How long do you have to work somewhere to be eligible for unemployment in Washington?

It's not about how long you worked at your current job specifically. Washington ESD looks at your entire work history over what's called the 'base period' - usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $3,850 during your base period AND have worked in at least 2 quarters of that period.

I got laid off after only 3 weeks at my job last year and still qualified because I had worked at my previous job for 8 months. The quarters thing is confusing but basically they look back at your work history, not forward.

The quarter system is really important to understand. If you file in January 2025, your base period would typically be January-December 2024. You need wages in at least 2 of those 4 quarters AND meet the minimum earnings threshold. There's also an alternate base period if you don't qualify under the standard one.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to check my base period earnings. Spent hours on hold multiple times. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to get basic info about my claim eligibility.

the whole system is so confusing!! i thought you just had to work somewhere for 6 months or something. why cant they just make it simple

Also worth mentioning - if you voluntarily quit your current job after only 2 months, you might face additional hurdles even if you meet the base period requirements. Washington ESD will scrutinize voluntary quits much more than layoffs.

Had a friend who got confused about this exact thing. She thought she needed to work 6 months at her current job but actually qualified right away because of her previous work history. The base period thing trips a lot of people up.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that can help you figure out if you'd qualify based on your work history. You just need to know your quarterly earnings.

Another thing to remember is that the work has to be 'covered employment' - meaning your employer paid unemployment taxes on your wages. Most regular W-2 jobs are covered but some contractor positions aren't.

Just remembered - there's also a minimum weekly benefit amount you need to qualify for. If your base period wages are too low, even if you meet the other requirements, you might not get approved.

Washington's unemployment system is actually pretty generous compared to other states. The base period requirements aren't that hard to meet if you've been working regularly.

One more thing - if you do end up filing a claim, make sure you understand the job search requirements. You'll need to be actively looking for work and document your search activities.

I'm in a similar situation as the OP and this thread has been super helpful. I feel much better knowing my previous work history counts toward eligibility.

The key takeaway is that eligibility is based on your work history over the base period, not just your current job. As long as you've been working regularly and earning decent wages, you'll probably qualify.

For anyone who needs to actually talk to Washington ESD about their specific situation, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. Getting through on your own is nearly impossible these days with how backed up they are.

Pro tip: if you're worried about potential layoffs, start gathering your wage information now. Having your quarterly earnings ready will make filing a claim much smoother if you need to.

This has been one of the most helpful threads I've read about unemployment eligibility. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Remember that if you do get laid off, file your claim as soon as possible. There's usually a one-week waiting period before benefits start, so don't delay.

The bottom line is that 2 months at your current job doesn't disqualify you if you have sufficient work history during your base period. You should be fine if you've been working regularly before this job.

Just wanted to add that Claimyr really does work for getting through to Washington ESD. I was skeptical at first but they got me connected within an hour when I'd been trying for days on my own.