How many weeks do you have to work for Washington ESD unemployment eligibility?

What exactly is the base period? Is that the last year I worked?

The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So if you file in March 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024.

Wait I thought it was just about the dollar amounts? I never heard about the hours requirement.

Yeah there's multiple ways to qualify. You can meet the monetary requirement OR the hours requirement. Most people qualify through the monetary way.

That sounds too good to be true. Does it actually work?

I was skeptical too but it really did work for me. Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own.

How much does something like that cost though?

It was worth it just to finally talk to someone who could explain my specific situation. Way better than guessing about eligibility requirements.

How do I find out my earnings by quarter? Do I need to request something from Washington ESD?

You can check your wage and tax statements or contact your previous employers. Washington ESD will also verify your wages when you apply, but it's good to have an idea beforehand.

I think they base it on earnings because people work different hours and wages vary so much. A weekly requirement wouldn't be fair to part-time workers.

i guess that makes sense but its still confusing as heck

What does actively seeking employment mean exactly?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. Register with WorkSource too.

Do they actually check your job search log?

They can audit you at any time, so definitely keep accurate records. I know people who got in trouble for not having proper documentation.

How did you find out if you qualified? Did you just apply and see what happened?

I called and talked to someone at Washington ESD. Took forever to get through but they could look up my wage history and tell me exactly where I stood.

What counts as good cause for quitting?

Things like unsafe working conditions, significant changes to your job duties or pay, harassment, etc. But it's pretty strict - you usually need to try to resolve the issue with your employer first.

So recent work might not even count? That seems backwards.

Right? There's an alternate base period they can use if you don't qualify with the regular one, but it's still confusing. The whole system needs to be simpler.

Did they charge you for that service?

Yeah but it was worth it to get clear answers instead of spending weeks stressing about whether I qualified or not.

That's a good point. So if I don't qualify today but work another few months, I might qualify then?

Exactly. Each quarter that passes, your base period shifts and includes more recent earnings while dropping the oldest quarter.

The earnings-based system is actually more inclusive for people with varying work schedules and wages. A simple weeks requirement would exclude a lot of part-time workers.

maybe but its still confusing as hell for regular people trying to figure out if they qualify

Thank you! That's the clearest explanation I've gotten. So my 6 months should probably be enough if I was working full time?

Probably, but it depends on your exact start date and which quarters your earnings fall into. The base period calculation is what makes it tricky.

There's a waiting week? So the first week I don't get any money?

Correct. The first week you file is an unpaid waiting week. Benefits start with the second week.

Is there any downside to applying if I'm not sure I qualify?

Not really. If you don't qualify, they'll just deny your claim and that's it. No penalties for trying.

Actually make sure you answer all the application questions honestly. False information can cause problems later even if you don't qualify initially.

That's a great idea! I never thought about checking my Social Security records.

Yeah it's really helpful for understanding your earnings pattern over time. Plus it's free and official.

How would I know if they should use different quarters?

If your most recent job paid significantly more than previous jobs, the alternate base period might give you higher benefits. Washington ESD should automatically check this but you can ask.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about understanding the requirements now.

Good luck! The whole process is intimidating at first but once you understand how it works it makes more sense.

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I need to call them. Sounds way better than sitting on hold for hours.

yeah exactly. worth every penny just to actually talk to a human being who can give you real answers