How much do you have to earn to qualify for unemployment in Washington - confused about wage requirements

Wait, so it's not just about total earnings? I need to have worked in multiple quarters too?

Exactly. You could earn $10,000 but if it was all in one quarter, you wouldn't qualify. The system wants to see consistent work history.

Same situation here! Most of my work was concentrated in a few months.

Never heard of this service before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked for me. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals or hung up on.

How do I know which base period Washington ESD will use when I apply?

They automatically check the standard base period first. If you don't qualify, they'll check the alternate base period. You don't have to do anything special to request it.

That's not great advice. If you file and don't qualify, it creates an inactive claim that can complicate things if you become eligible later.

It's gross earnings reported to Washington ESD by your employers. Tips are included if they were reported through your employer's payroll system.

OK that helps. I think most of my earnings were properly reported so I might actually qualify.

omg yes the adjudication thing is the worst, mine was stuck for over a month

This is exactly why I used Claimyr when I had adjudication delays. Got through to an agent who explained what documents they needed and my claim was approved within a week after that.

Ugh, so many requirements! How is anyone supposed to keep track of all this?

The requirements seem complicated but they're designed to ensure benefits go to people who had significant attachment to the workforce.

Gig work only counts if you were classified as an employee and had taxes withheld. Most gig work is 1099 independent contractor work which doesn't count toward UI eligibility.

Damn, that's most of my extra income then. Thanks for clarifying.

How do they calculate the weekly benefit amount? Is it based on your highest quarter?

It's based on your average weekly wage in your two highest earning quarters. The formula is a bit complex but generally you get about 50% of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum.

That's correct! Those are the three main monetary requirements for Washington unemployment benefits.

And don't forget you still need to meet all the other requirements like being able and available for work and actively seeking employment.

I feel like they make it intentionally confusing so people give up and don't apply.

The requirements exist to prevent fraud and ensure the trust fund remains solvent. They may seem burdensome but they serve a purpose.

Smart approach. If you need help understanding your wage history once you apply, definitely consider using a service like Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD quickly rather than spending hours on hold.

Good luck! The wage calculation can be tricky but it's worth figuring out before you file.

I only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue for me, but good to know!

Oh really? I'll definitely check that out. Do you remember where on the site it is?

I think it's under the 'Apply for Benefits' section but the Washington ESD website layout changes so much I can never find anything consistently.

Don't be embarrassed! This stuff is genuinely confusing and they don't make it easy to understand.

That's concerning. How long did it take to get resolved?

About 5 weeks total. She finally got through to someone at Washington ESD who expedited the employer contact.

This is another situation where Claimyr would have been helpful - getting through to an agent who could follow up on the employer verification rather than just waiting.

Yes, the monetary requirements are adjusted annually based on average weekly wages in the state. They usually announce the new amounts in the fall for the following year.

Make sure you're using the right base period quarters! And remember there's the alternate base period option too.

Also double-check that you have all your wage records. Sometimes people forget about short-term jobs or don't realize their employer reported wages differently than expected.

Good point, I'll make sure I have everything before giving up completely.