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

Washington ESD looks at your base period which is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. You need to have earned wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period and meet minimum wage requirements. The exact amount depends on your total wages during that period.

For 2025, you need to have earned at least $7,500 in your base period OR earned at least $5,000 in your base period AND earned at least 1.5 times your highest quarter earnings in the other quarters. It's kind of confusing but Washington ESD's website has a calculator.

I had a similar situation last year and qualified even though I was only working part-time. The key is making sure you have enough wage credits. If you're not sure, just apply anyway - Washington ESD will tell you if you qualify or not.

I was struggling with getting through to Washington ESD to ask about my eligibility and kept getting busy signals. Found this service called Claimyr that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

ugh the whole system is so confusing. i worked full time for like 2 years then got fired and they're telling me i dont qualify because of some technicality about when i worked. makes no sense

The work requirements aren't just about total hours - it's about when you worked and how much you earned. Part-time workers can definitely qualify if they meet the wage requirements during their base period.

Just apply online through Washington ESD's website. Don't overthink it. If you don't qualify they'll tell you why and you can always appeal if you think they made a mistake.

I think the minimum is like $7,500 in your base period but I'm not 100% sure. The Washington ESD website has all the details but it's written in government speak that's hard to understand.

Don't forget about the work search requirements too. Even if you qualify, you'll need to be actively looking for work and documenting your job search activities. Washington ESD is pretty strict about that.

I was in adjudication for 6 weeks because they couldn't verify my employment history. Ended up using Claimyr to get through to someone who could actually help resolve the issue. Would have been stuck forever otherwise.

The base period thing is really important to understand. If you file too early after starting work, you might not have enough wages in your base period even if you would qualify later.

had to call washington esd like 50 times to get through and ask about my base period wages. finally got someone who explained it but man what a pain

If you're not sure about your wage history, you can request a wage statement from Washington ESD. That'll show you exactly what they have on file for your base period.

The Washington ESD system is so outdated. Half the time their website doesn't work and when you call you either get a busy signal or get disconnected. At least services like Claimyr make it easier to actually reach someone when you need help.

Bottom line - if you've been working consistently and earning decent wages, you probably qualify. The exact requirements are on Washington ESD's website but the key is having enough wage credits in your base period.