How long do I need to be employed to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

It's not just about how long you worked at one job - Washington ESD looks at your earnings over what they call the 'base period' which is basically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. You need to have earned at least $1,096 in your highest earning quarter AND have total earnings of at least $2,744 during the entire base period.

I was in a similar situation last year - had worked for about 10 months but was worried about qualifying. Turned out my gap in employment didn't matter as much as I thought since I had earned enough during the quarters they counted.

Just went through this myself. The wage requirements can be confusing but there's actually an alternative base period too if you don't qualify under the standard one. If you don't meet the requirements using the first 4 of the last 5 quarters, they'll check the last 4 completed quarters instead.

Honestly the hardest part isn't figuring out if you qualify - it's getting through to Washington ESD when you have questions or problems. I spent WEEKS trying to call them about my claim status. Finally discovered this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't forget you also need to be unemployed through no fault of your own. Even if you meet the wage requirements, getting fired for misconduct or quitting without good cause can disqualify you.

ugh the whole system is so confusing. why cant they just make it simple like 'worked 6 months = qualify' or something

For what it's worth, 8 months of steady work should definitely put you over the minimum requirements assuming you were working decent hours. I qualified with only about 6 months of work spread across different quarters.

Just a heads up - even if you qualify for benefits, there's often a waiting period and you have to meet weekly requirements like job searching and filing your weekly claims. Make sure you understand all the ongoing requirements too.

I had a weird situation where my wages from one employer weren't showing up in the Washington ESD system correctly. Took months to get it sorted out and I almost got denied because of it. Make sure all your employers reported your wages properly.

The wage requirements change slightly each year too so make sure you're looking at current numbers. I think for 2024 claims it's $1,096 in your highest quarter and $2,744 total but double check the Washington ESD website.

Been there! The anxiety about whether you qualify is the worst part. But honestly if you've been working full-time for 8 months you should be fine. The system is designed to help people who've been contributing through their work.

One thing to remember is that if you get approved but then have issues later - like if your claim gets put into adjudication or something - that's when services like Claimyr become really helpful. I used them when my claim got stuck and couldn't get anyone on the phone at Washington ESD for weeks.

Also worth mentioning that you can apply even if you're not 100% sure you qualify. The worst that happens is you get denied and then you know for sure. But based on what you described you should be fine.

The whole earnings calculation thing confused me too when I first applied. But Washington ESD has a worksheet on their website that helps you figure out if you meet the requirements. Might be worth filling that out before you apply.

Just remember that even after you get approved, you have to keep certifying every week and meeting the job search requirements. It's not just a one-time thing - there are ongoing obligations to keep getting benefits.

Good luck with your application! Sounds like you should qualify based on your work history. The system can be frustrating but it's there to help people in situations like yours.