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

What's the minimum amount you need to earn? I made decent money at my current job but the freelance work before was pretty sporadic.

For 2025, you need at least $1,944 in your highest earning quarter and total wages of at least 1.5 times that amount during the entire base period. So around $2,916 total minimum.

No, Washington ESD looks at your entire work history during the base period, not just one employer. You could work for multiple employers and still qualify as long as you meet the wage requirements.

oh thats good to know. i switch jobs alot so i was worried

I found this service called Claimyr that actually helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.

Really? How does that work? I'm so tired of the busy signals and dropped calls.

It basically handles the calling process for you and connects you when an agent is available. Super easy to use and way less frustrating than doing it yourself.

That's exactly what I'm worried about! My freelance work was inconsistent and I'm not sure if it even counts toward the wage requirements.

Freelance work counts if you were classified as an employee and had taxes withheld. If you were truly self-employed as a 1099 contractor, that doesn't count toward regular UI benefits.

That's reassuring! So even though I've only been at my current job 8 months, my previous work history should count too?

Exactly! As long as you earned enough during the base period timeframe, you should be good. The key is having W-2 wages reported to Washington ESD.

That sounds like a system error rather than a qualification issue. Appeals are pretty common when there are technical problems with wage records.

Yeah it got sorted out but took MONTHS. The whole system needs to be rebuilt from scratch.

Yes, part-time work counts as long as it was W-2 employment with taxes withheld. Washington ESD doesn't care if it was full-time or part-time, just that you earned the minimum wage amounts.

Perfect, thanks! I was stressing about that for nothing.

Yeah I know about the ongoing requirements, but I'm just trying to figure out if I'd qualify in the first place if something happened to my current job.

oh right, sorry. yeah the initial qualification is just about the wage requirements during the base period

How much does something like that cost? I'm trying to save money in case I do lose my job.

It's worth it when you consider how much time and frustration it saves. Plus if you're dealing with a potential job loss, getting accurate information quickly is important.

What's an alternate base period? This is the first I'm hearing about that option.

It's the most recent four completed quarters instead of the first four of the last five. Can help if you've been working recently but didn't work much earlier in the standard base period.

Good point. I'm making more now than I was at my previous jobs, so staying longer would definitely help if I ever need to file.

Only reported tips that were included in your W-2 wages count. Cash tips that weren't reported don't count toward UI wage requirements.

Darn, that's what I was afraid of. A lot of my tips were cash and I probably didn't report all of them.

That's actually really smart. You can request a wage statement from Washington ESD to see what wages they have on record for you.

Do you know how to request that? Through their website or do I need to call?

You can request it online through your SecureAccess Washington account or by calling them. Online is usually faster if you can get logged in.

That's exactly why I'm asking these questions now. I don't want to be caught off guard if something happens to my job.

Smart thinking. I wish I had been more proactive about understanding the system before I needed it.

Agreed! I've been trying to help my friend figure out her eligibility and even I'm confused by some of the documentation.

That's why services like Claimyr exist - sometimes you just need a human to walk you through it instead of trying to decode government websites.

Thank you! This whole thread has been super helpful. I feel much better about my situation now.

Glad to help! Just remember to keep good records of your employment and wages in case you ever need to file a claim.