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

In Washington, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period to qualify for unemployment benefits. The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. So it's not just about how long you worked, but how much you earned and when.

The work requirement isn't just about time - it's about quarters and earnings. I learned this the hard way when I first tried to file. You could work for 6 months straight but if it was all in one quarter, you might not qualify. Washington ESD looks at your wage history across multiple quarters.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to verify my work history when I was trying to figure this out. After calling dozens of times over several days, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made the whole process so much easier than trying to get through on my own.

the quarters thing is confusing but basically you need to have worked in at least 2 different 3-month periods and made enough money. most people who worked a regular job for more than 6 months across different quarters will qualify

One important thing to remember is that Washington ESD will look at ALL your employers during the base period, not just your most recent job. So even if your current job is only 8 months, your previous jobs count toward the wage requirements if they fall within the base period timeframe.

I remember being so confused about this when I first needed unemployment. The base period calculation seems backwards - they don't use the most recent quarter, which threw me off. But once you understand it's about establishing a pattern of employment over time, it makes more sense.

ugh the Washington ESD system is so complicated. why cant they just say 'worked 6 months = eligible' like normal people would think??

For anyone struggling to get their wage information verified or having trouble reaching Washington ESD about eligibility questions, I had success with Claimyr too. Their service was really helpful when I needed to speak with someone about my specific situation and couldn't get through the regular phone lines.

Just to add some specifics - the base period quarters are defined as Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, and Oct-Dec. So depending on when you file, Washington ESD looks at different quarters. If you file in January 2025, they'd typically look at Jan 2024 through Sep 2024 as your base period.

I wish I had known about the alternate base period option when I first filed. If you don't qualify using the standard base period, Washington ESD can sometimes use a more recent set of quarters. Might be worth asking about if you're close to qualifying but not quite there.

been thru this whole process twice now and the key thing is just making sure your employers actually reported your wages correctly to the state. had one employer who messed up the reporting and it took forever to get it fixed

Another thing to consider is that Washington state has some of the more generous unemployment eligibility requirements compared to other states. The 1.5x multiplier and two-quarter requirement is pretty reasonable if you've been working steadily.

Pro tip: if you're unsure about your eligibility, you can always file an application with Washington ESD anyway. They'll review your wage history and let you know if you qualify. There's no penalty for applying if you don't meet the requirements.

I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times to get clarification on my eligibility and kept getting disconnected. Finally used Claimyr and got through to someone who walked me through exactly what quarters counted for my situation. Made all the difference in understanding whether I qualified.

Just remember that even if you meet the wage requirements, you still need to meet all the other eligibility criteria - like being unemployed through no fault of your own, being able and available for work, and actively seeking work. The work history is just one piece of the puzzle.

Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like your 8 months of work should put you in a good position to qualify, especially since it likely spans multiple quarters. The key thing I'm taking away is that Washington looks at your earnings across different quarters rather than just continuous employment time. Since you mentioned having other jobs before your current one, those wages might also count toward your base period requirements if they fall within the right timeframe. If you're still unsure about your specific situation, it might be worth gathering your pay stubs from all your jobs over the past year or so to get a clearer picture of your quarterly earnings before you need to file.