How many weeks do you have to work to qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington. I've been working part-time for about 8 months at two different jobs but I'm not sure if that's enough. Does anyone know exactly how many weeks you need to work to be eligible for Washington ESD benefits? I keep seeing different information online and I want to make sure before I apply.
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Amina Diallo
It's not really about weeks worked - Washington ESD looks at your wages during your base year. You need to have earned at least $6,240 in your base year (the first four of the last five completed quarters) and at least $1,040 in your highest quarter. The work requirement is that you worked at least 680 hours during your base year.
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Connor O'Brien
•Thanks! So if I worked part-time for 8 months, that could be enough hours? I think I worked around 20-25 hours per week at both jobs combined.
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Amina Diallo
•Yeah, 20-25 hours per week for 8 months would definitely put you over 680 hours. You'll want to check your wage requirements too though.
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GamerGirl99
The 680 hours is the minimum but you also need to meet the monetary requirements. Your base year wages matter more than just the hours. You can check your wage history on the Washington ESD website to see if you qualify.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Where exactly do you find your wage history? I've been trying to navigate the Washington ESD site but it's confusing.
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GamerGirl99
•Log into your SecureAccess Washington account and go to the unemployment section. There should be a wage inquiry option that shows your quarterly wages.
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Isabella Costa
I had trouble figuring this out too when I first applied. The whole base year calculation is confusing. If you're close to qualifying, it might be worth calling Washington ESD to verify before you submit your application.
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Connor O'Brien
•Good idea about calling, but I've heard it's impossible to get through to anyone at Washington ESD. Have you had luck reaching them?
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Isabella Costa
•Actually yes, but not by calling the regular number. I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me time.
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Malik Jenkins
The work requirement used to be different before COVID but now it's back to the 680 hours in your base year. Some people get confused because there were temporary changes during the pandemic but those are over now.
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Freya Andersen
•Wait, so the pandemic rules don't apply anymore? I thought they extended some of the eligibility requirements.
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Malik Jenkins
•No, all the pandemic programs like PUA ended in 2021. We're back to regular Washington state unemployment rules now.
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Eduardo Silva
Just to add - if you don't qualify for regular unemployment, there might be other programs available depending on your situation. Sometimes people think they don't qualify when they actually do.
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Connor O'Brien
•What other programs are there? I thought unemployment was just one thing.
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Eduardo Silva
•Well there's regular UI, then there's things like standby unemployment if you're temporarily laid off, or training benefits if you're in an approved program. But most people qualify for regular UI if they meet the wage and hour requirements.
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Leila Haddad
honestly this whole system is so confusing... why cant they just say you need X weeks of work instead of all these calculations with quarters and base years??
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Amina Diallo
•I know it seems complicated but it's actually more fair this way. Someone who worked full-time for 3 months might have higher wages than someone who worked part-time for 6 months, so just counting weeks wouldn't work.
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Leila Haddad
•i guess that makes sense but its still annoying to figure out
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Emma Johnson
The easiest way is to just apply and let Washington ESD determine if you qualify. The worst thing that happens is they say no, but at least you'll know for sure. The application process will calculate everything for you.
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Ravi Patel
•That's what I did and it worked out fine. The online application walks you through everything and tells you if you qualify pretty quickly.
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Connor O'Brien
•Good point, I was overthinking it. I'll just apply online and see what happens.
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Astrid Bergström
Make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply - employer names, addresses, dates worked, and reason for separation. Having everything organized makes the process much smoother.
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Connor O'Brien
•Thanks for the tip! I'll gather all that info before I start the application.
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Astrid Bergström
•Also keep copies of everything you submit. Sometimes Washington ESD needs additional documentation and it helps to have everything saved.
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PixelPrincess
I qualified with just 6 months of part-time work but I was making decent wages. It really depends on how much you earned, not just how long you worked.
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Omar Farouk
•That's encouraging! I've only been working for 5 months but maybe I'll still qualify if my wages are high enough.
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PixelPrincess
•Definitely worth checking! The wage requirements aren't that high if you were working consistently.
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Chloe Martin
One thing to remember is that if you're close to qualifying but not quite there yet, you might qualify in a few more weeks as your base year period shifts. The base year calculation changes quarterly.
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Connor O'Brien
•Oh that's interesting, I didn't know the base year changed. So I could qualify later even if I don't now?
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Chloe Martin
•Exactly. If you're close, it might be worth waiting until the next quarter starts to apply, especially if you're still working and earning wages.
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Diego Fernández
I had to call Washington ESD to get clarification on my wages because one of my employers didn't report correctly. It took forever to get through but they were able to fix it and I qualified after all.
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Anastasia Kuznetsov
•How did you manage to get through? I've been trying to call for weeks about a similar issue with unreported wages.
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Diego Fernández
•I actually used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Made it so much easier to reach an actual person instead of getting the busy signal constantly.
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Sean Fitzgerald
The system is definitely not perfect but once you understand the requirements it's pretty straightforward. 680 hours + wage requirements in your base year = eligible for benefits.
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Zara Khan
•Simple when you put it like that! I was making it way more complicated in my head.
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Sean Fitzgerald
•Yeah, the Washington ESD website makes it sound super complex but it really boils down to those two main requirements.
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MoonlightSonata
Also worth noting that if you worked in multiple states, there might be different rules about combining wages. But if all your work was in Washington, the standard requirements apply.
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Connor O'Brien
•All my work has been in Washington so I think I'm good there. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!
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Mateo Gonzalez
•Good luck with your application! The whole process is much easier than it seems at first.
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Nia Williams
Just went through this myself last month. The key is having steady work history, even if part-time. Sounds like you should qualify based on what you've described.
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Connor O'Brien
•That's reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it. Did your claim get approved quickly?
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Nia Williams
•Yeah, took about a week to get approved since I had all the required wages and hours. Much faster than I expected.
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Luca Ricci
Don't forget that once you apply, you'll need to do weekly claims and meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits. The initial qualification is just the first step.
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Aisha Mohammed
•Good reminder! The work search requirements are 3 job search activities per week now, right?
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Luca Ricci
•Yes, 3 activities per week and they have to be documented in WorkSourceWA. It's not too hard once you get into the routine.
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Ethan Campbell
The most important thing is to apply as soon as you're unemployed, even if you're not 100% sure you qualify. You can't get retroactive benefits for weeks you didn't file, so don't wait too long to find out.
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Connor O'Brien
•That's great advice, I'll apply this week just to be safe. Better to find out sooner rather than later.
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Yuki Watanabe
•Smart move. Even if there are issues with your claim, at least you'll have your application date locked in.
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Isaiah Sanders
For anyone still confused about the calculation, here's a simple way to think about it: If you worked 20-25 hours per week for 8 months like Connor mentioned, that's roughly 640-800 hours total (assuming 32 weeks). Since you need 680 hours minimum, you'd likely qualify on the hours requirement. The wage part is usually easier to meet if you're working consistently - you need $6,240 total in your base year and at least $1,040 in your highest-earning quarter. With two part-time jobs over 8 months, you should be well above those thresholds.
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