How long are unemployment benefits paid in Washington State?

Thanks! So I have 26 weeks total to find a new job. That's actually more time than I expected.

Just remember you still have to do the job search requirements every week to keep getting paid. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without all the waiting and busy signals. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Game changer for getting answers about your claim.

That sounds too good to be true but I'll check it out. I've been calling for weeks with no luck.

How do you find out about approved training programs? Is that something you apply for separately?

You can check with WorkSource Washington or ask your Washington ESD caseworker. The training has to be approved before you start or it won't extend your benefits.

This is so important! I made the same mistake and had to go through a whole process to get that week back.

Good to know. I've been filing every Sunday like clockwork since I got approved.

Were you able to find something before your benefits ran out?

Yeah but just barely. Found a job in week 24. The pressure definitely motivated me to take interviews I might have turned down earlier.

You need to earn enough wages in a new base period to establish a new claim. It's not automatic just because time passed. Washington ESD looks at your earnings in the 4 quarters before you file.

That makes sense. So if I only work part-time for a few months it might not be enough to qualify for a new claim.

They do send determination letters but they're written in bureaucratic language that's hard to understand. Your online account should show your remaining balance and benefit year end date though.

I'll have to look more carefully at my online account. Sometimes I just focus on whether I got paid that week.

All the pandemic-era extensions (PEUC, PUA, etc.) ended in September 2021. Right now it's just regular state unemployment benefits which max out at 26 weeks in Washington.

Okay that's what I thought but wasn't sure. Thanks for clarifying.

How detailed do the job search records need to be? I've just been writing down company names and dates.

Company name, date, position applied for, and method of contact (online, in person, etc.). Better to have too much detail than not enough.

Log into your account on the Washington ESD website. It should show your remaining benefit balance and you can calculate weeks left by dividing by your weekly benefit amount.

If you need to talk to someone for more complex questions, Claimyr really does work for getting through to Washington ESD. I was skeptical too but it saved me hours of calling.

Have you considered expanding your search to related fields? Sometimes you have to take a step sideways to keep moving forward.

Yeah I'm starting to look at jobs that are maybe 70% match instead of waiting for the perfect fit. 6 weeks left is getting real.

It varies by state. Some states have as few as 12 weeks, others go up to 30. Washington's 26 weeks is pretty standard.

Good to know we're not getting shortchanged compared to other states.

How does that work exactly? Do they just reduce your weekly payment?

Yeah, they deduct a portion of what you earn from your weekly benefit. There's a formula but basically you can earn some money without losing all your unemployment.

What kind of backup plan? Like savings or family help?

All of the above. I also looked into temporary staffing agencies and gig work as stopgap measures.

Definitely not treating it like vacation! I'm applying to jobs every day and doing my required job search activities.

Good attitude. Sounds like you're taking it seriously from the start.

That's why you have to apply broadly and not just wait for responses from your top choice companies. Cast a wide net.

True. I learned that lesson the hard way during my last job search.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already stressed about money.

It's worth checking out their website to see if it makes sense for your situation. Sometimes getting clear answers early saves you problems later.

Perfect summary. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This thread has been super useful.

Good luck with your job search! You've got this.