How many weeks of employment to qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

It's not just about weeks worked - Washington ESD uses quarters and wage amounts. You need to have worked in at least 2 quarters during your base period and earned a minimum amount. The base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file.

What's the minimum wage amount? I made decent money but only for those 4 months.

You need at least $1,000 in your highest quarter during the base period. If you made decent money for 4 months, you might qualify depending on when you worked.

I had the same question last year! It's confusing because they don't really explain it in simple terms. From what I understand, you need to have worked long enough to earn the minimum wages in your base period, not just a certain number of weeks.

Exactly! I worked part-time for almost a year and still qualified because I hit the wage requirements.

The Washington ESD phone lines are impossible to get through to ask questions like this. I spent literally 3 hours on hold yesterday just to get disconnected. Has anyone found a better way to reach them?

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It's been a lifesaver for getting my questions answered.

Interesting, never heard of that. Does it actually work better than calling directly?

Way better! They handle all the waiting and calling back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration.

To answer your original question - there's no specific number of weeks. It's all about the wage requirements during your base period. You need wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period, with at least $1,000 in your highest quarter.

So if I worked January through April this year and made good money, would that count as 2 quarters?

Yes, that would be Q1 (January-March) and part of Q2 (April). As long as you earned enough in those quarters, you should qualify.

dont forget about the work search requirements too once you start getting benefits, you have to do 3 job search activities each week and log them

Good point! I should probably understand all the requirements before I apply.

Here's a clearer breakdown: Washington ESD looks at your base period (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters). You need wages in at least 2 of those quarters, with your total base period wages being at least 1.5 times your highest quarter wages. Plus that minimum $1,000 in your highest quarter.

This is super helpful! I wish the Washington ESD website explained it this clearly.

Right? The government websites are always so confusing with their legal language.

I qualified with just 3 months of work because I made really good money during that time. It's definitely about the wages, not the weeks.

That's encouraging! I think I might actually qualify then.

One thing to watch out for - if you're close to the minimum requirements, make sure you apply as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. The base period is calculated from when you file, so waiting too long could hurt your chances.

I was laid off two weeks ago, so I should probably apply soon then.

Definitely! And remember, even if you don't qualify for regular unemployment, there might be other programs available.

The whole system is so complicated! I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times but kept getting busy signals or getting hung up on after waiting forever.

Same here! I was about to give up until someone told me about Claimyr. They actually got me connected to a Washington ESD agent who explained everything clearly.

How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you?

Yeah, they handle all the calling and waiting, then connect you when an agent is available. Much better than sitting on hold for hours.

If you're unsure about your qualification, you can always apply and let Washington ESD determine if you're eligible. They'll review your work history and wages automatically.

Good point! I guess there's no harm in applying and seeing what happens.

Just make sure you have all your employment information ready when you apply - employer names, dates, wages, etc. Washington ESD will verify everything.

And keep records of everything! You never know when you might need to provide additional documentation.

I was in a similar situation and ended up qualifying even though I wasn't sure I would. The wage requirements aren't as strict as they seem if you made decent money during your employment.

That's reassuring! I'm feeling more confident about applying now.

Remember that being laid off vs. being fired can affect your eligibility too. Since you were laid off, that shouldn't be an issue for you.

Yeah, it was definitely a layoff due to company downsizing, not performance issues.

The bottom line is that 4 months of decent wages should probably qualify you, especially if it spanned multiple quarters. I'd suggest applying online through the Washington ESD website and seeing what happens.

Thanks everyone! I'm going to apply this week and see if I qualify.

Good luck! The application process is pretty straightforward once you get started.

Don't forget to start your job search activities right away too, even before your claim is approved. You'll need to show you're actively looking for work.

I've already started applying to jobs, so that should help!

If you run into any issues with your claim or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, I highly recommend using Claimyr. It's been a game-changer for actually getting through to speak with someone.

I second this! Claimyr saved me so much time and frustration when I had questions about my claim.

Update us on how it goes! I'm sure others will be interested to hear about your experience with the application process.

Will do! Thanks again for all the helpful information everyone.