How long are unemployment benefits available in Washington ESD?

Thanks for clarifying! So it's definitely just the 26 weeks now. Do I need to do anything special to get the full 26 weeks or is it automatic?

You need to file your weekly claims every week and meet the job search requirements. As long as you remain eligible and available for work, you can receive benefits for the full 26 weeks.

I worked full time for 8 years so I should definitely qualify. What's the base period exactly?

its the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file. so if you file now it would be roughly jan 2024 through dec 2024

Never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's totally legitimate. They just help you get through the phone system faster. I was able to talk to an actual Washington ESD rep within 20 minutes instead of calling for days and getting busy signals.

Interesting, might have to check that out. I've been trying to reach someone at Washington ESD about my adjudication for weeks.

Good point! I heard the job search requirements got stricter recently. Is that true?

Yes, they reinstated the full job search requirements in 2022. During COVID they were waived but now you need to actively search and document everything.

That's a good point about not rushing into just any job. How do you balance that with the requirement to accept suitable work?

Suitable work is based on your skills and experience. You don't have to take a minimum wage job if you were making $80k before. Washington ESD has guidelines about what's considered suitable.

Exactly right. 'Suitable work' considers your previous wages, skills, and experience. You're not required to take just any job, especially early in your claim.

Extended Benefits (EB) can trigger during high unemployment periods, but Washington state hasn't triggered EB recently. The unemployment rate would need to be significantly higher than it is now.

So basically I need to find something in the next 14 weeks or I'm on my own. That's stressful.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. When you're getting close to the end of your benefits, you want to make sure there are no issues with your claim that could delay payments. Being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD is huge.

Wait, so if my claim takes 3 weeks to process, I only get 23 weeks of payments?

No, that's not quite right. The 26 weeks is the maximum number of payments you can receive, not calendar weeks. If there's a delay in processing, you can still get the full 26 payments.

Oh you're right, I was confusing that with the benefit year timeframe. Thanks for the correction!

You can only reapply if you've worked and earned sufficient wages since your last claim. You can't just reapply because your benefits ran out.

that makes sense i guess. so you really do need to find work within those 26 weeks

Definitely planning to start applying right away. The severance from my company gives me a little cushion but I don't want to waste time.

smart approach. also make sure your linkedin is updated and start reaching out to your network immediately

YES! I had one company take 8 weeks from first interview to final decision. It's ridiculous.

Exactly! And then they wonder why people are frustrated with the job market.

This is why I'm glad I found out about that Claimyr service earlier. At least I can get answers from Washington ESD when I need them instead of wondering if my claim is processing correctly.

Wait, there's a waiting week? I thought Washington eliminated that?

Washington did eliminate the waiting week in 2020. You should be eligible for payment starting with your first week of unemployment if you meet all other requirements.

Oh wow, you're right! I was thinking of the old rules. Thanks for the correction - that's actually great news for people filing now.

How picky is too picky though? I don't want to settle for something way below my skill level.

It's a balance. Don't take something completely unrelated to your field, but also don't hold out for the perfect job that pays 20% more than your last one.

Yes, benefits can stop if you fail to file weekly claims, don't meet work search requirements, refuse suitable work, or have an eligibility issue arise.

That's what I was afraid of. I'm going to be extra careful with my weekly filings.

This is another reason why having access to Washington ESD reps through something like Claimyr is valuable. If you do make a mistake, you can get it sorted out quickly instead of having your benefits delayed.

Good to know! I might look into some freelance work to supplement. How does the partial benefit calculation work?

they reduce your benefits dollar for dollar after you earn more than your weekly benefit amount. so some work is better than no work

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Feeling much more confident about the process now.

You're welcome! Just remember to stay organized and don't procrastinate on the job search.