How many weeks must you work to collect unemployment benefits in Washington state?

So it's more about the quarters than actual weeks? That makes more sense. Do you know how much you need to earn in those quarters?

Yes exactly! You need to earn at least $3,850 in your base period and at least $2,310 in your highest earning quarter. These amounts get adjusted annually so double check on the Washington ESD website for current figures.

This is so confusing! I worked sporadically last year and I have no idea if I earned enough in the right quarters. Is there a way to check this before applying?

You can check your quarterly wage reports on the Washington ESD website under your SecureAccess Washington account. That'll show you exactly what wages were reported for each quarter.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me hours of frustration.

That's really helpful to know! I was worried that the gaps in my employment would disqualify me.

Same here! I had like a 6 week gap between jobs and thought that would mess up my eligibility.

What if you didn't earn enough during the regular base period? Are there any alternatives?

Yes, there's an alternate base period that uses more recent quarters if you don't qualify under the regular base period. Washington ESD will automatically check this for you when you apply.

This is why I hate dealing with government stuff. Why can't they just say 'work X weeks to qualify' instead of all this quarter nonsense?

I guess that makes sense for seasonal workers. I just wish Washington ESD explained it better on their website.

Agreed! Their website could definitely be clearer about the qualification requirements.

Gig work typically doesn't count because you're classified as an independent contractor, not an employee. However, there were some special pandemic programs that covered gig workers, but those have ended.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. So all that work doesn't help me qualify for regular unemployment benefits?

Unfortunately no, but you might want to check if you qualify for other assistance programs. The WorkSource offices can help you explore your options.

Yes, Washington participates in the Interstate Benefits program. You can combine wages from other states to meet the qualification requirements. You'll need to provide information about your out-of-state employment when you apply.

That's a relief! I was worried I'd have to choose between filing in Washington or the other state.

I tried that calculator but I wasn't sure I was entering the right wage information. It asks for quarterly wages but I only have pay stubs.

You can add up your gross wages from pay stubs for each quarter. Just make sure you're using the right quarters for your base period.

In Washington, you can collect unemployment for up to 26 weeks in most cases. The exact number of weeks depends on your work history and wages during the base period.

26 weeks seems like a lot but it goes by fast when you're looking for work. Make sure you're doing your job search activities every week to keep getting benefits.

What counts as 'good cause' for quitting? I left my last job because of a hostile work environment.

Hostile work environment can be good cause, but you'll need to document it well. Washington ESD will investigate quit cases to determine if you had good cause.

This is where having documentation really matters. Save emails, write down incidents with dates, get witness statements if possible.

Inconsistent hours don't necessarily disqualify you. What matters is the total wages you earned in each quarter, not how many hours you worked per week. You might be surprised - apply and see what happens.

I was in a similar situation with inconsistent retail hours and still qualified. The quarterly wage requirement is pretty reasonable if you worked steadily even at reduced hours.

This is good advice. I almost didn't apply because I thought I didn't have enough work history, but it turned out I qualified for a small weekly benefit amount.

Exactly! Better to try and get denied than miss out on benefits you're entitled to.

I mentioned this earlier but Claimyr really helped me get through to an actual Washington ESD agent. They explain everything much better than the website. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone directly about your specific situation.

I'll have to look into that. I've wasted so much time trying to call Washington ESD directly.

Thanks everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I'm going to gather my wage information and apply this week.

Good luck! The application process is pretty straightforward once you have your wage and employer information ready.

That's really great advice about the WorkSource offices! I didn't even know they could help with unemployment applications. Do you know if they can also help you calculate your base period wages if you're missing some pay stubs or W-2s?