How long to be employed to get unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

In Washington, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period to qualify for UI 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.

You also need to meet the monetary requirements. In Washington, you need at least $5,000 in total wages during your base period, AND you need wages in your highest quarter to be at least 1.5 times your wages in another quarter. It's not just about time worked.

I went through this same situation last year and had a really hard time getting through to anyone at Washington ESD to verify my eligibility. Spent weeks calling and getting hung up on. Finally discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which actually got me through to a real person who could check my wage history and confirm I qualified. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Important to know that even if you meet the monetary requirements, you still need to meet other eligibility criteria when you actually file. You have to be unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available for work, and actively seeking employment. Just having worked long enough isn't the only factor.

just filed for unemployment last month and was surprised I qualified even though I only worked 10 months total but had gaps. turns out the base period thing worked in my favor because my wages were spread across the right quarters

One thing people don't realize is that your base period might not include your most recent work. If you file in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through September 2024. So if you just started working in October 2024, those wages might not count unless you use the alternate base period.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS SO CONFUSING! Why can't they just say you need to work X months like every other state? All these quarters and base periods and monetary requirements - it's like they designed it to be impossible to understand!

Pro tip: if you're worried about qualifying, you can always file anyway. Washington ESD will determine your eligibility when they process your claim. The worst they can do is deny it, but at least you'll know for sure.

Been through this process three times over the years. The 8 months you mentioned should be plenty if you were working full-time and earning decent wages. Most people who work that long consecutively will meet the monetary requirements easily.

Just want to add that if you do get laid off, file your claim immediately. Benefits are only backdated to the week you file, not when you actually became unemployed. Don't wait thinking you need to job search first.

My experience trying to get answers from Washington ESD was terrible. Hours on hold, getting disconnected, conflicting information from different reps. Ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it was night and day difference. Actually got through to someone knowledgeable who could pull up my wage history and answer all my questions in one call.

Another thing to consider - if you're worried about a layoff, start documenting everything now. Keep records of your employment, pay stubs, any warnings or notices about potential layoffs. Makes the application process much smoother.

worked for only 7 months and still qualified last year so don't stress too much about the exact timeframe. like others said its more about the wage amounts and which quarters they fall in

The key thing people miss is that Washington requires wages in at least TWO different quarters. So if you worked 8 months straight, you definitely have wages in multiple quarters which is the main hurdle. The dollar amounts you mentioned should easily meet the minimums.

Worth mentioning that even if you don't qualify for regular unemployment, there might be other programs available depending on your situation. Washington has extended benefits during high unemployment periods and other assistance programs.

One last tip - when you do file (if needed), be completely honest about everything. Washington ESD will verify your information with employers anyway, and any discrepancies can cause major delays or disqualification.