Can I get an unemployment extension through Washington ESD?

Thanks for the info. Do you know what the current unemployment rate threshold is for Washington to trigger extended benefits?

I think it's around 6.5% for the state rate, but don't quote me on that. The Washington ESD website should have the exact numbers.

That's what I'm worried about. Did you eventually find work or what happened?

yeah found a job after about 2 months but it was rough. definitely apply for other assistance programs while you're looking

I haven't missed any weeks and my claim has been pretty straightforward. Guess I need to start looking at other options.

Have you tried calling Washington ESD directly? Sometimes they have information about programs that aren't well publicized online.

I've tried calling but can never get through. The wait times are insane and I usually just get disconnected.

Interesting, I've never heard of that. How does it work exactly?

You basically tell them what you need to discuss with Washington ESD and they handle getting you connected to an agent. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

Sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?

No catch really, just a service that does the waiting for you. I was skeptical too but it actually worked.

I'm starting to feel that way too. It's so frustrating when you're already stressed about money.

I understand the frustration, but the agents are doing their best with limited resources. The call volume is just overwhelming.

Limited resources is just an excuse. They should hire more people if they can't handle the volume.

That's a good idea. I should check what's available in my area.

Yeah, and some programs let you continue getting unemployment while you're in training. Definitely worth exploring.

Good point. I'll make a list of questions if I can ever get through to someone.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - I had specific questions that I couldn't get answered any other way.

It's tough out there. What field are you in?

hospitality - restaurants and hotels. everything requires experience i dont have or pays way too little

I hadn't thought of checking county programs. Thanks for the suggestion.

Also check with local churches and community organizations. Many have emergency assistance funds that don't require you to be a member.

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for being straight with me though.

Sorry to be the messenger. But definitely don't give up - there are other resources out there.

That's a creative idea. I never thought about involving my representative.

Their staff often knows about resources that regular people don't. Worth a shot!

Yeah, I used it and it worked for me. Better than spending hours on hold only to get disconnected.

I was skeptical but tried it last month when I had adjudication issues. Got connected to an agent within a few hours instead of days of calling.

Good to know it's legit. Might give it a try for my own claim questions.

Yeah, I'm starting to accept that. Time to get serious about finding something, anything.

Don't take just anything though. Make sure it's worth leaving unemployment for if the pay is really low.

That's good advice. I've been too focused on management roles when I should probably be more flexible.

exactly. once you get your foot in the door somewhere you can work your way back up

Good reminder. I've been keeping track but maybe not as detailed as I should be.

Yeah, they want specifics - company names, dates, contact info, how you applied. Better to over-document than under-document.

Unfortunately yeah. At least we can share information and support each other.

That's what these forums are for - helping each other navigate this mess.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and reality checks. Time to make some moves.

Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes.