How long do you have to work before you can file for unemployment with Washington ESD?

So even if I only worked 6 weeks at this job, my previous work history counts toward the requirement?

Exactly! Washington ESD considers all your covered employment during the base period, not just your most recent job.

That's reassuring to hear. Did you have any issues with the adjudication process since it was such a short time?

They did ask for more documentation about why I was let go, but once I provided the termination letter it was approved pretty quickly.

This is confusing math... is there an easier way to figure out if you qualify?

Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website that can give you an estimate. Just plug in your quarterly wages and it'll tell you if you meet the requirements.

I tried calling Washington ESD to ask about this but spent 3 hours on hold and never got through. Anyone have better luck reaching them?

That sounds too good to be true. How much does something like that cost?

It's way cheaper than missing work to sit on hold all day. I was able to get my base period questions answered in like 20 minutes instead of wasting entire days trying to call.

I've heard of Claimyr before - my coworker used them when she had an adjudication issue. Said it was worth it just to avoid the phone frustration.

You need to be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you voluntarily left your job 8 months ago, that might disqualify you unless you had good cause.

I was laid off, didn't quit. Just been looking for work since then but haven't found anything.

You should have filed immediately after being laid off. There might be complications now, but you should still apply and let Washington ESD determine your eligibility.

If that $15,000 was spread over multiple quarters and you meet the minimum requirements, you might qualify. The key is having earnings in at least two quarters of your base period.

Part-time work definitely counts! I qualified with mostly part-time earnings. Just make sure Washington ESD has records of all your employers.

Yes, if you don't qualify using the standard base period, Washington ESD will automatically check your alternate base period, which uses the last four completed quarters instead of the first four of the last five.

That makes sense for people who just started working recently. Thanks for clarifying!

Out-of-state wages can sometimes be transferred to your Washington claim through something called the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan. You'd need to contact Washington ESD about combining wages.

I had wages from Oregon that counted toward my Washington claim. The process took a bit longer but it worked out.

That's frustrating but employer wage reporting errors can be fixed. Did you provide your pay stubs and W-2 as proof of earnings?

Yeah I sent everything but they said it has to go through some verification process. Been waiting 6 weeks already.

Generally no, contractor and freelance work isn't covered employment for regular UI benefits. You'd need W-2 wages from employers who paid unemployment taxes.

There might be some exceptions if you were misclassified as a contractor when you should have been an employee, but that's complicated.

Is it really that much better than just calling yourself?

For me it was. I work during the day so I can't sit on hold for 4+ hours. With Claimyr I just scheduled a callback time that worked for me.

Exactly! You could work one day at 20 different jobs during your base period and potentially qualify, as long as you meet the wage requirements.

This makes me feel a lot better about my situation. I had a good job before this current one so I should be fine if they let me go.

Seasonal work patterns don't disqualify you from unemployment as long as you meet the wage requirements during your base period. Construction workers file UI claims regularly between projects.

Same here - I'm in landscaping and file every winter. Never had issues as long as I had enough wages in my base period.

Yes, Washington ESD adjusts the monetary requirements annually based on average wages. The amounts I mentioned are current for 2025.

Good to know - I was looking at old information from 2022 and the numbers were different.

Agreed! The eligibility requirements should be in one clear place instead of buried in different sections.

At least they have the benefit calculator tool. That helped me figure out if I qualified before filing.

Good luck with your new job! Even knowing you have that safety net can reduce stress.

Exactly! This thread has been super helpful for understanding how it all works.