How long do you have to work to qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington?

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

The work requirement is more about earnings than time. You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your highest quarter and your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. So if you made $2,000 in your best quarter, you'd need at least $3,000 total in your base period.

I had a similar situation last year where I wasn't sure if I qualified. Spent forever trying to get through to Washington ESD on the phone to ask about my specific case. Finally found 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. Made the whole process so much easier than sitting on hold for hours.

Just FYI, if you don't qualify under the regular base period, Washington ESD will automatically check your alternate base period. That uses the last four completed quarters instead of the first four of the last five. Sometimes that can help if you started working more recently.

wait so if i worked part time for like a year but only made like $800 total i wouldnt qualify??? this system is so messed up

I think there might be some exceptions for people who lost work due to certain circumstances. Like if you were laid off from a job where you worked full-time but just hadn't been there long enough. You should definitely apply anyway and let Washington ESD make the determination.

One thing to keep in mind is that your work has to be in covered employment. Most regular jobs are covered, but some types of work aren't. Like if you were an independent contractor or worked for certain types of organizations.

THIS IS WHY I HATE DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. Why can't they just have a simple chart that says 'work this long, get benefits'? Instead it's all these complicated formulas and base periods and quarters. Makes no sense for regular people.

If you're not sure about your earnings, you can look them up on your SecureAccess Washington account. It should show your quarterly wage reports that employers submitted to Washington ESD.

I was in a similar boat a few months ago and ended up using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. The agent was able to look at my specific situation and tell me right away whether I qualified. Saved me a lot of stress wondering about it.

Also worth noting that if you do qualify, your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings during the base period. So it's not just about qualifying, but how much you'll get.

honestly just apply and see what happens. i spent weeks trying to figure out if i qualified and it turned out i was overthinking it. the washington esd system will calculate everything for you when you file your claim

One more thing - if you do end up applying, make sure you have all your employer information ready. Names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation. Makes the application process much smoother.

My friend used Claimyr when she had questions about her unemployment claim and said it was a game changer. She'd been trying to reach Washington ESD for days and Claimyr got her connected within hours. Definitely worth looking into if you need to talk to someone.

Bottom line: if you've been working steadily for 8 months and earning decent wages, you'll probably qualify. The exact calculations matter, but most people with regular jobs who work more than a few months end up qualifying.