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

In Washington state, you need to have worked in at least two quarters during your base period and earned a minimum amount. The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. You also need to have earned at least $1,000 in your highest quarter.

i think you also need to have earned like 680 hours of work or something? not sure on the exact number but there's definitely an hours requirement too

If you're worried about qualifying, you should definitely apply anyway. The worst they can do is deny you, and then you'll know for sure. I thought I didn't have enough work history but ended up qualifying. The Washington ESD system will calculate everything for you automatically when you file your initial claim.

I had a similar situation last year - worked for 8 months, then got laid off. I was stressed about qualifying too but I did! The key thing is that gap you mentioned doesn't matter as long as you worked enough during your base period quarters. Washington ESD pulls your wage info directly from employers so they'll see everything.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator where you can enter your wages and it'll estimate if you qualify and how much you might get. That might give you a better idea before you file.

just to add - even if you qualify based on wages, you still need to meet the other requirements like being able and available for work, actively searching for jobs, etc. Don't forget about the weekly job search requirements once you start claiming benefits

One thing to keep in mind - if you quit your job voluntarily, that could affect your eligibility even if you meet the wage requirements. You generally need to be laid off or terminated through no fault of your own.

The monetary determination letter will tell you exactly what quarters they're using and how much you earned. If something looks wrong on there, you can appeal it. I had to do that once because one of my employers reported my wages incorrectly.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing!! i've been trying to figure out my eligibility for weeks and keep getting different answers from different sources. wish they would just make it clearer

Another option if you're not sure - you can always call the Washington ESD customer service line and they can do a quick eligibility check for you over the phone. Though fair warning, the wait times can be brutal.

Just want to mention that if you don't qualify for regular unemployment, there might be other programs available depending on your situation. Sometimes people qualify for different types of assistance even if they don't meet the standard UI requirements.

The good news is that 8 months of steady work should definitely be enough if you were earning decent wages. I qualified with only 6 months of work because I was in a higher-paying job.

whatever you do, don't wait too long to file if you think you might qualify. there are time limits on when you can backdate your claim, so it's better to file sooner rather than later

I had to deal with adjudication on my claim because of some confusion about my work history. If that happens to you, don't panic - it just means they need to verify some information. It took about 3 weeks but everything worked out fine.

Pro tip: make sure you have all your employer information handy when you file - names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation. It'll make the application process much smoother.

I was in a similar boat - worked for about 7 months then got laid off. Took me forever to get through to Washington ESD to ask about eligibility. Finally someone mentioned Claimyr to me and it was a game changer. Got connected to an agent who walked me through everything.

The Washington ESD has really improved their online system over the past couple years. The application process is pretty straightforward now, and you can track your claim status online once you file.

Bottom line - if you worked 8 months and earned decent wages, you'll almost certainly qualify. Don't stress too much about it, just file and see what happens!