How many weeks do you need for unemployment benefits in Washington?

You don't need a specific number of weeks - it's based on hours and wages. You need to have worked at least 680 hours in your base period (first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters) OR earned wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period. The 680 hours doesn't have to be consecutive weeks.

i had the same worry when i got laid off from my warehouse job. turned out i had way more hours than needed. you can check your wage history on the washington esd website before you even file your claim

Don't stress too much about the hours if you worked consistently. The bigger issue is usually getting through to Washington ESD to file your claim or resolve any issues. I spent weeks trying to reach them when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Finally used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual agent - you can check it out at claimyr.com. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU GIVE UP. They make the requirements confusing on PURPOSE so fewer people will apply. I've been fighting Washington ESD for months over a simple issue and they just keep giving me the runaround!

To be more specific about the requirements: you need either 680 hours of work in covered employment during your base period, OR wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period with total base period wages of at least 1.25 times your highest quarter wages. Most people meet the first requirement if they worked part-time or full-time for several months.

I worked 2 part time jobs for about 6 months each, will that count towards the 680 hours? Or do they have to be from one employer?

restaurant work usually qualifies fine, just make sure your employer was paying into the system. some small places try to classify workers as independent contractors to avoid paying unemployment taxes

Just went through this process myself. Filed my claim last month and got approved within a week. The online application walks you through everything step by step. Don't overthink it - if you worked regularly for 8 months, you almost certainly qualify.

I'm in a similar situation but I'm worried because I quit my job instead of getting laid off. Does that change the hours requirement?

For anyone who ends up needing to talk to Washington ESD directly about their eligibility, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. The regular phone lines are impossible to get through on, but this service actually connects you to an agent. Saved me so much time and frustration.

why do we even need third party services to reach our own government agencies? washington esd should have enough staff to answer phones

Update: I checked my wage history on the Washington ESD website and I definitely have enough hours! Thanks everyone for the help. Going to file my claim today.

For anyone else reading this - the 680 hour requirement is for regular unemployment insurance. If you're applying for standby benefits, the requirements are different.

This thread has been really helpful! I was also confused about the hours vs weeks thing. Glad to know it's based on total hours worked.

remember you also need to be able and available for work to keep getting benefits. it's not just about having worked enough hours in the past

Washington ESD also has a alternate base period option if you don't qualify under the regular base period. It uses more recent wages if you're a newer worker.

The wage requirements can be confusing but Washington ESD's website has a calculator to help figure out if you qualify. Worth checking before you file.

Just want to add that if you worked in multiple states, you might need to file in the state where you worked the most. Washington has agreements with other states for this.

Good luck with your claim! The restaurant industry has been hit hard lately so hopefully you'll find something soon.

One last tip - if your claim gets approved, sign up for direct deposit right away. Paper checks take forever to arrive and can get lost in the mail.