How long do you have to work at a job to file for unemployment Washington ESD?

It's not about how long you worked at your current job - Washington ESD looks at your total earnings over what they call the 'base period' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $3,850 in your base period and have worked in at least 2 quarters.

I think you also need to have earned at least $1,540 in your highest earning quarter during that base period. The requirements aren't just about time worked but about how much you earned.

Just went through this myself when I got laid off last month. The Washington ESD website has a tool where you can check if you qualify based on your work history. You'll need to look at your earnings from like 15 months ago up to 3 months ago - it's confusing but that's how they calculate the base period.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check your eligibility, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a real person at the unemployment office. I used it when I couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains how it works.

wait so if I only worked part time for 6 months would that count?? I'm really confused about all these quarter requirements

The whole system is so backwards. You can work for years and then if you have one bad quarter where you didn't work much, suddenly you don't qualify. It's ridiculous.

I had to appeal my initial denial because Washington ESD said I didn't have enough earnings, but it turned out they missed some of my W-2s from a previous employer. Double check that all your employers reported your wages correctly!

Also remember you have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you quit voluntarily or get fired for misconduct, you might not qualify even if you meet all the wage requirements.

Been there! The good news is that if you worked at your previous job for almost a year plus your current job, you should definitely have enough quarters and earnings to qualify. Washington ESD is pretty good about combining all your covered employment.

Make sure to file your claim as soon as possible after you become unemployed. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, even if you were eligible.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator that can give you an estimate of what you might receive based on your earnings history. It's pretty helpful for planning.

Just want to echo what others said about Claimyr - I used them when I had issues with my claim being stuck in adjudication. Really helped me get through to someone who could actually help instead of just getting the runaround.

Don't forget you'll also need to meet the job search requirements once you start receiving benefits. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log.

One thing to watch out for - if you worked in multiple states, it can get complicated. But since you mentioned both jobs were presumably in Washington, you should be fine filing with Washington ESD.

Another tip - if you do get laid off, make sure to ask HR for a copy of your separation notice. It helps speed up the process if Washington ESD has all the details about why you're no longer employed.

The whole process seems overwhelming but it's really not that bad once you get started. Washington ESD's online system is pretty user-friendly compared to some other states I've heard about.

Just remember that even if you qualify initially, you still need to file your weekly claims on time every week to keep receiving benefits. Miss a week and it can cause delays.

I had a similar situation where I was worried about qualifying after job hopping. Turned out fine - Washington ESD looks at your whole work history during the base period, not just your most recent job. You sound like you'll be fine if you need to file.

One last thing - if you do file and run into any issues getting through to Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and frustration.