How long do you need to be at a job to get unemployment benefits in Washington?

It's not about how long you work at one specific job - Washington ESD looks at your total earnings during what they call the 'base period.' This is usually the first 4 quarters of the last 5 completed quarters before you file your claim. You need to have earned at least $1,368 in your highest quarter and your total base period wages need to be at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings.

Just to add - if you quit your job voluntarily, you might not qualify for benefits even if you meet the wage requirements. Washington ESD usually only approves UI if you were laid off or fired for reasons other than misconduct.

The base period calculation can be really confusing. I had to call Washington ESD multiple times to understand mine when I filed last year. Pro tip: if you need to actually talk to someone there, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through. They have some kind of system that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Here's the exact breakdown for 2025: You need minimum $1,368 in your highest earning quarter during the base period AND your total base period wages must be at least $2,052 (which is 1.5 times the minimum high quarter). Plus you need wages in at least 2 different quarters. Most people who work full-time for 6+ months meet these requirements easily.

wait so if i worked at mcdonalds for 3 months then target for 5 months that would count?? i thought it had to be the same job the whole time

The Washington ESD website has a tool where you can estimate your potential benefit amount if you know your quarterly earnings. It's pretty helpful for figuring out if you qualify before you actually file.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you qualify based on wages, if you quit voluntarily you'll probably get denied unless you have what they call 'good cause.' Things like unsafe working conditions, harassment, or significant changes to your job duties might qualify as good cause.

I filed for unemployment after working at a restaurant for only 6 months but I had worked other jobs before that during my base period. Got approved no problem. The key is having enough total wages, not staying at one job for a certain amount of time.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing. why cant they just say 'work for X months and you qualify' like normal people would understand

If you're really unsure about your eligibility, you can always just apply and let Washington ESD make the determination. The worst they can do is deny your claim, and then you'd know for sure. Just make sure you're honest about everything on your application.

Just want to mention that if you do apply and get approved, you'll need to do weekly claims and job search activities. Washington ESD requires you to apply for at least 3 jobs per week and keep a log of your search activities. Don't skip this part or they'll cut off your benefits.

I had to use that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks. Honestly it was the only way I could get through to talk to someone at Washington ESD. Their phone system is horrible - you either get a busy signal or wait on hold forever just to get disconnected.

The 8 months at your current job plus your previous work should definitely put you over the wage requirements. I'd be more worried about the voluntary quit issue if you're planning to leave without being laid off.

One more thing - make sure you understand what your 'base period' actually is before you file. If you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through September 2024. Sometimes it's better to wait a bit if you had higher earnings in more recent quarters.

Bottom line is you probably qualify based on what you've described. Just make sure you have a valid reason for leaving if you're not getting laid off, and be prepared for the job search requirements once you start collecting benefits.