Union member question: Can I reapply for ESD benefits after benefit year ends without 680 hours?

Hate to break it to u but whoever told you that is WRONG. I'm IBEW and hit this exact same wall last year. NO exceptions to 680 hr rule even for unions!!!! They denied my new claim instantly because I only had like 530 hrs. You gotta wait til u get called up and work enough hours to qualify again...sucks but thats ESD for ya

The person above is partially correct, but there are some nuances here. In Washington, the standard requirement is that you need 680 hours in your base year to qualify for a new claim. Being in a union doesn't automatically waive this requirement. However, what might be causing confusion is the "standby" status that union members often qualify for. Standby status means you don't have to do the usual job search activities while on unemployment because you're expected to return to your employer or get dispatched through your union. This is different from waiving the 680-hour requirement. You should check if you qualify for an extended benefits program, though those have been limited since the pandemic programs ended. Your best option is to contact ESD directly to ask about your specific situation and any possible alternatives.

I was just going through this exact scenario (sheet metal worker). The 680 hours rule is definitely still in effect for all claimants including union members. What you might be thinking of is that union members can often qualify for "standby" status, which waives job search requirements while you wait for dispatch, but doesn't change qualification criteria. Your options right now: 1. If you worked ANY hours in the past 18 months, request a monetary recalculation to see if those hours count toward a valid claim 2. Consider applying for other assistance programs like food benefits or emergency assistance while waiting for dispatch 3. Talk to your union rep about short-term work opportunities to rack up hours faster Don't just take my word though - call ESD directly. I know it's nearly impossible to get through, but I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of fighting busy signals all day. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 Good luck brother, I know how stressful the bench can be.

sorry ur going thru this man... construction is brutal right now. like 40% of our local is benched. might be time to take anything u can get just to build hours quick.

There seems to be some confusion about the regulations. While being a union member doesn't waive the 680-hour requirement, there IS something called the "alternate base year" calculation that might help. If you don't qualify using the standard base year (first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters), ESD can use the alternate base year (the 4 most recently completed calendar quarters). This might capture more work hours for you and potentially qualify you. But again, you still need 680 hours total - that part doesn't change. Also, check with your union welfare office. Many unions have hardship funds or other assistance programs specifically for members between jobs who've exhausted benefits. The hall should have information about these resources.

Update: I called ESD this morning (finally got through after using Claimyr) and got confirmation that there's no union exception to the 680-hour rule. The agent checked my account and I only have about 450 hours in my base year. She suggested I look into the Commissioner Approved Training program if I want to take some classes while waiting to build more hours. Thanks everyone for your help - at least now I know where I stand and can plan accordingly.