Washington ESD work requirements - how long do you have to work to get unemployment benefits?

Thanks! So it's not about how long you worked at one job, but about having wages in multiple quarters? That makes more sense.

yeah exactly, and the wages have to be from covered employment too, not like 1099 work or cash jobs

Wow that's pretty specific math. How do I figure out what my base period wages were?

When you file your claim, Washington ESD will calculate it automatically based on wage records from employers. You can also check your wage history on the SecureAccess Washington portal.

Never heard of that but sounds useful. The phone system is definitely frustrating when you need answers.

Thanks for the tip! I might need to try that if I can't figure out my eligibility from the online info.

Oh that might help me since I had that 6 month gap earlier. So they could look at more recent quarters instead?

Exactly! It's automatic - they'll check the alternate base period if you don't qualify under the regular one.

The alternate base period has saved a lot of people who had recent employment but gaps before that.

Good to know! I was worried about some of my jobs being part-time.

yeah as long as you made enough money total and it was spread across quarters you should be fine

Yeah I think I worked from March through October so that would be Q1 through Q4. Should be good then.

Sounds like you'll definitely meet the quarters requirement. The wage amount is probably the main thing to check.

I think it's because they want to make sure people have a recent work history and enough wages to justify benefits. The quarter system helps prevent people from working one good month and then claiming.

I guess that makes sense but still annoying when you're trying to figure out if you qualify

That's true but you also lose potential benefit weeks by waiting. It's a trade-off between qualifying with higher benefits vs getting benefits sooner.

Good point. Really depends on your specific situation and how close you are to qualifying.

Sounds like you should be fine. The worst that happens is they tell you no and you can ask about the alternate base period.

good luck! the online application is pretty straightforward once you get started

How do I check if my employers reported wages correctly?

You can see your wage history on the SecureAccess Washington website. If something's missing you can contact the employer or Washington ESD to get it fixed.

Yeah I read about the job search requirements. Do you know how many jobs you need to apply to each week?

It's usually 3 job search activities per week but can vary based on your situation. They explain it during the initial interview or you can ask when you call Washington ESD through Claimyr if you need clarification.

How long does it take to get that letter usually?

Usually within a week or two of filing your initial claim. Sometimes faster if everything's straightforward.

Standby is for people who are temporarily laid off but expect to return to the same job within a specific timeframe. Regular UI is for permanent job separations. Different requirements for each.

oh ok that makes sense, I was wondering why there were different types

Don't worry about calculating it yourself - Washington ESD's system will automatically pull all your wage records from all employers and do the math. That's why it's important that employers report wages correctly.

That's reassuring. I was trying to track down old pay stubs and getting stressed about it.

Good point! I'll make sure to check the official site for the most current numbers.

The basic structure stays the same (2 quarters, wage thresholds) but the dollar amounts adjust annually.

Fortunately I was laid off so that shouldn't be an issue for me.

That definitely makes it easier! Layoffs are generally straightforward for qualification purposes.

I think the quarter system is actually more flexible because it accounts for seasonal work, varying hours, and different pay schedules. A simple weeks requirement might exclude people who worked but had irregular schedules.

I guess that makes sense from that perspective, even though it's more complicated to understand initially

Seems like a few people have mentioned that service. Might be worth trying if I run into issues.

Yeah especially if you have a complex work history or questions about specific circumstances. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

How long is the typical waiting period?

There's usually a one-week waiting period for the first week you claim, plus processing time. So maybe 2-3 weeks total from filing to first payment if everything goes smoothly.

That's reassuring to hear! I think I was overthinking it.

Yeah don't stress too much about the calculations - just file the claim and let the system do its job. You can always appeal if there are any issues.

Glad it helped you too! The responses here were way clearer than what I found on the official website.

Sometimes real people explaining things in plain language is more helpful than official documentation, even though both are important.