Can you still collect unemployment benefits in Washington - eligibility questions

Yes, you can definitely still collect regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in Washington. The basic program never stopped - you just need to meet the standard eligibility requirements like being able and available for work, actively seeking employment, and filing your weekly claims on time. What specific concerns do you have about your eligibility?

What changed recently was the end of the pandemic-era programs like PUA and PEUC, but regular unemployment benefits through Washington ESD continue as normal. You need to file your weekly claims every week, report any work or income, and maintain your job search requirements. Are you getting any error messages when you file?

I had similar worries when I was on unemployment last year. The key thing is making sure you meet the ongoing eligibility requirements - able and available for work, actively seeking employment, and filing your weekly claims. If you're doing all that and your claim is active, you should continue receiving benefits as long as you have benefit weeks remaining.

If you're having trouble getting clear answers from the Washington ESD website, you might want to try calling them directly. I know it's frustrating with the wait times, but I actually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an agent faster. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made a huge difference when I needed to verify my claim status.

Just to clarify the current requirements - you need to be physically able to work, available for work, actively seeking employment (3 job search activities per week), and file your weekly claim between Sunday and the following Saturday. If you're meeting all these requirements and your claim is active, you should continue receiving benefits.

The confusion might be coming from all the changes that happened during COVID. Those special programs ended, but regular unemployment insurance never went away. As long as you qualified initially and you're still meeting the ongoing requirements, you can collect benefits until you find work or exhaust your benefit weeks.

One thing to watch out for - make sure you're not missing any correspondence from Washington ESD. Sometimes they send notices about verifying your identity or needing additional information. If you don't respond timely, it can cause issues with your claim.

I'm in a similar situation - been collecting since December and haven't had any issues. As long as you're filing your weekly claims and meeting the work search requirements, you should be fine. The system is pretty straightforward once you get used to it.

Just wanted to add that if you ever do run into issues or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier is really helpful. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get through on the phone until I used their service. Much easier than trying to call on your own.

The Washington ESD system can definitely be confusing, especially if you're new to it. But yes, regular unemployment benefits are still available. Just focus on meeting your weekly requirements and you should be fine. Don't let the horror stories online freak you out too much.

I've been collecting for about 8 weeks now and haven't had any major problems. The main thing is just staying on top of your weekly claims and job search activities. The system works pretty well if you follow the rules.

One tip - make sure you're using the correct website (secure.esd.wa.gov) and not any fake sites. There have been some scams targeting unemployed people. Always go directly to the official Washington ESD website.

If you're still feeling uncertain, you could always try calling Washington ESD directly to confirm your claim status. I know the wait times can be brutal, but sometimes it's worth it for peace of mind. Or like others mentioned, there are services that can help you get connected faster.

Bottom line - yes, you can still collect unemployment in Washington. The regular UI program never stopped, just the pandemic programs ended. Keep filing your weekly claims, do your job searches, and you should be fine. Don't overthink it!