How long do you gotta work to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

In Washington state, 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 if you've been working 8 months, you should have enough work history to qualify, assuming you earned at least $1,056 in your highest quarter.

You should definitely apply! I was in a similar situation last year where my hours got cut from full-time to basically nothing. The minimum earnings requirement in Washington is pretty reasonable - you need at least $1,056 in your highest earning quarter and total earnings of at least 1.5 times that amount during your base period.

The work requirement is just one part of qualifying for unemployment in Washington. You also need to be able and available for work, actively seeking employment, and your job loss can't be due to misconduct. Since your hours were cut due to lack of work, that shouldn't be an issue for you.

dude the washington esd system is so complicated for no reason. i've been trying to figure out my base period for like an hour and my brain hurts. but basically if you worked 8 months you should be good. just make sure you file your weekly claims on time once you get approved or they'll mess up your payments

Just go online to secure.esd.wa.gov and file your claim. The system will tell you if you qualify based on your work history. Don't overthink it - worst case scenario they say no and you're in the same position you're in now.

One thing to keep in mind - if you're still working part-time, you might be eligible for partial unemployment benefits. Washington has a program where you can collect UI even if you're working reduced hours, as long as you're earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5.

ugh i hate dealing with government websites they never work right. last time i tried to do something with esd the whole site crashed and i lost everything i had typed in. so frustrating

For what it's worth, I think the 8 months you've worked should be plenty. I qualified with only 6 months of work history when I filed my claim in 2024. The key is making sure you earned enough in your highest quarter - sounds like you probably did if you were working 25 hours a week.

pro tip - if you do apply and your claim gets stuck in adjudication (which happens a lot), don't just sit there waiting. keep calling until you get answers. i waited 6 weeks thinking they'd figure it out on their own and they never did

Since you mentioned you're stressed about rent, I'd recommend applying as soon as possible. Even if there are delays in processing, your benefits will be backdated to the week you filed your initial claim. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can start receiving payments.

been there with the reduced hours thing. it sucks but at least washington state has decent unemployment benefits compared to some places. make sure you keep track of all your job search activities too because they might audit you later

Oh, and if you do end up needing to call Washington ESD for any reason and can't get through (which is super common), that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier is honestly a lifesaver. They'll keep calling until they get you connected to an actual person. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting hung up on.

wait so if you're working part time you can still get unemployment? that doesn't seem right. isn't that just the government paying you to not work full time?

thanks everyone for all the advice. i think i'm gonna apply this weekend and see what happens. fingers crossed it works out because i really need the extra money right now

just wanted to add that you should also look into other assistance programs while you're at it. like food stamps or rental assistance. every little bit helps when money is tight

update us on how it goes! always curious to hear if people actually get approved or if they run into problems. the washington esd system can be pretty hit or miss

One more thing - make sure you file your claim for the right week. If you file on a Sunday, you're filing for the week that just ended (Sunday to Saturday). Don't file for future weeks or you'll mess up your claim.

Honestly, after dealing with Washington ESD for months now, my biggest piece of advice is to be patient but persistent. The system works but it's slow and sometimes you have to advocate for yourself. Don't be afraid to call if something seems wrong with your claim.

good luck with your claim! remember that even if you get denied initially, you can always appeal the decision. don't give up if the first answer isn't what you want to hear

Just one final tip - once you do get approved and start receiving benefits, don't spend all your time just applying for jobs online. Try to mix in some in-person networking, job fairs, that kind of thing. It looks better for your job search log and you might actually find opportunities that aren't posted online.