Washington ESD unemployment - how much do you have to make to file for unemployment benefits?

You need to look at your base period earnings. Washington ESD requires you to have earned at least $3,850 in your base period AND have worked in at least two quarters. The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.

Thanks! Where can I find out what my base period earnings were? Is that something I can check online?

you can see your wage history on the washington esd website once you create an account, it shows all your reported wages by quarter

The monetary requirements can be confusing but basically you need sufficient wages in your base period. There's also an alternative base period if you don't qualify using the standard one. I'd suggest just applying - Washington ESD will determine your monetary eligibility when they process your claim.

What's the alternative base period? Is that for people who worked more recently?

I had this same question last year! You should definitely check claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that explains how to get through to Washington ESD agents who can check your eligibility before you file. Saved me hours of confusion trying to figure it out myself.

Did you end up qualifying? I'm in a similar situation with scattered part-time work

just file and see what happens, worst case they deny you and you know for sure

Actually it's better to understand the requirements first. A denied claim can affect future applications and there are work search requirements once you file.

The $3,850 minimum is correct but there's also a weekly benefit calculation. You need to have earned at least 1.25 times your weekly benefit amount in your highest earning quarter. So if your weekly benefit would be $200, you'd need at least $250 in wages in your best quarter.

This is getting complicated. How do I know what my weekly benefit amount would be?

washington esd has a benefit calculator on their website but its kind of buried in the menus somewhere

The benefit calculator gives you an estimate but the actual determination happens when you file your claim and they review all your wage records.

I found the calculator but it's asking for information I don't have readily available

I've been through this process twice. The earnings requirement isn't just about total amount - it's about how those earnings are distributed across quarters. You could have made $5000 total but if it was all in one quarter, you might not qualify.

That makes sense. I think most of my earnings were concentrated in the summer months when I had more hours.

WASHINGTON ESD MAKES THIS SO COMPLICATED ON PURPOSE! They don't want people to know they qualify. I spent weeks trying to figure out my eligibility before just filing.

The requirements are set by state law, not Washington ESD policy. The complexity comes from trying to ensure the system is fair for different work patterns.

What if you're self-employed or did gig work? Do those earnings count toward the minimum?

Self-employment earnings generally don't count for regular unemployment benefits. Gig work counts if taxes were withheld and reported to Washington ESD.

I used Claimyr when I couldn't get through to check my wage history. The agent was able to pull up my records immediately and confirm I had enough earnings to file. Much easier than trying to piece it together myself.

How much did that cost? Seems like something Washington ESD should just make easier to check online

Another thing to consider - even if you meet the monetary requirements, you still need to meet the separation requirements. Getting laid off is different from quitting or being fired for misconduct.

I was laid off from my main job due to lack of work, so I think I'm okay on that front.

the wage requirements change every year too so make sure youre looking at current info

Good point. The amounts I mentioned are for 2025. Previous years had different thresholds.

If you're close to the minimum, it might be worth waiting to file until you have more recent wages that could put you in the alternative base period. Sometimes that can increase your benefit amount too.

How recent do wages need to be for the alternative base period?

I filed with scattered part-time work and qualified. Don't overthink it - the Washington ESD system will calculate everything for you. Just make sure you have accurate information about all your employers.

Did you have to provide pay stubs or just rely on what employers reported?

There's also the issue of ongoing eligibility. Even if you qualify initially, you need to meet weekly requirements like job search activities. That's often harder than the initial monetary qualification.

What are the job search requirements? I haven't looked into that part yet.

Pro tip: keep detailed records of all your work and wages. If there's a discrepancy between what you think you earned and what Washington ESD has on file, you'll need documentation to resolve it.

This happened to me - one employer hadn't reported my wages correctly and it took months to get it fixed

I tried calling Washington ESD directly to ask about earnings requirements but gave up after being on hold for 2 hours. Ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got answers in minutes. Sometimes paying for help is worth it when you're dealing with bureaucracy.

The phone system is definitely frustrating. I've had better luck with their online chat when it's available

Bottom line: if you worked regularly in the past 15 months and made at least minimum wage for decent hours, you probably qualify. The system is designed to help people who lost work through no fault of their own.

Thanks everyone! I think I have enough information now to either file or check my wage history first. This was really helpful.