ESD benefits ending at 26 weeks or extending with part-time earnings? Dashboard shows confusing info

I'm really confused about how long my unemployment benefits will last with my part-time work situation. I've been working 15-20 hours weekly while job searching and faithfully reporting all earnings to ESD. The handbook says something about benefits potentially extending beyond 26 weeks when you report part-time income (since they deduct earnings from weekly payments and not all benefit money gets used up right away). Here's what's stressing me out: When I do the math with my remaining benefit balance ($6,800) and my typical weekly benefit amount after deductions (around $220), I should have roughly 30 more weeks of partial benefits. But my ESD dashboard clearly shows only 3 more payable weeks! Does unemployment really just hard-stop at 26 weeks regardless of my remaining balance? Or will I be able to continue claiming my partial benefits until my total benefit amount is exhausted? I've already submitted this question to ESD but they said it could take 10+ business days for a response, and I need to plan my finances ASAP. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

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14 comments

Freya Johansen

•14d

The 26-week period is your "benefit year" and it's a maximum duration, not necessarily tied to your total benefit amount. Even if you have money left in your account after 26 weeks, regular UI benefits do stop at that point unless there's an extension program in effect (which there isn't currently in 2025). Your part-time earnings definitely help stretch your benefits by reducing your weekly payment amount, but they don't actually extend the 26-week maximum period. The system is showing you have 3 weeks left because that's how many weeks remain in your benefit year, not because that's how long your money will last. There is a possibility of filing for extended benefits if state unemployment is high, but Washington's unemployment rate isn't currently meeting the threshold for EB activation.

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Diego Mendoza

•14d

I just went through this exact scenario last month. The 26-week limit is firm regardless of your remaining balance. I had about $4,200 left that just disappeared when my benefit year ended. I tried calling ESD to see if there were any options, but spent HOURS on hold and never got through. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which connected me with an ESD agent in under 25 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. The agent confirmed what others are saying - the 26 weeks is the max regardless of remaining balance. The only way to get more benefits is to requalify with new employment after your benefit year ends.

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Anastasia Romanov

•14d

The handbook can be a bit confusing on this point. To clarify: your *benefit amount* stretches further when you work part-time and report earnings, but your *benefit duration* (26 weeks) remains fixed. This is a common misunderstanding. After your benefit year ends, you'll need to have earned qualifying wages in at least 680 hours of work since your initial claim to be eligible for a new claim. This is known as requalifying. One strategy some people use is to take any full-time work they can find for a few months to earn those qualifying hours, even if it's not their ideal job, then reapply if needed later. Your weekly certifications showing you've been actively job searching will be important if ESD reviews your work search activities.

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