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

The work requirement isn't about how long you worked at one specific job - it's about your total earnings during what's called the 'base period.' For Washington ESD, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, which is usually the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file.

It's not about how long you work at one specific job - it's about your total earnings over what's called the 'base year.' For Washington ESD, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base year and meet minimum earnings requirements. The base year is typically the first four of the last five completed quarters before you file your claim.

i think you need like $3000 total earnings in your base period but im not 100% sure on that number

It's not about how long you worked at one specific job, it's about your total earnings over what's called the 'base period.' Washington ESD looks at the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file your claim. You need at least $1,685 in total wages during your base period AND you need wages in at least two different quarters.

wait so what if you only worked one quarter? like if you just started working this year?

I was in a similar situation last year and was freaking out about the work requirements. Turned out I had enough from my previous jobs even though my current one was only 3 months. The tricky part was actually getting through to Washington ESD to verify my eligibility - their phone lines are constantly busy. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I tried figuring this out on the Washington ESD website but it's so confusing with all the quarter calculations. When I called to ask about my specific situation I was on hold for literally 3 hours before I gave up. Has anyone found a better way to get through to them?

I think you need to earn at least $1,000 in your highest quarter and total earnings of at least 1.25 times your highest quarter amount. But don't quote me on the exact numbers - Washington ESD updates these amounts periodically.

The quarters thing is really important to understand. Like if you file in January 2025, your base period would be October 2023 through September 2024. Make sure you have wages reported in at least 2 of those quarters.

I was in a similar situation last year - got let go after only 3 months at a job but qualified because I had worked other places during the base year. When I couldn't get through to Washington ESD on the phone to verify my eligibility, I used this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains how it works.

The whole system is so confusing!! I tried calling Washington ESD for weeks when I got laid off and could never get through. Why do they make it so hard to get basic information?

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED ANYWAY!! I worked for 6 months straight and they still denied my claim for some BS reason about 'voluntary quit' even though I was laid off. These work requirements are just another way to deny people benefits they've earned!

Just want to add that the base period calculation can be confusing. If you don't qualify using the standard base period, Washington ESD will automatically check your 'alternate base period' which uses more recent quarters. This helped me qualify when I had a gap in employment.

I think there's also a requirement about earning enough in your highest quarter? Like it can't all be minimum wage work spread out thin?

Just to clarify the specific requirements for 2025: You need wages in at least two quarters of your base year, with at least $1,056 in your highest quarter, and total base year wages of at least $1,320. These amounts are adjusted annually by Washington ESD.

honestly the whole system is designed to confuse people and keep them from getting benefits they've earned. I worked for 10 months straight and still had to jump through hoops to prove I qualified

Don't forget you also have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you quit without good cause or get fired for misconduct, you might not qualify even if you meet the wage requirements.

dont forget you also have to be able and available for work and actively looking for jobs. the work history is just one part of qualifying for UI

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify based on work history, you still need to be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you get fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you won't get benefits regardless of how long you worked.

I qualified with just 6 months of work history because I had a good paying job before. It really is about the total earnings, not length of employment at one place.

Does anyone know if overtime pay counts toward the wage requirements? I've been working a lot of OT lately and wondering if that helps my case.

I remember being worried about this same thing when I got laid off. Turns out I qualified even though I'd only been at that particular job for a few months because of my work history from the previous year. The Washington ESD website has a tool where you can estimate your benefits before filing.

One important thing to note is that your earnings need to be from 'covered employment' - meaning jobs where your employer paid into the unemployment insurance system. Most regular W-2 jobs are covered, but some contractor positions might not be.

Been through this process twice now and the work requirements really aren't as scary as they seem at first. If you've been working fairly consistently over the past year and a half, you'll probably qualify. The bigger challenge is navigating the system once you file.

I'm in a similar situation but I've been doing gig work on the side. Does that count toward the wage requirement or just my regular W-2 job?

Another thing to consider - if you don't qualify under the regular base year, Washington ESD will automatically check your alternate base year (the last four completed quarters). Sometimes that can make the difference.

Just apply if you think you might qualify. The worst they can say is no, and then you'll know for sure. The application process itself is pretty straightforward on their website.

I had to use Claimyr too when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD. Worth every penny to actually talk to someone who could explain my specific situation instead of guessing from the website.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that can help you figure out if you qualify and how much you might get. Might be worth checking out before you actually need to file a claim.

Make sure your employer has been paying into the unemployment insurance system too. Some contractors and very small businesses don't, which would affect your eligibility.

my cousin told me you need to work at least 6 months but that doesnt sound right based on what everyone else is saying here

Just wanted to add that if you don't qualify under the regular base period, definitely ask about the alternate base period when you apply. I almost gave up but the alternate base period saved me because I had switched jobs recently.

I had a weird situation where I qualified for benefits but my weekly benefit amount was really low because most of my earnings were in just one quarter. The work requirements are just the minimum to qualify - your actual benefit amount depends on how your earnings were distributed across the base period.

The base year thing trips a lot of people up. If you file in January 2025, your base year would be October 2023 through September 2024. It's not the most recent four quarters, which is counter-intuitive.

I've been through this process twice and the key is having your employment and wage information organized before you apply. Makes everything go much smoother.

Word of advice - start gathering your employment documentation now while you're still working. Pay stubs, W-2s, any records of your work history. If layoffs do happen you'll want to file right away and having everything ready makes the process much smoother.

I had to use Claimyr again last month for a different issue and they're still really good at getting you through to Washington ESD. Definitely recommend if you need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

Bottom line is you need sufficient wages spread across multiple quarters in your base period. The specific job doesn't matter as much as your total earnings pattern over time.

If you're worried about qualifying, you can also ask HR at your current job or previous jobs about your wage history. They should be able to confirm what was reported to Washington ESD.

One more tip - if you do apply and get denied initially, don't give up. You can appeal the decision and sometimes provide additional documentation that changes the outcome.

The unemployment system seems complicated but it's actually designed to help workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. As long as you've worked and paid into the system, you've probably earned the right to benefits.

Last thought - if you do end up filing a claim and run into issues reaching Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does work. I used it recently and finally got my adjudication questions answered after weeks of trying on my own.

Hope everything works out with your job situation! But at least now you know you'd likely qualify for unemployment if the worst happens.

The fact that you're researching this ahead of time shows you're being smart about the situation. Most people wait until after they lose their job to figure out the requirements.

For anyone dealing with Washington ESD phone issues, I second the recommendation for Claimyr. Used them when I needed to clarify my work history for my claim and it saved me hours of frustration trying to get through on my own.

The base period thing is so confusing! I wish Washington ESD would explain it in plain English instead of all the technical jargon about quarters and calculations.

Don't stress too much about it. If you've been working regularly and paying into the system, you'll probably qualify. The Washington ESD system is designed to help people who've lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Just make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after you lose your job if it happens. There's no waiting period benefit-wise for when you can file, and delays can cost you money since benefits generally start from when you file, not when you lost your job.

Been helping people with unemployment claims for years and the work requirements trip up a lot of folks. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD looks at your entire work history during the base period, not just your most recent job. As long as you've been working and earning wages that were reported to the state, you'll likely meet the requirements.

if anyone's still confused about this stuff, there's also WorkSource offices around the state where you can get help in person. sometimes its easier to have someone explain it face to face than trying to figure it out from websites