How long do you have to work at a company to collect unemployment in Washington?

It's not really about how long you worked at one specific company. Washington ESD looks at your total earnings during what they call the 'base period' which is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed your claim. You need to have earned at least $1,500 in wages during your base period AND have worked in at least two different quarters.

The base period thing can be really confusing. Basically Washington ESD takes the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at July 2023 through June 2024. If you don't qualify under the regular base period, they can use an alternate base period which would be the last 4 completed quarters.

I had a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to Washington ESD on the phone to get clarification. Ended up using claimyr.com to actually reach an agent - they have this service where they'll call and wait on hold for you. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. The agent was able to explain exactly which quarters counted for my base period.

also you have to have lost your job through no fault of your own. so if you quit or got fired for misconduct you wont qualify no matter how long you worked

The $1,500 minimum is really low honestly. Most people who work even part-time for a few months will hit that. The bigger issue is usually the two-quarter requirement - you need to have worked in at least two different calendar quarters during your base period.

I was worried about the same thing when I got laid off. Turned out I qualified easily even though I thought I hadn't worked long enough. Washington ESD's online system will tell you pretty quickly if you're eligible when you file your initial claim.

This whole base period thing is so unnecessarily complicated. Why can't they just make it simple like 'worked 6 months in the last year' or something?

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify for benefits, your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings during the base period. Higher earnings = higher weekly benefits, up to the state maximum.

Just file the claim and see what happens. The worst they can do is say no, and then you'll know for sure. The Washington ESD website has a benefit estimator tool that can give you a rough idea.

Make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's no waiting period before you can file, and benefits don't start until you actually submit your claim. I made the mistake of waiting a few weeks thinking I needed to look for work first.

i think you also have to be actively looking for work and able to work. they make you report job search activities every week when you file your weekly claim

Had to deal with this exact question when I got furloughed. Couldn't get anyone at Washington ESD on the phone for days. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got connected to an agent within like 20 minutes. They walked me through exactly how the base period worked for my situation.

Another thing - if you worked for multiple employers during your base period, Washington ESD will contact all of them to verify your wages and employment dates. This can sometimes slow down the process if there are any discrepancies.

Don't forget about the work search requirements once you start collecting. You'll need to keep a log of your job search activities and report them when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD can audit these at any time.

WASHINGTON ESD MAKES EVERYTHING SO COMPLICATED!! why cant they just tell you straight up what you need instead of all this base period quarter nonsense. its like they WANT to confuse people

The good news is that 8 months of work is almost certainly enough to qualify, assuming you earned decent wages. Most people who work full-time for that long will easily meet both the earnings and quarter requirements.

Just remember that even if you qualify, there might be a waiting period for your first payment while they process everything. Don't panic if you don't get paid immediately after filing.

Bottom line - file your claim ASAP and let Washington ESD determine if you qualify. With 8 months of work at a decent wage, you almost certainly will. Don't overthink it.