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Just want to mention that while 26 weeks is the standard, during certain economic downturns there have been federal extensions available. But don't count on those - they're not guaranteed and depend on federal legislation.
One last thing - make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your total benefit entitlement. The 26 weeks is the maximum duration, but your weekly amount depends on your previous wages.
Right, so I need to look at both how much per week and for how many weeks. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!
Exactly! And if you need help understanding your specific benefit calculation, that Claimyr service others mentioned can help you get through to ask Washington ESD directly about your numbers.
My advice would be to start documenting everything NOW, see if you can talk to Washington ESD about your specific situation, and maybe consult with an employment attorney. Don't just quit and hope for the best. Having a plan will give you the best chance of success.
Reading through all this, it sounds like you have a solid case for appeal. Laid off due to reduced hours, have documentation, worked for 8 months at decent wages. I'd be surprised if you don't win the appeal.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I really appreciate the support. Going to file my appeal and keep my fingers crossed. Will update this thread once I hear back from Washington ESD.
Hope it works out for you! If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD during the process, that Claimyr service I mentioned really does help with getting through.
The appeals process has definitely gotten slower since COVID. Used to be 4-6 weeks total, now it's more like 8-12 weeks. Staffing issues at ESD are real.
One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit before my appeal was decided. That way when the back pay came through, it deposited automatically instead of waiting for a check in the mail.
Giovanni Rossi
One more thing to consider - if you received unemployment in 2021, there was a special $10,200 exclusion that year due to COVID. But that was only for 2021, not for current benefits.
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Diego Ramirez
•Yeah I remember hearing about that. Too bad it was only for one year!
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Fatima Al-Mansour
•That exclusion saved me so much money in 2021. Wish they'd bring it back.
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Dylan Evans
For anyone still having trouble reaching Washington ESD about tax withholding, I used Claimyr last month and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes. Way better than spending hours on hold. They walked me through setting up the withholding over the phone.
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Sofia Gomez
•I'm skeptical of paying for something like that, but if it actually gets you through to Washington ESD it might be worth it.
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Dylan Evans
•I was skeptical too but after trying for weeks to get through on my own, it was worth every penny. The demo video they have shows exactly how it works.
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