How long do you have to work to collect unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

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 when you worked and how much you earned during those quarters.

I had the same question when I got laid off last year. 8 months should be plenty if you were working full time. The key thing is making sure your earnings are spread across the right quarters in their system.

Just went through this process myself. Getting through to Washington ESD to verify your eligibility can be a nightmare though. I spent weeks trying to call them during their business hours and kept getting disconnected or stuck in endless hold queues. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to an ESD agent in like 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

The Washington ESD system is so confusing with all these quarter requirements. I think the basic rule is you need to have worked in at least 2 of the last 4 quarters before you file, but there are exceptions and alternate base periods if you don't qualify under the standard calculation.

ugh this is why i hate dealing with government stuff... too many rules and calculations. can't they just say 'work 6 months, get benefits' or something simple??

The earnings requirement is really what trips people up. You could work for a year but if you didn't earn enough in the right quarters, you still might not qualify. That's why it's worth talking to an actual ESD agent to review your specific situation.

I qualified after working about 10 months, but I had a friend who worked longer but didn't qualify because her hours were too irregular and she didn't meet the earnings threshold. It really depends on your specific work pattern and wages, not just the time period.

Does anyone know if part-time work counts toward the requirements? I worked part-time for about a year before getting my current full-time job.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator where you can estimate if you qualify and how much you might receive. Might be worth checking that out before you worry too much about it.

Just remember that even if you qualify based on work history, you still need to meet the other requirements like being able and available for work, actively seeking work, and not being fired for misconduct. The work history is just the first hurdle.

wait so if you get fired you can't collect unemployment? even if you worked there for years?

Speaking of getting fired, if you're unsure about your eligibility for any reason, definitely try to get through to Washington ESD to ask. Like I mentioned before, Claimyr made that process so much easier for me. Instead of playing phone tag for weeks, I got my questions answered in one call.

One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount is based on your earnings during the base period, so working longer and earning more will generally result in higher weekly benefits, up to the state maximum.

this whole thread has been super helpful. I was confused about the requirements too but now I have a better understanding of how it all works.

Don't forget that you need to file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Benefits start from the week you file, not from when you lost your job, so waiting can cost you money.

Update: I ended up trying Claimyr like someone mentioned earlier and finally got through to ESD about my claim. The agent confirmed I qualified and explained exactly which quarters they used for my base period. Definitely worth it if you're stuck in phone hell like I was.

For what it's worth, 8 months of full-time work should definitely be enough to qualify assuming you earned reasonable wages. Most people who work that long without major gaps meet the requirements easily.

Just to summarize for anyone else reading this: In Washington, you need wages in at least 2 quarters during your base period, minimum $7,000 total with at least $1,000 earned outside your highest quarter. The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters. There's an alternate base period option if you don't qualify under the standard calculation.

One last tip: keep good records of your employment and wages. If there's ever a dispute about your eligibility or benefit amount, having documentation makes resolving issues much easier.

thanks everyone for all the info. this was way more helpful than trying to figure it out from the esd website alone