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

Thanks! So if I understand correctly, it's based on quarters, not just continuous employment at one place?

Exactly. Washington ESD looks at your total wages earned during the base period, not just one job. You also need to have earned at least $1,030 in your highest earning quarter.

You're thinking of the alternative base period requirements. There are actually multiple ways to qualify - either by wages earned or by hours worked. The wage requirement is what most people use though.

oh ok that makes sense, thanks for clarifying

That's really helpful to know! Did you have any trouble with the application process?

Not really, but I had to call Washington ESD a few times to check on my claim status. Actually, I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual person at Washington ESD without waiting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

If you filed in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. That's the first four of the last five completed quarters before you filed.

Ok that makes sense. So they're looking at my wages from October 2023 to September 2024 to see if I qualify?

Exactly. And you need to have wages in at least two of those quarters, with at least $1,030 in your highest earning quarter.

I get the frustration, but the quarters system actually helps people who have irregular work schedules or seasonal employment. It's designed to be more flexible than a simple 'X months' requirement.

I guess that makes sense, but it's still confusing when you're trying to figure out if you qualify

Oh that's good to know! So there are multiple ways they can calculate it?

Yes, Washington ESD will automatically check the alternative base period if you don't qualify under the standard one. They want to help people qualify if possible.

You can combine wages from different states, but you'll need to file in the state where you worked most recently or earned the most wages. Washington ESD can request wage information from other states.

Thanks! I'll make sure to mention the Oregon wages when I file my claim.

Self-employment income generally doesn't count for regular unemployment benefits in Washington. You'd need to have worked for an employer who paid into the unemployment insurance system.

Darn, that's what I was afraid of. Guess I need to look at my W-2 wages only then.

That's gross wages before taxes and deductions. Washington ESD looks at your total earnings, not what you took home after taxes.

Perfect, that makes it easier to calculate. Thanks!

Yeah, their phone lines are always swamped. I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD without the endless hold times. Really saved me a lot of frustration when I needed to check on my claim status.

I'll have to check that out. I've been trying to call for days with no luck.

Good point! I was so focused on the work history requirements I forgot about the ongoing requirements.

Yeah, and you have to file your weekly claims on time and report any work or earnings. Missing a weekly claim can cause delays in your benefits.

The wage requirements are the same regardless of whether you worked part-time or full-time. What matters is your total earnings during the base period, not how many hours you worked per week.

That's good to know. I was worried my part-time hours wouldn't count.

Yes, your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your wages during the base period. Higher wages generally mean higher weekly benefits, up to the maximum amount.

Makes sense. I wish I had worked more hours during that time period!

Oh that's helpful! I'll definitely check that out before I file my claim.

Yeah, it's pretty useful for getting a rough idea of what to expect.

Yes, you can appeal the decision. You should have received a notice explaining why you were denied. Make sure they have all your wage information, including from any out-of-state employers.

I think they might be missing some wages from a previous employer. How do I get that information to them?

You can provide pay stubs or W-2 forms to document your wages. If you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about it, you might want to try that Claimyr service others mentioned - it can help you actually get through to a person instead of waiting on hold.

You should file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's typically a one-week waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you file your claim.

Good to know. I was thinking about waiting to see if I could find another job first, but sounds like I should file now.

Agreed! I feel much more confident about whether I qualify now.

Yeah, the community here is really helpful for navigating all this unemployment stuff.

How many job contacts do you need to make each week?

It depends on your situation, but typically 3 job search activities per week. This could be applying for jobs, networking, going to job fairs, etc. Keep good records of everything you do.

Washington ESD does random audits, but as long as you're genuinely looking for work and keeping basic records (company name, position, date, method of contact), you should be fine. Don't stress too much about it.

Thanks, that makes me feel better about it.

Same here! The Washington ESD website explanation was pretty confusing, but the examples people gave here really helped it click.

Exactly! Sometimes real people explaining it works better than the official documentation.