How long do you have to work before unemployment benefits in Washington?

In Washington, you don't need to work a full year at one job. Washington ESD looks at your total earnings during your 'base period' which is typically the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base period AND earned at least $1,000 in at least two quarters of your base period.

Also worth mentioning that you need to have worked at least 680 hours during your base period OR earned at least 1.25 times your weekly benefit amount in each of at least 2 quarters. The earnings requirement is usually easier to meet than the hours requirement.

I had the same question when I got laid off last year. The good news is that as long as you've been working consistently, you'll probably qualify. The bad news is that calling Washington ESD to get answers about your specific situation is nearly impossible. I tried calling for weeks and never got through.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator that can help you figure out if you qualify and estimate your weekly benefit amount. You just need to enter your earnings from each quarter.

wait so if i worked like 3 months at one job and 5 months at another job in the same year that counts as 8 months total work? i thought you had to work a full year at one place

I'm in a similar situation and just filed my claim. The system automatically calculated my base period and showed all my earnings from different jobs. It's actually pretty straightforward once you start the application process.

The Washington ESD adjudication process is a nightmare if you get flagged for any reason. They basically put your claim on hold and you can't get through to anyone to explain your situation. I've been waiting 6 weeks now.

One thing to keep in mind is that your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter during the base period. So even if you worked multiple jobs, they look at your best quarter to calculate the weekly amount.

Just to clarify - you need to have worked in 'covered employment' which means jobs where your employer paid unemployment taxes. Most regular jobs qualify, but some federal jobs and certain types of contract work don't.

I worked part-time at 2 different places for about 6 months each and still qualified. The key is having enough total earnings, not necessarily full-time hours at one place.

Also remember that Washington has an alternate base period option if you don't qualify using the standard base period. This uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5.

The whole system is confusing but once you file your claim, Washington ESD will tell you exactly what your base period is and whether you qualify. Don't stress too much about calculating it yourself.

Just make sure you file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's a waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you file.

The monetary determination letter will show you exactly how much you earned in each quarter of your base period. That's when you'll know for sure if you qualify and what your weekly benefit amount will be.

i had three different jobs last year and was worried about qualifying but turned out i made way more than the minimum requirement. dont overthink it

One more thing - if you're unsure about your eligibility, you can always call Washington ESD to ask. Though good luck getting through to someone. I tried calling dozens of times and never got past the busy signal.

The bottom line is that Washington's unemployment system is designed to help people who have been working and paying into the system. If you've been working consistently for 8+ months, you almost certainly qualify for something.

Just remember to keep good records of your job search activities once you start receiving benefits. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week.