Can I apply for unemployment extension in Washington - regular UI running out soon

So there's literally nothing available after my regular 26 weeks? That's terrifying.

yeah the EB program is tied to state unemployment rates and we haven't qualified for it in over a year

What kind of other programs? I've never had to deal with this before.

Food assistance, housing help, utility assistance. Contact 211 for local resources. Also make sure you're registered with WorkSource for job search help.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it recently and it actually helped me get through to a Washington ESD agent. There's this video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Basically it calls for you and waits in the phone queue.

Never heard of that. Is it legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Yeah it's real, the website is claimyr.com. They handle all the calling and waiting so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Saved me so much frustration.

I feel you but the pandemic programs were always meant to be temporary. The regular UI system is back to how it was before COVID.

Well it sucks! People still need help even if there's no pandemic anymore.

Do you know what the current rate is? I'm curious how close we might be.

Last I checked it was around 3.8% statewide, so nowhere near the 5% trigger point.

How did you find temp work? I've been applying everywhere but nothing.

staffing agencies helped me out, also gig work like doordash while i kept looking for real jobs

TAA is only for people whose jobs were lost due to foreign trade or imports. It's very specific and most people don't qualify for it.

Ah okay, that makes sense why I couldn't find much info about it.

I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and waits in the queue. When an agent picks up, they connect you to the call. Way better than trying to get through yourself.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke.

It's worth checking out their site at claimyr.com to see the options. For me it was worth it just to finally talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Don't panic, just start preparing now. Update your resume, apply to more jobs, look into other assistance programs. The earlier you start planning the better.

Yeah you're right, I need to be more proactive about this.

You can only file a new claim if you earned enough wages during your benefit year to establish a new claim. Most people on UI haven't worked enough to qualify for a new claim.

That makes sense, I was hoping there might be a loophole somewhere.

Totally agree. It can take 6+ months to find a good job in some industries.

But the system has to be sustainable too. Extended benefits cost a lot of money.

Wait, I still have to do job searches even after my benefits end?

Not exactly, but if you want to potentially file a new claim later, you need to show you were available and looking for work during any gap periods.

How long did it take to get through with Claimyr?

They called back in about 2 hours and had me connected to an agent. Much better than the 4+ hours I wasted trying to call myself.

This is such good advice. I made the mistake of getting comfortable on UI and didn't job search seriously until the end.

You're both right, I need to step up my job search efforts immediately.

That's a great idea, I'll look into what's available in my area.

WorkSource offices usually have info about these programs too.