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

The minimum work requirement isn't about how long you worked at one specific company - it's about your total earnings during your base period. Washington ESD looks at the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $3,400 in your base period and worked in at least 2 quarters.

yeah i was worried about the same thing when i got fired after 3 months but i still qualified because of my previous work history

I had a similar situation last year and couldn't get through to Washington ESD to verify my eligibility. Spent weeks calling and either got busy signals or was put on hold for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration!

The work history requirement is pretty straightforward but people get confused because they think it's about job tenure. What matters is your wage history during the base period. If you worked consistently over the past 2 years like you mentioned, you should be fine. Just make sure you have your employment records ready when you file.

omg this is exactly what happened to me!! got let go after only working somewhere for like 2 months and was freaking out thinking i couldn't get benefits but turns out my other jobs counted too

One thing to keep in mind - there's also an alternate base period if you don't qualify under the standard base period. That uses the last 4 completed calendar quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. Sometimes people who worked more recently qualify under the alternate period.

The Washington ESD website has a tool where you can estimate your benefits before you apply. Might be worth checking that out to see if you qualify and how much you'd get.

This whole system is so confusing! Why can't they just make it simple - work X months, get unemployment. Instead we have base periods and quarters and all this complicated math.

also make sure you weren't fired for misconduct or anything like that because that can disqualify you even if you meet the work requirements

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr again recently when I had questions about my weekly claims. Super helpful for getting through to Washington ESD when you actually need to talk to someone instead of just filing online.

I think there might also be some special rules if you're in certain industries or if you're a seasonal worker, but for most regular jobs the standard base period rules apply.

honestly just apply and let washington esd figure out if you qualify, worst case they say no but at least you'll know for sure

The key thing people miss is that it's not about company loyalty or how long you stayed at one job. It's about consistently working and earning wages over time, which it sounds like you did.

don't forget you have to be able and available for work too, not just meet the wage requirements

I was in almost the exact same situation - worked at a place for only 3 months before getting laid off but had been working consistently before that. Qualified with no problems. The key is having enough total wages in your base period, not tenure at any single job.

Another thing - make sure all your previous employers reported your wages correctly to Washington ESD. Sometimes there can be delays or errors that affect your base period calculation.

The minimum earnings threshold changes slightly each year too. For 2025 it's $3,400 in your base period, but you also need to have earned at least $2,100 in your highest quarter.

washington esd is actually pretty good about explaining eligibility when you apply online, the system will tell you right away if you don't meet the requirements

Based on everything you've described - working consistently for 2 years across different jobs - you should definitely qualify. The 4-month tenure at your last job is completely irrelevant to Washington ESD's eligibility requirements.