How long do I need to be employed to collect unemployment in Washington?

In Washington, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period to qualify for unemployment benefits. The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So it's not really about how long you've been employed, but about having sufficient wage credits.

I was in the same situation last year - worked for only 3 months before getting laid off. Washington ESD denied my claim initially because I didn't have enough wage credits in my base period. Had to appeal and provide documentation of my previous employment in Oregon to establish an interstate claim.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask about your specific situation, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr at claimyr.com. They have a service that helps you get through to ESD agents when the phone lines are swamped. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling when I needed to verify my wage credits.

The quarter system is confusing as hell. I've been working steadily for 8 months but apparently my wages fall in the wrong quarters or something? Washington ESD said I don't qualify even though I've been paying into the system this whole time. Makes no sense.

been working for 4 years straight and got laid off last month. Filed my claim and got approved within a week. If youve been working consistently you shouldnt have any problems qualifying

Important to note that even if you qualify based on wages, you still need to meet other requirements like being able and available for work, actively seeking employment, and not being disqualified for misconduct or voluntary quit without good cause. The wage requirement is just the first hurdle.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator that can help you estimate if you qualify based on your wage history. Might be worth plugging in your numbers to see where you stand.

ugh the whole system is so complicated. why cant they just say "work for X months and youre covered" like every other state? instead we get this quarterly calculation nonsense that nobody understands

For anyone struggling to get through to Washington ESD to check their eligibility, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. Used them twice now when I needed to speak with an agent and couldn't get through the normal way. They handle all the waiting and calling, then patch you through when someone's available.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. Sounds like I should probably call Washington ESD (or use that Claimyr service) to get a definitive answer about my specific situation with the California wages. Better to know now than find out after I potentially need to file.

Just want to add that if you do end up needing to file a claim, make sure you have all your employment documentation ready - pay stubs, W-2s, layoff notice, etc. Washington ESD will want to verify everything anyway.

Update on my situation - I called Washington ESD about the alternate base period and you were right! They recalculated my claim and I qualified. Sometimes it pays to ask about all your options.

the key thing is having wages in at least 2 quarters during your base period. doesnt matter how long youve been at one job as long as you meet the wage requirements across the quarters

I work in HR and deal with unemployment claims regularly. One thing people don't realize is that even seasonal workers can qualify if they've worked enough quarters. The employment length at a single job isn't what matters - it's total wages earned during the base period.

For anyone who needs to speak with Washington ESD about their specific wage situation, I used Claimyr again last week to get through to an agent. They're especially helpful when you have complex questions about interstate wages or alternate base periods that the website can't answer.

Bottom line: you need wage credits in at least 2 quarters of your base period, with minimum earnings thresholds. Length of employment at one job doesn't matter as much as total wages earned across the base period quarters.

One thing I'd add is that Washington also has a "waiting week" requirement - even if you qualify for benefits, there's typically a one-week waiting period before payments begin. So factor that into your planning if you're worried about potential job loss. Also, your weekly benefit amount will be based on your wages during the base period, so higher earnings during those quarters mean higher weekly benefits (up to the state maximum).