How long work to qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington?

You need to have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period to qualify for Washington unemployment. The base period is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim.

There's also a minimum earnings requirement. You need to have earned at least $7,000 during your base period, with at least $1,000 in each of two different quarters. 8 months of part-time work might cut it close depending on your wages.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to check if I qualified. Kept calling the main number but could never get past the busy signal. Finally used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual agent who could look up my wage history and confirm I met the requirements. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

dont think 8 months is enough you need to work a full year minimum thats what i heard anyway

The whole system is so confusing. I worked for 6 months at one job and 4 months at another and they told me I didn't qualify because I didn't make enough in individual quarters even though my total was over $7,000. Something about how the wages were distributed...

Also worth noting that if you don't qualify with the regular base period, Washington ESD can look at an alternate base period which uses the most recent four quarters. Sometimes that helps if your recent work isn't captured in the standard calculation.

I'm in a similar situation - been working part time for about 10 months but worried about the quarter thing. My manager cut everyone's hours after the holidays and now I'm only getting like 15 hours a week. This is ridiculous.

Another thing to consider is whether you were separated from your job for a qualifying reason. Even if you meet the wage requirements, you can be disqualified if you quit without good cause or were fired for misconduct.

Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website that can give you a rough estimate if you qualify and what your weekly benefit amount might be. Might be worth trying that before filing.

Just applied last week and the whole process took forever. Had to create a SecureAccess Washington account first, then navigate through all these forms. Make sure you have your employment history ready including exact dates and employer info.

Word of warning - even if you qualify initially, you have to keep certifying every week and meet the job search requirements. It's not just file and forget.

I tried calling Washington ESD yesterday to ask about qualification requirements and couldn't get through. The automated system just kept hanging up on me. So frustrating when you need answers!

The 8 months you worked should definitely be enough if you made decent wages. I qualified with only 6 months of work because I was making good money at my previous job. It's really about the dollar amounts in each quarter.

Don't forget that if you're currently working reduced hours, you might be able to get partial benefits while still working. A lot of people don't know about that option.

I'd recommend applying sooner rather than later if you think you qualify. Benefits can be backdated but only for a limited time, and there's always potential delays in processing.

Make sure you're ready for the identity verification process too. They're really strict about that now and it can hold up your claim if you don't have all the right documents.

Also worth mentioning that if you worked in other states during your base period, that can complicate things. Washington ESD has to coordinate with other state agencies which can slow down the process.

The important thing is to file as soon as you become unemployed or have your hours significantly reduced. Your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you became unemployed.

One more tip - when you file, be completely honest about everything. Any discrepancies can cause major delays or disqualification. They verify everything with employers.

I had a similar situation last year and used Claimyr to get through to an agent who helped me understand my qualification status. Really saved me a lot of stress and uncertainty. Sometimes it's worth paying for the peace of mind when you need accurate information quickly.

Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like you should be fine to qualify with 8 months of part-time work as long as you hit those wage thresholds. The key things to remember are: you need at least $7,000 total earnings during your base period, with at least $1,000 earned in each of two different quarters. Since you mentioned making around $12,000 last year, you should meet the total requirement easily. The quarter distribution is what you'll want to double-check - make sure your earnings were spread across at least two calendar quarters with $1,000+ in each. Good luck with your application!