


Ask the community...
I just want to say that this thread shows how quickly things can go wrong and how many people are dealing with similar situations. You're not alone in this struggle, and there are people and resources out there to help.
One last thing - if you do end up needing emergency shelter, Washington state has a Coordinated Entry system that helps prioritize people for housing assistance. It's not ideal but it's better than sleeping in your car or on the street.
My advice is to treat the job search like a full-time job from day one. The 26 weeks can disappear quickly and the job market is competitive. Use every resource available including WorkSource and don't rely just on online applications.
Bottom line: most people in Washington get up to 26 weeks of regular UI benefits. File your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed, do your weekly claims religiously, and start job searching immediately. That's the basic formula for making the most of your benefits.
Make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file. You'll need dates of employment, reason for separation, and employer contact info for all jobs in the last 18 months.
The most important thing is to be honest on your application. If they find out you lied about anything, you could be disqualified and have to pay back benefits. Not worth the risk.
One last tip - if you need to appeal any decision, don't wait. The deadlines for appeals are strict and you don't want to lose your rights because you missed a deadline.
Emily Parker
Pro tip: file your claim on Sunday night or Monday morning if possible. The system is usually less busy then and you'll get processed faster. Also make sure you have all your employment history ready to go.
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Avery Flores
•Good advice! I'll plan to file early in the week. What employment history do they need exactly?
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Emily Parker
•They'll want employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation for typically the last 18 months. Having pay stubs or W2s handy helps too in case there are questions.
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Ezra Collins
The whole system is set up to discourage people from filing. Maximum benefit sounds good until you realize how hard it is to actually get it and maintain it with all their requirements and phone system issues.
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Victoria Scott
•It's frustrating for sure, but the benefits are there if you can navigate the system. The phone situation is definitely the worst part.
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Benjamin Johnson
•That's why services like Claimyr exist - to help people get around the broken phone system when they need to talk to an actual person at Washington ESD.
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