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

The minimum work requirement isn't based on how long you've been at one specific job - it's about your total earnings and work history over what's called the 'base period.' For Washington ESD, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period and meet minimum wage requirements. Your base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.

i think you need to work like a full year or something but not sure

I had a similar situation last year and found that getting through to Washington ESD to verify eligibility was nearly impossible with their phone lines always busy. After weeks of trying to call, I discovered this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD within minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak with someone directly about your specific work history.

In Washington, it's not about how long you worked at one specific job - it's about your total earnings during what they call the 'base period.' You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period and meet the minimum wage requirements. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.

i think you need to make like $3000 or something in your highest quarter and then some minimum amount total but im not sure the exact numbers

The Washington ESD system is SO confusing with all these quarters and base periods! Why can't they just make it simple like 'worked 6 months = eligible'???

The hardest part isn't qualifying - it's actually getting through to Washington ESD when you need help with your claim! I spent weeks trying to call them last year when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Ended up using this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

DONT EVEN WORRY ABOUT QUALIFYING - WORRY ABOUT THE NIGHTMARE THAT IS ACTUALLY FILING AND MAINTAINING YOUR CLAIM!! Washington ESD's system is a joke. You'll spend more time dealing with their broken website and trying to reach someone on the phone than you will actually collecting benefits.

To be more specific about the Washington ESD requirements: You need to have earned at least $1,008 in your highest-earning quarter AND have total base period earnings of at least 1.5 times your high quarter wages. So if you earned $2,000 in your best quarter, you'd need at least $3,000 total in your base period. The part-time vs full-time doesn't matter as much as your total earnings.

You also have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. So getting laid off would qualify, but if you quit or get fired for misconduct, you won't be eligible even if you meet the wage requirements.

Just remember you also have to be able and available for work and actively searching for jobs once you start collecting. Washington ESD requires you to log your job search activities.

does it matter what kind of work you do? like if you were a contractor vs employee?

8 months should be plenty! I qualified after working for just 6 months at my previous job. The key thing is making sure you file your weekly claims on time once you do apply - they're very strict about that.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you don't meet the requirements using the standard base period, Washington ESD can sometimes use an 'alternate base period' which looks at more recent quarters. This helps people who recently started working or had a gap in employment.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that can help you estimate if you qualify and how much you might receive. Might be worth plugging in your numbers.

I was in a similar situation last year - worked 7 months before getting laid off and was so worried I wouldn't qualify. Turns out I was fine! Washington ESD calculated everything automatically when I applied online. The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be.

BEWARE - even if you think you qualify, Washington ESD might still put your claim into adjudication for weeks if there's any question about your separation from work or eligibility. I'm still waiting after a month for them to make a decision on mine.

wait do you have to work at the same job for the whole time or can it be different jobs? i had like 3 different jobs in the past year

Why is unemployment so complicated??? Other states seem way easier to deal with

Just make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply - employer names, addresses, dates worked, reason for separation, etc. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers so you want to be accurate.

Another factor to consider: if you quit your job voluntarily, you might not be eligible even if you meet the wage requirements. You generally need to be laid off, fired for non-misconduct reasons, or have quit for 'good cause.

I went through this exact situation 2 years ago. Had only been at my job for 4 months but qualified because of previous work. The key is having that work history in your base period quarters.

One thing to keep in mind - if you do get laid off, apply for unemployment right away. Benefits don't start until the week you file your claim, so waiting just costs you money.

this whole thread is making me realize i probably should have filed when i got laid off 3 months ago... is it too late now?

For anyone struggling to get through to Washington ESD to verify their eligibility or check claim status, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. I used it twice last year when I had questions about my weekly claims and it saved me literally hours of calling and getting nowhere.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much better about my situation now. Sounds like I should start gathering my wage information from previous jobs just in case.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Even if you qualify, there's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start.

One last tip - if you do file and get approved, make sure you understand the job search requirements. Washington ESD requires three job search activities per week and you have to keep detailed records.

Has anyone dealt with Washington ESD recently? I heard they're still backed up from all the pandemic stuff

Update: I checked the Washington ESD website and used their benefit calculator. Looks like I do qualify based on my work from last year plus my current job! Thanks again everyone for the advice.

The phone system at Washington ESD is absolutely terrible. When I needed to talk to someone about my claim, I must have called 200 times over two weeks. Finally used Claimyr to get through - totally worth it. They basically call for you and get you connected to an actual agent.

Honestly the wage requirements aren't that hard to meet if you've been working steadily. The bigger challenge is dealing with Washington ESD's bureaucracy and all their forms and requirements. Just be prepared for some paperwork!

Pro tip: if you do file for unemployment, sign up for direct deposit right away. Waiting for paper checks takes forever and half the time they get lost in the mail.

I had a friend who was convinced she didn't qualify because she'd only worked 9 months, but she got approved no problem. The Washington ESD system looks at your total wages, not just how long you worked. As long as you earned enough money spread across at least two quarters, you should be good.

Another thing - if your hours get reduced instead of being laid off completely, you might still qualify for partial unemployment benefits. A lot of people don't know about that option.

Bottom line - 8 months of steady work should definitely qualify you for unemployment benefits in Washington. Don't stress too much about it. Focus on keeping your job if possible, but know that the safety net is there if you need it!

If you do end up needing to contact Washington ESD and can't get through on the phone (which happens a lot), that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me weeks of frustration when my claim had issues.

Last piece of advice - if you do file for unemployment, be completely honest on your application. They verify everything anyway, and any discrepancies can cause major delays or even disqualification.

You got this! 8 months of work history puts you in a good position. Try not to worry too much about something that might not even happen. And if it does, at least you know you'll have some income coming in while you look for your next job.