, not average hours per week. So even if your hours varied, as long as your total adds up to at least 680 hours during the base period, you should meet that requirement.

Okay that makes sense. I'll need to go through all my pay stubs and add up the hours. Hopefully I'm over 680!

Unfortunately, if you don't meet the minimum requirements, you won't qualify for regular unemployment benefits. However, you might want to double-check your base period calculation - sometimes people miscalculate which quarters to include.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr when I had questions about my eligibility. I wasn't sure if I qualified and needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD who could look at my specific situation. Much better than trying to guess based on online calculators.

How did that work out for you? Were you able to get a clear answer about your eligibility?

Yeah, the ESD rep was able to look at my work history and confirm I qualified. Turns out I was overthinking it and had plenty of hours. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person who can review your specific situation.

Military service can sometimes count for unemployment benefits, but it depends on the specific type of service and how it's documented. You'd need to contact Washington ESD directly to get a definitive answer about your National Guard service.

Thanks, I'll definitely need to call them about that. Hopefully the phone lines aren't too crazy when I try.

Yes, seasonal employment counts toward your hour requirement as long as you received W-2s and the employers paid into the unemployment insurance system. The key is that it needs to be covered employment under Washington state law.

Great! I was worried seasonal work might not count. I should have plenty of hours then between both seasonal jobs.

Same here! I feel much more confident about my eligibility now. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info.

Glad this helped! It's always good to understand your rights and eligibility before you actually need to file a claim.

That's a really important point. I've seen people who had plenty of hours but couldn't get benefits because of how their employment ended.

Good to know. In my case it would be a layoff due to store closure, so I think I'd be okay on that front.

Yeah, layoffs due to business closure are typically considered 'no fault of your own' so you should be fine if you meet the other requirements.

Do you remember what it's called or where to find it on their website? I could use something like that.

I think it's called the 'Eligibility Worksheet' or something similar. It's in the forms section of their website. Really helpful for doing the math on your base period wages and hours.

That's smart thinking. The base period calculation can change depending on when you file, so timing can matter if you're borderline on eligibility.

But don't wait too long if you're already unemployed. There's usually a waiting period before benefits start, so filing sooner rather than later is usually better.

Good point. It's definitely a balance between meeting eligibility requirements and not delaying your benefits unnecessarily.

That's such a great idea about the spreadsheet! I wish I had thought of that when I was trying to figure out my eligibility. Having everything organized by quarter would definitely make the whole process less overwhelming. I'm going to start doing that now even though I'm still employed, just to be prepared. Thanks for sharing that tip!

The spreadsheet idea is brilliant! I've been keeping my pay stubs in a messy pile and dreading having to sort through them all. Breaking it down by quarter and tracking both hours and wages would make this so much less stressful. I'm definitely going to set one up this weekend. It'll be nice to have a clear picture of where I stand instead of just worrying about it.

The spreadsheet approach is really smart! I wish I had known about that when I was trying to figure out my own situation. I ended up with paystubs scattered everywhere and had to piece everything together at the last minute. One thing I'd add is to also note which employers each set of hours came from, since that can be helpful when you're actually filing your claim. The ESD representatives seem to appreciate when you have everything organized like that.

This is such valuable advice! I just started a part-time job a few months ago and had no idea I should be tracking my hours and wages so carefully. The spreadsheet idea makes total sense - it would definitely help avoid the stress of scrambling to find old paystubs later. I'm going to start one right away and include columns for the date, hours worked, wages, and employer like you all suggested. Better to be over-prepared than caught off guard if I ever need to file a claim. Thanks for all the practical tips!

The spreadsheet tracking idea is absolutely genius! I've been working part-time at a restaurant for about 6 months and never thought to organize my hours this way. I just keep all my pay stubs in a shoebox, which is definitely not the most organized approach. Setting up columns for dates, hours, wages, and employers sounds like it would make everything so much clearer. I'm actually kind of excited to get this organized now - it'll give me peace of mind knowing exactly where I stand with the 680 hour requirement. Plus, if I ever do need to file for unemployment, I'll have everything ready to go instead of panicking and trying to dig through months of paperwork. Thanks for sharing such a practical solution!

This spreadsheet approach is such a game changer! I've been stressing about whether I have enough hours at my retail job, but I never thought to organize everything this systematically. I love the idea of tracking by quarter since that's exactly how Washington ESD calculates the base period. I'm definitely going to set this up tonight - it'll be so much better than my current system of just hoping I can find all my old pay stubs when I need them. Having that visual breakdown of hours and wages will probably help me sleep better at night knowing exactly where I stand. Thanks for such a practical and stress-reducing suggestion!

This is exactly the kind of practical advice I needed! I've been so worried about meeting the 680 hour requirement at my coffee shop job, but I never thought about organizing my information this way. A spreadsheet would definitely help me see the big picture instead of just guessing whether I have enough hours. I especially like the idea of tracking by quarter since that's how they calculate everything anyway. I'm going to start putting this together this weekend - it'll be such a relief to have a clear picture of my situation instead of just worrying about it all the time. Thanks for the great suggestion!

I love how everyone is sharing such practical organization tips! As someone who's been working multiple part-time gigs over the past year, I can't tell you how much I wish I had started tracking everything systematically from the beginning. I've been keeping my pay stubs in different places and it's been a nightmare trying to piece together my work history. The spreadsheet idea with quarterly breakdowns is brilliant - it would make using that Washington ESD calculator so much easier too. I'm definitely going to start organizing my records this way going forward. It's one of those things that seems obvious once someone mentions it, but I never would have thought of it on my own!

This whole conversation has been incredibly eye-opening for me! I'm currently working two part-time jobs and had no clue about the 680 hour requirement or how complex the base period calculations could be. The spreadsheet idea is fantastic - I'm definitely going to create one this week to track everything properly. It's reassuring to know that hours from different W-2 jobs count toward the total, since I've been splitting my time between a grocery store and a tutoring center. I feel so much more prepared now after reading everyone's experiences and advice. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge - this community is amazing for helping each other navigate these confusing systems!