How long do you have to work order to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

In Washington state, you need to have worked in at least two of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. You also need to have earned at least $1,850 total in your base period, with at least $1,850 in your highest earning quarter. It's not just about how long you worked, but also how much you earned.

I had the same question last year! You definitely don't need to work full-time to qualify. Part-time work counts too as long as you meet the wage requirements. The Washington ESD website has a calculator where you can estimate if you qualify based on your earnings.

The work requirement is based on your base period earnings, not the length of time you worked. However, if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to verify your eligibility, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you actually reach an ESD agent by phone. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helpful when you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

Just to clarify - you need sufficient wages in your base period AND you need to be unemployed through no fault of your own. Even if you meet the wage requirements, you won't qualify if you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct.

ugh the whole base period thing is so confusing. why cant they just make it simple like 'worked 6 months, get benefits' or something

For what it's worth, I qualified with just part-time work spread over about 10 months. Made around $8,000 total in my base period. So don't assume you don't qualify just because you weren't full-time!

I think there's also something about needing to have worked in at least 680 hours during your base period? Or am I mixing that up with something else?

Pro tip: gather all your pay stubs or W-2s before you apply. Washington ESD will need to verify your wages and it speeds up the process if you have everything ready.

The Washington ESD really needs to explain this stuff better on their website. I had to call three times just to understand the base period concept.

Just wanted to add that if you don't qualify under the regular base period, they'll automatically check if you qualify under the alternative base period which uses more recent earnings. So don't give up if you get an initial denial!

For anyone reading this thread later - you can also check your Social Security earnings record online to see what wages were reported for you. Sometimes helps to verify what ESD will see when you apply.

Bottom line - if you've been working regularly for most of the past year and earning decent wages, you probably qualify. The exact time requirements matter less than the wage requirements in Washington state.

One more thing - if you do apply and get approved, make sure you understand the job search requirements. You'll need to make at least 3 job contacts per week and keep detailed records.

Thanks for asking this question OP! I was wondering the same thing and this thread has been super helpful. Going to apply for benefits tomorrow.

Just remember that even if you qualify initially, you still need to meet the ongoing requirements like being available for work and actively seeking employment. It's not just about the initial work history.

If anyone runs into issues with their application or needs to talk to ESD about their specific situation, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does work. I used it last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication and finally got through to someone who could help.

This has been a really informative thread! I learned a lot about Washington state unemployment requirements that I didn't know before.

Final tip from someone who's been through this process - don't overthink it too much. If you've been working and paying into the system, just apply and let ESD determine if you qualify. You won't know for sure until you try!