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

You need to have worked in at least two of the last five quarters (15 months) before filing your claim. Washington ESD also requires you to have earned at least $1,885 in your highest quarter during that period.

I think you also need to have earned a certain total amount across all quarters, not just the highest one. It's like $2,800 or something total.

In Washington state, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period to qualify for unemployment benefits. Your base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. The minimum earnings requirement is that you must have earned at least $1,000 in your highest quarter and total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings.

Washington ESD looks at your earnings during your base period, not just how long you worked. The base period is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. You need to have earned at least $1,540 in wages during your base period AND earned wages in more than one quarter.

I had a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to Washington ESD to check my eligibility. Ended up using claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent who could look up my work history and tell me exactly what I qualified for. Really saved me time instead of guessing.

Your part-time work for 8 months should definitely count toward the work requirements. The key is having consistent earnings in multiple quarters, not necessarily full-time hours. Washington ESD looks at your total wages earned, not just how many hours you worked per week.

I had the same confusion when I applied last year! The Washington ESD website has a tool where you can check if you qualify, but honestly it's still confusing. What helped me was just applying and letting them figure it out. If you don't qualify, they'll tell you why.

I had a similar situation last year and getting through to Washington ESD to verify my work history was a nightmare. Spent hours on hold trying to get someone to explain my eligibility. Finally found out about Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you actually reach ESD agents without the endless hold times. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made getting my questions answered so much easier.

wait so if I worked part time for like 2 years would that count? or does it have to be full time work?

The base period is confusing too. It's not the most recent quarters - it's like a lag period. When I filed in January 2025, my base period was from April 2023 to March 2024. Really weird system.

honestly the work requirements aren't that hard to meet if you've been working steadily. i think you're probably fine with 8 months of work

I was in a similar situation and had trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.

To give you specific numbers - if you were making around $15/hour for 25 hours a week, that's about $375 per week or roughly $4,875 per quarter. That would easily meet Washington's minimum wage requirements for unemployment eligibility. Your 8 months of consistent work likely spans at least 2-3 quarters which is what you need.

I barely qualified when I filed - had worked just enough in two quarters. The weekly benefit amount was pretty low though since my wages weren't that high.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator that can give you an estimate if you know your quarterly wages. It's under the 'Calculate Your Benefits' section. Might be worth checking before you apply.

The specific requirement is earning wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period AND total earnings of at least $1,540 during the entire base period. There's also an alternative base period calculation if you don't qualify under the standard method. Your part-time work should count as long as you met the earnings threshold.

The whole system is designed to screw people over. You work for months and then they tell you it's not the right months or you didn't earn enough. Ridiculous.

been through this process twice and the hardest part is actually getting hold of someone at washington esd when you have questions about your eligibility. their phone system is terrible

Honestly, the easiest thing is to just call and ask. I know the phone lines are terrible but if you use something like Claimyr to get through, you can get a definitive answer in minutes instead of stressing about it.

honestly just apply and see what happens. worst case they say no and you know for sure. the application process isn't that bad, its just getting through on the phone thats impossible when you have questions

The Washington ESD system is such a mess. I've been trying to get through to them for weeks about my claim status and it's like they don't want to help people. The whole thing is designed to make you give up.

For your specific situation, add up all your wages from both jobs over the past 15 months. If it's over $1,540 and you earned wages in at least 2 different quarters, you should qualify. The exact months don't matter as much as the earnings and the quarters.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you quit your job voluntarily, you might face additional scrutiny even if you meet the work requirements. Washington ESD will want to know the reason you left your last job.

I qualified with just 6 months of work because I was making decent money. It really is about the earnings, not the time. But yeah, getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions is nearly impossible.

Also remember you have to be available for work and actively looking for jobs. Meeting the wage requirement is just the first step.

Your situation sounds very similar to mine from a few years ago. Part-time retail work, about the same timeframe. I qualified without any problems. The application process itself is pretty straightforward through the Washington ESD website.

I worked for 6 months, got laid off, and didn't qualify. Had to wait until I worked longer to build up enough quarters. Really sucked.

Just wanted to add - if you do need to talk to Washington ESD about your eligibility or have questions after applying, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work for getting through. I used it again last month for a different issue and got connected in like 2 hours instead of spending days trying to call myself.

Don't forget you also need to be able and available for work to qualify. It's not just about past earnings - you need to meet the weekly requirements too once you start claiming.

The job search requirement is 3 activities per week minimum. Keep track of everything you do - applications, networking, job fairs, whatever. Washington ESD can ask for your records at any time.

wait so if i worked at mcdonalds for like 4 months making minimum wage i might qualify? i always thought you had to work for like a year or something

I applied with a similar work history to yours and got approved. Had worked at two different places, one for 3 months and another for 6 months. As long as your total earnings meet the requirements, you should be fine.

Just apply online through the Washington ESD website. The system will calculate your base period automatically and tell you if you qualify. Don't overthink it - let the system do the math for you.

One thing to remember - if you don't qualify now, you might qualify later if you work more. The base period keeps moving as time goes on, so your eligibility can change.

Good luck with your application! The whole process is confusing but once you get through it, the weekly claims are pretty straightforward. Just remember to file every week even if you're waiting for approval.

Just make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file - employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers so accuracy is important.

Don't stress too much about it. If you've been working consistently for 8 months at a legitimate job, you almost certainly qualify. The worst that can happen is they say no and you're in the same position you are now.

i had to call washington esd multiple times during my claim process and it was such a pain. definitely recommend trying that claimyr thing if you need to talk to someone. saved me hours of hold time

The 3-week job you mentioned might actually help your case too since it shows additional work history, even if brief. Every bit of documented employment helps establish your work pattern.

Bottom line - with 8 months of consistent part-time work, you're very likely eligible. File your claim and see what happens. Washington ESD will let you know if there are any issues with your work history or earnings.

The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD looks at your base period, which is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file. If you don't qualify under the standard base period, they'll check the alternate base period automatically.

just apply and see what happens, worst case they say no

I keep recommending this but seriously, if you want to know for sure, call Washington ESD through claimyr.com. They can pull up your wage history immediately and tell you exactly what you qualify for. Saved me so much anxiety when I was in the same boat.

Don't forget about the waiting week either. Even if you qualify, you won't get paid for the first week.

I think 8 months should be enough if you were working full time and earning decent wages. The requirements aren't that hard to meet if you had steady employment.

Also keep in mind that if you quit your job, you might not qualify even if you meet the work requirements. Has to be a layoff or termination that wasn't your fault.

The whole quarter system is so confusing. Why can't they just look at the last 12 months of work like normal people would think?

I qualified with just over a year of work but my benefits were pretty low because I hadn't worked that long. Still better than nothing though.

The Claimyr thing really does work well. I was skeptical at first but it got me through to Washington ESD in like 10 minutes instead of calling all day.

Bottom line - you need work in at least 2 quarters and minimum earnings. If you've been working full time for 8 months, you probably qualify unless there were gaps in your employment.