What are credit weeks for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

So 18 credit weeks means I worked enough in 18 different weeks to qualify? What's the minimum amount you need to earn in a week for it to count?

It varies based on your total earnings but generally you need to earn at least 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount in that week for it to count as a credit week.

That's partially correct. In Washington, you can collect benefits for up to 26 weeks OR the number of credit weeks you have, whichever is less. So if you only have 18 credit weeks, you can only collect for 18 weeks maximum.

Oh wow, so I can only get 18 weeks of benefits instead of the full 26? That's way less than I thought I'd be eligible for.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it if you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

They focus on getting you connected rather than the cost aspect. For me it was totally worth it since I wasted so much time trying to call myself and never getting through.

It is confusing because it depends on how consistently you worked and how much you earned each week. Someone who worked part-time inconsistently might have fewer credit weeks than someone who worked full-time regularly, even over the same time period.

That makes sense I guess. I had a job where my hours varied a lot so probably some weeks didn't count toward my credit weeks.

wait so if I made really good money but only worked like 15 weeks in that base period, I only get 15 weeks of benefits? even though I made way more than someone who worked 26 weeks at minimum wage?

Exactly. It's about consistency of work, not just total earnings. Washington ESD wants to see that you had regular employment before becoming unemployed.

I understand the frustration, but the system is designed to replace regular wages for people who lose steady employment. Contract work has different patterns and often different protections.

Still feels unfair when you've paid into the system and then get less benefits because of how your income was structured

Once your claim is established, your credit weeks are fixed for that benefit year. However, if you work and earn wages while on unemployment, those might count toward a future claim if you need to file again.

Good to know. I guess I need to make sure any part-time work I do while collecting is reported properly to Washington ESD.

Credit weeks only affect duration, not the weekly amount. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your total wages in the base period, specifically your highest earning quarter.

ok thanks that makes sense. was worried I might be getting less money per week too

Was the agent able to break down exactly which weeks counted as credit weeks for you? I'd love to understand the specifics of my situation better.

Yes, they went through my wage records quarter by quarter and showed me which weeks met the threshold. Really eye-opening to see it broken down that way.

I looked in my account but I don't see anything called monetary determination. Where exactly is that located?

It should be under your claim details or benefit information section. If you can't find it, you might need to call Washington ESD to get a breakdown of how your credit weeks were calculated.

That's probably what happened to me too. I was thinking of total weeks worked rather than weeks that actually qualified as credit weeks.

yeah it's a common mistake. the threshold requirement really catches people off guard

They can make mistakes, especially if there are issues with wage reporting from employers. You have the right to appeal their determination if you believe it's incorrect. You'd need documentation of your actual wages to support your case.

I might need to gather my pay stubs and compare them to what Washington ESD has on file. Thanks for the info about appealing.

It's actually mentioned in the application process and in the determination letter they send you, but it's easy to miss among all the other information. The credit weeks calculation is part of your monetary determination.

I must have missed it completely. This is such important information to just bury in all the paperwork.

How did you figure out that your wages weren't reported correctly? And how long did it take to fix?

I compared my pay stubs to what showed up in my Washington ESD account. Took about 6 weeks to get it corrected once I provided documentation.

I only worked in Washington so that wouldn't apply to me, but good to know for others who might have worked across state lines.

This is true but the process for interstate claims can be really complicated. Definitely something you'd want to discuss with a Washington ESD agent if it applies to your situation.

I understand the frustration, but the system was designed around traditional employment patterns. There have been some changes to accommodate gig workers but it's still not perfect.

well they need to update it for how people actually work nowadays instead of punishing people for not fitting their outdated model

That's good to know. I might need to use that service myself since I'm still not 100% clear on how all this works with my specific situation.

Yeah definitely worth it if you have complex questions. The agents actually have access to your account details so they can give you specific answers rather than general information.

You're welcome! It's definitely one of those things that catches people by surprise. Better to understand it now than be shocked later when your benefits run out earlier than expected.

Same here - this thread has been super educational. At least now I know what to expect with my 18 credit weeks.