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Bottom line: Plan for 26 weeks maximum, but don't count on using all of them. Start job hunting immediately and treat unemployment as temporary income replacement, not a long-term solution.
Don't forget that if you're collecting unemployment, you might also be eligible for other assistance programs while you're looking for work. It's worth checking what else might be available to help stretch your budget during those 26 weeks.
Good point! I should look into what other resources might be available. Every little bit helps when you're between jobs.
Quick question - were you laid off or fired? Because if you were fired for misconduct you might not qualify. Being laid off due to lack of work is usually fine though.
One more thing - if you find temporary or part-time work while collecting benefits, you can still get partial unemployment. You just report your earnings on your weekly claim and they'll adjust your benefit amount.
This thread is really helpful. I'm bookmarking it in case I ever get laid off again. The unemployment system is so confusing when you're dealing with it for the first time.
For anyone else reading this later - the Washington State unemployment handbook is actually pretty comprehensive if you can find it. Has all the rules about filing deadlines, backdating, good cause reasons, etc. Worth downloading and reading through.
Has anyone here had success using Claimyr recently? I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my own claim and getting nowhere. Starting to think I need to try something different.
I used it about a month ago and it worked great. Got connected to an agent within a few minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. Definitely worth trying if you need to actually talk to someone.
Good luck with your claim! It sounds like you have a solid case with all the documentation you kept. The fact that you tried multiple times to resolve the issue through proper channels before quitting should work in your favor.
Zara Malik
Also remember that even though there's a waiting week, you should still register with WorkSource (worksourcewa.com) right away since that's required for maintaining eligibility.
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Paolo Rizzo
•another thing to add to the list, thanks for mentioning that
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Zara Malik
•WorkSource registration is mandatory within a certain timeframe, so don't put it off. It's also actually helpful for job searching.
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Luca Greco
sounds like you've got a good handle on the timing now. file right after your last day, be ready with all your info, and stay consistent with weekly claims. you should be all set!
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Paolo Rizzo
•really appreciate everyone taking the time to help out, this thread has been super informative
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