How much do you have to work to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

In Washington, you need to have earned wages in at least two quarters during your base period (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). The minimum is usually around $3,400 in your highest quarter and total wages of at least $4,400 during your entire base period. Your part-time work should count as long as you made enough.

I was in a similar situation last year. Part-time work definitely counts but you need to make sure your employers were actually paying into the unemployment system. Some jobs don't qualify if you're classified as an independent contractor.

The work requirements aren't just about how much you earned - you also need to be able and available for work. If you're only looking for part-time work, that can complicate things. Make sure you understand the job search requirements too.

Had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my wage calculation. Spent literally hours on hold trying to get someone to explain my quarterly breakdown. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual agent in like 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Was worth it just to get my questions answered quickly.

just apply and see what happens. if you worked 8 months you probably qualify unless you made like minimum wage the whole time

At $16/hour for 25-30 hours per week over 8 months, you should easily meet the wage requirements. That's roughly $400-480 per week, so probably around $5,200-6,240 per quarter depending on how the weeks fell. Well above the minimum thresholds.

The system is so confusing though. I had to call Washington ESD three times to understand my monetary determination. Each agent told me something slightly different about how they calculate the base period.

Don't forget about the job search requirements once you start claiming. You'll need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and register with WorkSource. That's separate from just qualifying based on your work history.

I qualified with way less work than you had. Was only working about 20 hours a week for 6 months but made decent money. The quarterly wage thing is really the main factor.

JUST APPLY ALREADY! You're overthinking this. If you worked 8 months you qualify. The worst they can say is no and then you appeal if needed.

Make sure you apply online through the secure website. Don't try calling to file your initial claim - the phone system is for questions only. The online application walks you through everything step by step.

The base period calculation confused me too when I first applied. Basically they look at the first four quarters of the last five completed quarters. So if you apply in January 2025, they'd look at July 2023 through June 2024. Your recent work might not even count toward eligibility.

been on unemployment twice and honestly the hardest part isn't qualifying, it's dealing with all the ongoing requirements. weekly claims, job searches, reporting any work... it's like a part time job itself

Had my claim stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks because they needed to verify my separation reason. Couldn't get anyone on the phone to explain what was happening. Finally got through using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. The agent was able to see exactly what documents they were waiting for and helped me submit them correctly.

Quick tip - when you file, make sure you list ALL your employers from the past 18 months, even if you only worked there briefly. Missing an employer can cause delays in processing your claim.

The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you a rough estimate of what you might qualify for. Might be worth checking before you apply just to get an idea.

One more thing - keep copies of everything when you apply. Screenshots of your application, confirmation numbers, any documents you upload. Makes it easier if you need to reference something later.