How long do you have to be at a job to file unemployment in Washington ESD?

It's not about how long you've been at your current job - Washington ESD looks at your earnings over the base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So your previous 8 months of work definitely matters and will likely help you qualify.

wait im confused about this too. i thought you had to work somewhere for like 3 months minimum to get UI?? ive been stressing about this same thing

I had a similar situation last year - worked somewhere for only a month before getting laid off. I was able to collect unemployment because I had sufficient wages from my previous jobs during the base period. The key is meeting Washington ESD's monetary requirements, not tenure at any single employer.

Here's what you need to know about Washington ESD eligibility requirements. You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period AND either: 1) Earned at least $7,344 during your base period with wages in each quarter totaling at least $429, OR 2) Earned at least 680 times the minimum wage during your base period. Your 8 months at the previous job plus 6 weeks at current job should easily meet these requirements.

The system is SO confusing when you're trying to figure out if you qualify. I spent hours on the phone trying to reach someone at Washington ESD to ask these same questions. Finally discovered Claimyr which helped me get through to an actual agent who explained everything clearly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't stress about the short employment period! I know someone who worked somewhere for literally 2 weeks before getting fired and they still qualified because of their work history from the previous year. Washington ESD definitely considers all your qualifying wages, not just your most recent job.

One important thing to remember is that even if you qualify monetarily, you still need to meet the non-monetary requirements like being able and available for work, actively seeking work, and not being disqualified for misconduct or voluntary quit without good cause. Since you're being laid off due to budget cuts, that shouldn't be an issue for you.

I wish I had known this earlier! I didn't file for unemployment after being laid off from a job I'd only been at for 5 weeks because I thought I didn't qualify. Lost out on months of benefits because of that misconception.

File as soon as possible after your last day of work! Don't wait around wondering if you qualify. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be pleasantly surprised. I filed thinking I probably wouldn't qualify and ended up getting approved.

The base period calculation is what trips people up. If you file your claim in January 2025, they'll typically look at your wages from October 2023 through September 2024. So employment from way before your current job can still count toward your benefits.

I had to learn all this the hard way when I got laid off. Spent weeks trying to get through to Washington ESD on the phone to ask questions. Finally used Claimyr to actually reach someone and got all my questions answered in one call. Worth every penny to avoid the runaround.

washington esd is such a mess to deal with. took me forever to figure out i actually qualified even though i thought i didnt. the whole system needs to be more user friendly

Quick tip - when you do file, make sure you have your Social Security card, driver's license, and employment information for all jobs in the last 18 months ready. Having everything organized makes the application process much smoother.

Don't let anyone tell you that you 'haven't worked long enough' to qualify. That's not how it works with Washington ESD. Your total earnings during the base period are what matter, not how long you've been at any single job. File your claim and let them make the determination.

Update us on how it goes! I'm in a similar situation and would love to hear about your experience with the application process.