How many months do you have to work to qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

That's confusing - so if I made $2000 total but it was all in one quarter, I wouldn't qualify?

Exactly right. You need wages spread across at least two different quarters, not just one lump sum.

Close! It's actually that your total base period wages need to be at least 680 times the state minimum wage. So with current minimum wage, that works out to around $11,560 total in your base period.

ah thanks for the correction, I knew there was some 680 number involved lol

Is that legit? I've never heard of paying someone to help you call unemployment

Yeah it's real, they basically handle the calling for you so you don't have to sit on hold forever. Way better than spending all day trying to get through yourself.

Interesting, might look into that if I can't get through the normal way

Did you file an appeal? Sometimes the initial determination is wrong, especially if you had wages that weren't reported correctly by employers

I should probably do that but the whole process seems overwhelming

So if I started working in January 2024 and file now, they'd look at January 2024 through December 2024?

Not exactly - they use completed quarters. So if you file in January 2025, your base period would likely be Q1 2024 through Q4 2024, but it depends on when exactly you file.

This quarter thing is so confusing, why can't they just make it simple like 'worked 6 months

That's exactly what I'm worried about with my part-time jobs

Part-time work can definitely qualify you as long as you meet the wage requirements in multiple quarters

Gig work usually doesn't count because you're classified as an independent contractor, not an employee. You'd need to have paid into the unemployment system as a W-2 employee.

Ugh that sucks, I made good money but I guess it doesn't matter for unemployment

There might be some exceptions if you paid into the system voluntarily but it's super rare

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - I was spending entire days just trying to talk to someone. The callback feature they have is a lifesaver when you actually need to speak to an agent.

I'll definitely check that out, this is ridiculous

Oh that's smart! I didn't know you could see that online

Yeah it's under Employment Security Department services once you log into your SAW account

This is super helpful, going to check mine right now

Wait, so timing matters? I thought you just filed as soon as you lost your job

You should file as soon as you're unemployed, but be aware that your base period might not include recent work. Washington ESD has alternate base periods they can use if the standard one doesn't qualify you.

How did you prove the wages weren't reported right?

I had to get pay stubs and W-2s from that job and submit them with my appeal. The employer had to correct their reporting to Washington ESD.

Good to know employer mistakes can be fixed, I was worried about that

It's actually designed to ensure people have a substantial work history before collecting benefits. The requirements aren't unreasonable - about 6 months of minimum wage work spread over two quarters.

I guess that's fair when you put it that way

What kind of job search requirements?

You have to do at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. Activities include applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, etc.

And you have to be able and available for work every week when you file your weekly claim

Thanks, that makes me feel better. I think I probably hit those numbers across my three jobs.

Just make sure to file as soon as you're laid off - you can't get benefits for weeks before you file, even if you were unemployed.

That's encouraging! My jobs weren't super high paying but I worked consistently

Consistent part-time work across multiple quarters is actually ideal for qualifying

Good to know! One of my jobs paid better than the others so that should help

Exactly right - they take your highest quarter, divide by 26, and that's roughly your weekly benefit amount (subject to maximums

I have most of them but not all... should I try to get copies from my employers?

Yes, especially if any of those jobs paid cash or had irregular payroll. Better to have too much documentation than not enough.

I used it and it worked great for me. Saved me so much time and frustration compared to calling myself. The demo video really shows you what you're getting.

I was skeptical at first but ended up trying it when I couldn't get through for 2 weeks straight. Totally worth it to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Cool, I'll check out that video link if I run into issues

Thanks everyone! This thread has been super helpful. I feel way more confident about the whole process now.

Good luck with everything! The application process itself is pretty straightforward once you understand the qualification requirements.