How many months you need to work to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

What's a quarter exactly? Like 3 months? I started my job in June so I'm trying to figure out if that counts.

Yes, a quarter is 3 months. Q1 is Jan-Mar, Q2 is Apr-Jun, Q3 is Jul-Sep, Q4 is Oct-Dec. If you started in June, you'd have some earnings in Q2 and hopefully Q3 and Q4 if you're still working.

That sounds complicated. Is there a way to check if I qualify without actually filing?

Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website where you can get an estimate. You'll need your wage information from each quarter.

I tried calling Washington ESD to ask about this stuff but could never get through. The phone system is terrible.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

It's worth it when you need to actually talk to someone about your specific situation. Way better than spending hours trying to get through yourself.

I've heard of Claimyr but never tried it. Did they actually help you figure out if you qualified?

That's not great advice. If you file when you're not eligible, it can create issues later. Better to understand the requirements first.

i mean i got approved and i only worked like 4 months so idk

Wait, you worked 8 months and didn't qualify? That's scary. What went wrong?

I started a new job in the middle of a quarter and my wages were split weird. Plus I had a gap between jobs that messed up my base period. It's not just about how long you worked, it's about when and how much you earned.

This is why the alternate base period exists. If you don't qualify under the regular base period, Washington ESD will automatically check if you qualify using the alternate base period, which uses more recent quarters.

You might be able to file for partial benefits if your hours were reduced. The key is that you have to be available and looking for full-time work while collecting.

Yeah that's what I heard but I need to talk to someone to make sure I understand the job search requirements and everything.

That's exactly the kind of question where Claimyr really helped me. I had a similar situation with reduced hours and needed to understand the partial benefits rules. Got connected to an Washington ESD agent who explained everything clearly.

680 hours sounds like a lot. Is that like working full-time for 4 months?

680 hours is about 17 weeks of full-time work (40 hours/week). But since you're part-time at 25-30 hours, you'd need to work longer to hit that threshold.

I'm worried about being laid off, not quitting. Does that make a difference?

Being laid off due to lack of work is generally considered a qualifying separation. You should be fine on that front if it's truly a layoff and not termination for cause.

I can work any schedule really. I'm just worried about the wage part since I've only been working part-time.

Part-time work can still qualify you as long as you meet the minimum wage requirements. The key is having earnings in at least two quarters of your base period.

I looked at their website but got lost in all the legal language. Maybe I should just call them directly.

Good luck getting through! I've been trying for days.

That's the frustrating part about dealing with Washington ESD - the information is out there but getting personalized help is nearly impossible unless you use something like Claimyr to actually reach an agent.

That's encouraging! What was your weekly benefit amount like?

It was based on my highest quarter earnings. I think it worked out to about 60% of what I was making per week. Not amazing but better than nothing.

I've been keeping them but they're kind of a mess. Do I need to organize them in a specific way?

Just make sure you can show wages for each quarter. Organize them by date so you can easily prove your earnings if needed.

Yikes, that sounds like a nightmare. How did you know they calculated it wrong?

I compared their calculation to what I thought it should be based on my pay stubs. The appeal process was actually pretty straightforward once I got the paperwork filed.

I've been thinking about picking up a second part-time job. Would that help with qualifying?

Any additional wages in your base period will help you meet the monetary requirements. Plus, having multiple employers might give you more options if one cuts your hours.

What's the difference between regular and alternate base periods?

Regular base period uses the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. Alternate uses the last 4 completed quarters. So alternate includes more recent work that might not be counted in the regular calculation.

I guess that's true. I'm probably overthinking it. I just don't want to get my hopes up if I don't actually qualify.

totally understandable but worrying about it won't change whether you qualify or not. just make sure you file as soon as you're unemployed so you don't lose any potential benefits

Yeah I figured it wouldn't be much, but something is better than nothing when you're unemployed.

Exactly. Plus you'll have time to look for full-time work while collecting benefits. The job search requirements aren't too bad as long as you're actually looking.

Good to know there's an appeal process. Hopefully I won't need it but it's reassuring that there are options if things don't go smoothly.

The appeal process is actually pretty straightforward. You just have to make sure you file it within 30 days of getting the denial notice.

This is another situation where being able to talk to an actual Washington ESD agent through Claimyr really helps. They can explain exactly why you were denied and what documentation might help with an appeal.