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Bottom line: 26 weeks maximum for regular unemployment in Washington state. No current extensions. Plan accordingly and don't wait until week 25 to get serious about your job search!
One last thing - if you do exhaust your 26 weeks, make sure you understand what you need to do to potentially qualify for a new claim in the future. Don't just assume you're done with the system forever.
I worked in HR for years and had to explain this to new employees all the time. Many people don't realize they're contributing until they see it on their first paystub. It's good that you're asking questions and understanding your deductions!
Just want to add that if you ever have questions about your specific deductions or contribution amounts, your HR department should be able to explain the breakdown. Every employer handles payroll slightly differently.
The other thing to keep in mind is that even after your claim is approved, there can be a delay before you actually receive payment. My claim was approved on a Tuesday but I didn't get the direct deposit until the following Monday.
I know this doesn't help with your immediate anxiety, but Washington ESD has actually improved a lot since the pandemic. Back in 2020-2021 people were waiting months just to get someone on the phone. The current wait times are much more reasonable in comparison.
The bottom line is it depends on your specific medical restrictions and job availability. If you can do some type of work and are actively looking, you might qualify. But you absolutely need to be upfront about your workers comp claim when you apply for unemployment.
Just want to add that timing matters too. If you're in the middle of workers comp treatment and your doctor hasn't cleared you for any work yet, you probably won't qualify for unemployment. But once you're cleared for light duty or modified work, that's when you might be eligible.
Oliver Cheng
Thank you everyone for all the advice and encouragement. I'm going to apply tonight and see what happens. Feeling much more confident about it now.
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Derek Olson
Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.
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