How long do I have to be at a job to get unemployment benefits in Washington?

You don't need to work at your current job for any specific length of time to qualify for unemployment. Washington ESD looks at your earnings over what's called the 'base period' - typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file your claim. You need to have earned at least $1,100 during the base period and have worked in at least 2 quarters.

I was in a similar situation last year. Got laid off after only 6 weeks at a new job but still qualified because of my previous work history. The key is having enough earnings in your base period quarters.

You also need to make sure you didn't quit your previous job voluntarily without good cause. If you left your last job to take this new one and then get fired, that could complicate things. Washington ESD will look at the circumstances of your separation from ALL employers during your base period.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my own claim and their phone lines are absolutely impossible. If you end up needing to call them, good luck. I've probably tried 200+ times and keep getting the busy signal or getting hung up on after waiting on hold.

Just to add - you mentioned probationary period. Being fired during probation doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment as long as it wasn't for misconduct. Washington ESD will determine if the termination was due to poor performance, lack of work, or other non-misconduct reasons.

wait so you can get unemployment even if you only worked somewhere for like a month?? that seems crazy to me

The Washington ESD website has a tool where you can estimate your potential benefits based on your earnings. Might be worth checking out to see if you'd even qualify before you start worrying too much about it.

This whole system is so confusing. I've been unemployed for 3 months and still don't understand half of what they're asking for. The base period thing makes no sense to me - why can't they just look at your most recent job??

Here's what happened to me - worked at a place for 3 weeks, got laid off, and was worried I wouldn't qualify. Turned out my earnings from my previous job earlier that year were enough to meet the requirements. Filed my claim and got approved within 2 weeks.

Don't forget about the job search requirements once you start claiming benefits. You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. They can audit this at any time.

I hate to be negative but the Washington ESD system is broken. I qualified, got approved, then they randomly decided I was overpaid and wanted $2,800 back. Took months to resolve and I had to appeal. Just be prepared for potential headaches.

For what it's worth, most people don't have major issues with their claims. The horror stories get more attention but plenty of people file, get approved, and collect benefits without drama. Don't let the negative experiences scare you too much.

If you do end up needing to contact Washington ESD and can't get through on the phone, try their secure messaging system through your online account. Sometimes that's faster than calling, though they still take forever to respond.

One more thing - make sure you understand the difference between being fired and being laid off when you file your claim. The reason for separation affects your eligibility, and you want to be accurate about what happened.

Also remember that if you do qualify and start receiving benefits, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue getting paid. Don't forget to do this or you'll miss payments.

Bottom line - don't stress too much about the length of time at your current job. Focus on your total earnings history and the circumstances if you do get separated. Most people who think they won't qualify actually do.

Just wanted to add that Washington ESD also considers alternative base periods if you don't qualify under the standard one. So even if your regular base period doesn't have enough earnings, they might look at a more recent period. Don't give up if you get initially denied.

One last thing - if you're really worried about this, you could always call Washington ESD directly to ask about your specific situation. Though as others mentioned, getting through can be challenging. That Claimyr service people mentioned might be worth trying if you need to reach them urgently.