How many months do you have to work to get unemployment in Washington?

Thanks! So if I started working in March and it's now November, would I have wages in enough quarters? I'm still confused about the base period thing.

Yes, you should qualify. March through November would cover multiple quarters - Q1 (Jan-Mar), Q2 (Apr-Jun), Q3 (Jul-Sep), and Q4 (Oct-Dec). As long as you earned wages in at least two of those quarters, you meet the work requirement.

wait so if someone made like $2000 in one quarter they'd need $2500 total? that seems pretty achievable for most people

Exactly right! The Washington ESD requirements are designed to ensure you have substantial work history, but they're not impossibly high for most workers.

How does that work exactly? I've tried calling ESD multiple times and either get busy signals or sit on hold forever before getting disconnected.

Basically they handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual ESD agent. Way better than trying to call yourself during the crazy busy times.

This is actually good advice. The online application will calculate your base period automatically and tell you if you qualify. No need to stress about the math beforehand.

That's true, I should probably just apply and see what happens instead of worrying about it. Thanks!

Good point. In my case it would be a layoff due to business being slow, so that should be fine right?

Yes, layoffs due to lack of work are typically covered. You should be fine on that front.

The quarter system actually makes more sense because it accounts for different earning patterns. Someone who works seasonally might work 3 months but earn enough to qualify, while someone working part-time might need 6+ months.

i guess that makes sense when you put it that way

Oh wow, I didn't know they automatically check that. That's actually really helpful since I've been working more recently.

Yep! The system is designed to give you the best chance of qualifying. They want to approve eligible claims, not deny them.

That's encouraging! I was working pretty consistently even though it was part-time, so hopefully my earnings will be enough.

Part-time work can definitely qualify you, especially if you were working regular hours. The key is meeting those dollar thresholds.

That sounds really frustrating, but that's not typical. Most people who meet the basic requirements get approved without major issues.

maybe i just had bad luck but it was a nightmare for me

Good to know! I'll double-check everything before submitting. Did you have to provide pay stubs or just employer info?

Just employer info initially. They get your wage information directly from employers. You might need pay stubs later if there are any discrepancies.

Yeah, I saw that mentioned earlier. Might be worth looking into if I run into problems with my application.

I second this recommendation. The peace of mind from talking to an actual ESD agent was huge when I was stressed about my claim.

Right, I've heard about the job search requirements. Do you have to apply to a certain number of jobs each week?

Yes, typically 3 job search activities per week, but the exact requirements can vary based on your situation. They'll explain everything when you file your claim.

That seems to be the consensus here. I'll stop overthinking it and just apply. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!

Good to know there's an appeal process. Hopefully I won't need it, but it's reassuring to know it exists.

The appeal process is actually pretty straightforward in Washington. They give you clear instructions if you need to use it.

Thanks for the reassurance! I feel a lot more confident about applying now after reading everyone's responses.

Agreed - 8 months of regular work history puts you in a good position. The Washington ESD system is actually pretty fair about approving eligible claims.

Definitely will apply right away if I do get laid off. Thanks for pointing that out - I wouldn't have thought about the timing aspect.

This is super important advice. I've seen people lose weeks of benefits because they waited too long to apply.

Also want to add - when you do apply, make sure to have all your employment information handy including dates, addresses, and reason for separation. Having everything organized beforehand will make the application process much smoother and faster.