How long do you have to have a job to collect unemployment in Washington?

Oh that's a relief! So it's more about how much you earned rather than just how long you worked?

Exactly. And you also need to have earned at least 1.25 times your highest quarter earnings during the entire base period. It's a bit confusing but the earnings matter more than just time on the job.

That's good to know! I did work part-time at a restaurant before my retail job so maybe that will help my case.

Ugh the phone situation is terrible. I tried calling for 3 days straight and either got busy signals or got hung up on after waiting an hour.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it on here and it actually got me connected to a Washington ESD agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than redial hell.

Never heard of that but I'll check it out. Anything is better than calling 100 times a day.

Nope, Washington ESD looks at ALL your covered employment during the base period, regardless of how many different employers you worked for.

What do you mean the timing matters? Should I wait to file or file right away?

File right away! You can't get benefits for weeks before you file. I just meant that depending on when you file, they might use different quarters to calculate your base period earnings.

Yeah definitely don't wait. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start getting benefits if you qualify. There's also a one-week waiting period before payments start.

Yes, temp work counts as long as the agency was paying into the unemployment system. Most legit temp agencies do, but you'd want to verify that on your earnings record.

How do I check my earnings record? Is that something I can see online?

You can request it from Washington ESD or sometimes see it when you file your initial claim. It shows all your reported earnings by quarter and employer.

Because some people work seasonal jobs or have varying hours. The earnings-based system is supposed to be more fair but yeah it's confusing as hell.

I guess that makes sense but still annoying when you're already stressed about losing your job.

What's the maximum weekly benefit amount right now?

I think it's around $999 per week for 2025, but don't quote me on that. The Washington ESD website has the current rates.

Good luck! Just make sure you have all your employment info ready - dates, employer names, reason for separation, etc.

And remember you can always call Washington ESD if you have questions during the process. If you can't get through, that Claimyr service I mentioned might help - check out claimyr.com.

Generally no, unless you quit for good cause like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job. But that's a whole different topic with lots of rules.

Okay thanks, I was just curious. I got laid off so shouldn't be an issue for me.

Right? I feel so much better knowing it's about earnings not just time worked.

Good to know! Sometimes it feels like Washington makes everything harder but maybe that's not the case with unemployment.

The benefits are definitely better here. Higher maximum weekly amount and longer duration in most cases.

Good advice! I've been pretty good about keeping my pay stubs so that should help.

Also screenshot or save your Washington ESD confirmation numbers and emails. You'll need them if there are any issues later.

Awesome! Glad it worked for you. Way better than trying to call on your own right?

Yeah seriously, I would have given up after the first hour of busy signals. This actually connected me to someone who could help.

What's an alternate base period?

It's the most recent 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. They'll automatically check both to see which one qualifies you for higher benefits.

Right, and this can help people who had recent job changes or were just starting to work more hours.

Yeah I'm definitely filing today. Better safe than sorry!

Exactly! I probably would have just assumed I didn't qualify if I hadn't seen this thread.

That's why forums like this are so valuable. The official Washington ESD info is accurate but not always easy to understand.

True! And from what everyone's saying, it sounds like I probably do qualify anyway.

With 8 months of work you should be fine, especially if you earned decent wages. The system is designed to help people who've been working and paying into it.

Yeah I've heard about the weekly claims. How many jobs do you have to apply to each week?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week but check with Washington ESD since the requirements can change. Activities include applying for jobs, networking, interviews, etc.

Glad it helped you too! This forum is great for getting real answers from people who've been through it.