How much time do you need to stay for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

The requirement isn't about how long you stayed at one job, it's about your total earnings in your base period. Washington ESD looks at the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. You need at least $1,320 in earnings during your base period AND earnings in at least 2 quarters to qualify.

wait so if i only worked 6 months but made good money would i still qualify?

I had this same confusion when I got laid off last year. Turns out I qualified even though I'd only been at my job for 5 months because I had worked at another place earlier in my base period. The Washington ESD website has a calculator that can help you figure out if you qualify based on your earnings.

Honestly the whole system is confusing as hell. I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my base period but their phone lines are always busy. I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent in like 20 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration trying to call myself.

The base period calculation is key but there's also the alternate base period if you don't qualify under the regular one. That uses the last 4 completed quarters instead of the first 4 of the last 5. Sometimes people qualify under the alternate even if they don't under the regular base period.

i think you also need to have worked like 680 hours or something in your base period too not just the money part

I was in a similar situation - got laid off after 7 months at my job and was super worried I wouldn't qualify. Turned out I did because of earnings from a previous job earlier that year. The key thing is Washington ESD looks at ALL your covered employment during the base period, not just your most recent job.

Just to clarify for everyone - in Washington the minimum earnings requirement is $1,320 in your base period AND you need earnings in at least 2 quarters of that base period. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your highest earning quarter during that time.

The Washington ESD system is so different from other states. In some places you do need to work for a full year but here it's all about the earnings thresholds. I learned this the hard way when I moved here from California.

Make sure when you file that you have all your employment information ready. Washington ESD will verify your earnings with all your employers during the base period so you want to be thorough and accurate.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you qualify, you also need to meet the ongoing requirements like doing job searches and being available for work. The initial qualification is just the first step.

I had a friend who thought he didn't qualify because he was only at his job for 4 months, but it turned out he had enough earnings from gig work earlier in the year to meet the requirements. Don't assume you don't qualify - let Washington ESD make that determination.

If you're unsure about your eligibility, you can always file a claim and let them determine it. There's no penalty for filing if you don't qualify, they'll just deny the claim. Better to try than assume you don't qualify.

Another thing - if you get denied initially, don't give up. Sometimes there are errors in wage reporting or they miss some of your employment. You can appeal and provide additional documentation.

The whole thing about needing to work a full year is such a common misconception. I see people saying that all the time but it's just not true for Washington. It's all about the earnings in your base period, period.

If you do qualify and start receiving benefits, make sure you keep track of everything - your job search activities, any work you do, any other income. Washington ESD can audit your claim later and you want to have good records.

I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it really does work. I was able to talk to a Washington ESD agent and get my base period questions answered directly. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to avoid the hassle of trying to get through on your own.

Bottom line - don't let anyone tell you that you need to work somewhere for a full year to get unemployment in Washington. That's just not how the system works here. File your claim and let them determine your eligibility based on your actual earnings history.