How long do I have to work to get unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Washington ESD looks at your earnings during what they call the 'base period' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $1,500 in wages during your base period AND have worked in at least two quarters of that base period. Part-time work absolutely counts as long as you meet the wage requirements.

The wage requirement is actually a bit more complex. You need to earn at least $1,500 in your base period total, but you also need to earn wages in your highest quarter that are at least 1.5 times what you earned in your second highest quarter. So it's not just about total earnings but how they're distributed across quarters.

I had this same question last year when I got laid off. The thing that helped me was actually calling Washington ESD directly to verify my eligibility before filing. I know their phone lines are always busy, but there's this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual person. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

In Washington, you need to have earned wages in at least 2 quarters during your base period, which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. You also need to have earned at least $1,005 total in your base period. It's not about working continuously for a year - it's about having enough wages in the right time periods.

wait i thought you had to work for like 6 months straight?? this is confusing

wait so if i worked full time for 6 months then got fired would i qualify? i made like $15/hour

The Washington ESD system is intentionally complicated to discourage people from applying IMO. I've been dealing with unemployment claims for years and they always find ways to make simple things difficult. At least now you can file online instead of having to mail paper forms like back in the day.

I had a similar question when I got laid off last year. The wage requirements can be tricky to calculate on your own. I spent weeks trying to figure out if I qualified by calling Washington ESD but could never get through. Finally found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent who explained everything. They have a demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you want to see how it works. Saved me so much time and stress.

one thing to remember is that if you quit your job you probably wont qualify unless you have good cause. getting fired is different than quitting when it comes to unemployment

The system is SO BROKEN. I had enough wages but still got denied initially because they said I didn't meet the requirements. Had to appeal and it took months to get sorted out. Make sure you keep all your pay stubs!

Another thing to consider is that even if you qualify based on work history, you'll need to meet ongoing requirements like being able and available to work, actively seeking work, and filing weekly claims. The initial qualification is just the first step.

I think the easiest way is just to apply and see what happens. When I applied last year I wasn't sure if I qualified either but I got approved. The online application asks you about your work history and wages so they can determine eligibility automatically in most cases.

Just wanted to add that if you worked in multiple states during your base period, things get more complicated. You might need to file an interstate claim. But if all your work was in Washington, the process is more straightforward.

Here's the exact breakdown for 2025: You need at least $1,005 in total wages during your base period AND wages in at least 2 quarters. Additionally, your total base period wages must be at least 1.25 times your highest quarter. So if your highest quarter was $2,000, you'd need at least $2,500 total.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS A JOKE! I had to wait 6 weeks for my claim to get approved even though I clearly qualified. They kept asking for more and more documentation. And don't even get me started on trying to reach someone by phone.

just to add - if you don't qualify under the regular base period, washington has an alternate base period that uses the most recent 4 quarters. sometimes that helps people who worked more recently

I'm dealing with something similar right now. Been working for 10 months but had a 3-month gap before that. Really hoping I qualify because rent isn't going to pay itself if I get laid off!

Been there! The wage calculation was so confusing when I filed last year. What really helped was getting through to someone at Washington ESD who could look up my exact wage history. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier - totally worth it to actually talk to a human who knows the system.

honestly the whole system is a mess. they make it so complicated when it should be simple - did you work enough? yes or no. but instead we get all these quarter calculations and base periods ugh

Quick question - does anyone know if commission-based earnings count toward the wage requirement? I worked in sales for part of last year.

Don't forget about the ongoing requirements too - you need to be able and available for work, actively seeking work, and register with WorkSource. The initial qualification is just the first step!

I'm in a similar situation but I've been working two part-time jobs. Do they combine the wages from both jobs when calculating eligibility?

also remember that if you get approved youll need to keep filing weekly claims even if you find part time work. you might still get partial benefits depending on how much you earn

The timing of when you file matters too. Your base period is determined by when you file your claim, not when you lost your job. So if you're close to the end of a quarter, it might be worth waiting a few days to file if it would include more recent higher earnings in your base period.

My advice is just file the claim online and let Washington ESD tell you if you qualify or not. The application process will walk you through entering your work history and they'll calculate everything for you. Better to try and get denied than not try at all.

One more thing - if you do apply and get denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. Sometimes initial denials get overturned on appeal, especially if there were errors in how they calculated your wages or base period.

Just want to circle back to the phone support thing - if you do need to call Washington ESD for any reason after you apply, seriously consider using Claimyr. I've recommended it to several friends now and they've all had success getting through to actual representatives instead of sitting on hold forever.

OP - based on what you described (8 months part-time plus 3 months before that), you very likely meet the basic work requirements. The wage amount will depend on your hourly rate, but retail jobs usually pay enough to meet the minimum if you've been working consistently.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I think I have a better understanding now. Going to go ahead and file online and see what happens. Worst case I'll know for sure whether I qualify or not.

Quick question - does it matter what kind of work you did? Like if I worked part-time and full-time jobs during different quarters?

I had a weird situation where one of my employers didn't report my wages correctly to Washington ESD. Took forever to get it straightened out. Make sure all your employers are reporting properly!

This thread is super helpful! I've been putting off applying because I wasn't sure if I qualified. Sounds like I probably do based on the wage requirements explained here.

One more tip - if you're not sure about your wage history, you can request a wage transcript from Washington ESD before you file your claim. That way you know exactly what they have on record.

thanks everyone for all the info! this makes way more sense now. i was stressing about having some gaps in my work history but sounds like that doesn't matter as much as i thought

Just remember that if you quit your job voluntarily, there might be additional requirements to meet. The work history qualification is just one part of being eligible for UI benefits.

This has been really educational! I had no idea about the quarter system and base periods. Washington ESD should make this information clearer on their website.