How long you have to be at a job to collect unemployment Washington ESD requirements

It's not about how long you worked at one specific job - Washington ESD looks at your total earnings over what they call the 'base period' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you file. You need to have earned at least $7,500 in your base period and worked in at least 2 quarters. The fact that you quit your previous job shouldn't matter as long as your most recent separation was involuntary (the layoff).

I had a similar situation last year and qualified even though I'd only been at my last job for 3 months. The Washington ESD looks at your entire work history in the base period, not individual job tenure. However, you'll need to be able to show you're actively looking for work and meet their weekly job search requirements once you start claiming.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and can't reach anyone. Their phone system is impossible. I finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Game changer for dealing with Washington ESD phone issues.

just went through this myself!! the base period thing is confusing but basically if you worked enough in the past year+ you should be good. i had jobs at 3 different places over 14 months and still qualified no problem

The Washington ESD system is so confusing about this stuff. I thought you had to work somewhere for at least a year to qualify but apparently that's not true? Why don't they explain this better on their website?

Been dealing with Washington ESD for months now and the phone situation is RIDICULOUS. You literally cannot get through during normal business hours. I tried that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked - got connected to an agent same day after weeks of trying on my own. Definitely worth checking out if you need to talk to someone there.

I think there's also something about earning a certain amount in your highest quarter during the base period? Like it can't all be minimum wage work or something. But honestly the Washington ESD rules are so complicated I gave up trying to understand them all.

Make sure you file your claim as soon as possible after your layoff. Washington ESD benefits are backdated to when you file, not when you became unemployed. I made the mistake of waiting a few weeks and lost out on those benefits.

Does anyone know if seasonal work counts toward the base period requirements? I worked construction last summer for about 6 months but it was seasonal layoff.

This whole thread is making me realize I probably should have filed for unemployment when I got laid off 3 months ago. I thought I had to work at that job for at least a year but I only worked there 7 months. Sounds like I might have qualified after all?

The Washington ESD customer service is absolutely useless. I've been trying to get answers about my base period calculation for over a month. Finally used that Claimyr service and got through to someone who actually knew what they were talking about. Highly recommend it if you're stuck in phone hell.

Just want to add that if you're unsure about your eligibility, it's better to file and let Washington ESD determine if you qualify rather than not filing at all. The worst they can do is deny your claim, but at least you'll know for sure.

One thing to keep in mind is that once you start receiving benefits, you have to file weekly claims and meet all the requirements. It's not just a one-time thing. You have to actively look for work and report your job search activities.