How long can I get unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

Thanks! I haven't gotten my determination letter yet, just the approval email. How long does that usually take to arrive?

Should be within a week or two. You can also check your account on the Washington ESD website to see your benefit details.

Oh wow, I didn't know that. I worked the full 8 years at decent pay so hopefully I get the full 26 weeks.

Yeah the duration is calculated based on your earnings history. If you worked steady at good wages you should get closer to the maximum.

How much does that cost? I'm already tight on money.

It's worth it compared to spending all day trying to call. Much faster than the normal route.

Might be worth looking into if I can't get through to check my benefit amount. Thanks for the tip!

Thanks! That's what I was hoping to hear. Do you know if there are any extensions available if I can't find work in 26 weeks?

Extensions depend on unemployment rates and federal programs. Right now there are no automatic extensions, but that can change if economic conditions worsen.

Are those extended benefits available now? The unemployment rate seems pretty high.

Not currently active in Washington. They trigger on and off based on the state's unemployment rate compared to previous years.

That's helpful to know. With 8 years of work I'm hoping for the full duration.

This is confusing. Why can't they just give everyone the same amount of time?

It's designed to be proportional to how much you paid into the system through your employment. Higher earners paid more in unemployment taxes.

Makes sense when you explain it that way. Hopefully my manufacturing wages were high enough for the full period.

What exactly do I need to do for the job search requirements? I just started so I haven't gotten to that part yet.

You need to apply for at least 3 jobs per week and keep a log. They can audit you anytime so keep good records.

Yeah I've been filing weekly. How many job contacts do I need to do each week?

It's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Keep good records because they do audit sometimes.

Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work for reaching Washington ESD?

Yeah it connected me within 20 minutes when I couldn't get through on my own. Super helpful for getting specific questions answered about your claim.

Might have to try that if I run into issues. The phone system seems impossible to navigate.

That's exactly what I'm worried about. 26 weeks sounds like a lot but goes by fast when you're job hunting.

Have you looked into retraining programs? WorkSource has some options that might help extend your benefits.

I'll check that out, thanks. Anything to help bridge the gap while looking for work.

Tell me about it. I've been trying to call them for weeks to get a straight answer about my specific situation.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person instead of trying to figure it out from their website.

That's not quite right. Missing one week of job search won't make you pay back benefits, but it can cause a temporary disqualification until you complete the requirements.

maybe it was different but he definitely had to pay something back. washington esd is strict about everything

Good advice. I've already started looking but will ramp up the search. Better to find something sooner than later.

Exactly. And document everything for your weekly claims. Washington ESD can be picky about job search requirements.

Good point. I'm already looking but maybe I need to step it up. What kind of manufacturing work were you in?

Aerospace parts manufacturing. Took me 8 months to find something comparable so I went without benefits for the last 2 months.

The extended benefits from COVID (like PEUC) ended in 2021. Now it's back to the standard 26 weeks unless Congress or the state creates new programs.

Oh ok that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

Part-time work can actually extend your benefit period if you report it correctly. You'll get reduced benefits based on your earnings, but the weeks you work part-time don't count as full weeks of benefits used.

Yeah I did some part-time work and it definitely helped stretch my benefits longer. Just make sure you report every penny you earn or they'll hit you with an overpayment.

It's still 26 weeks maximum in Washington. Some states have reduced their benefit duration but Washington hasn't changed theirs.

ok good to know thanks

Your benefit year is 52 weeks from when you filed your claim. During that year, you can collect up to 26 weeks of benefits. If you exhaust your 26 weeks before the benefit year ends, you can't file a new claim until the year is up.

That actually makes sense now. Thanks for explaining it better than their website does!

Interesting, I hadn't heard of that. The company did mention some production moving overseas. How do I find out if I qualify?

Contact WorkSource Washington or check with your former employer's HR department. They would know if a TAA petition was filed.

Good to know! I've been filing every Sunday so far. Set a phone reminder to make sure I don't forget.

Smart move. I missed one week and it took three weeks to get payments restarted.

Different times though. Job market was different and people could find work faster usually.

True, it definitely takes longer to find good work now.

I can imagine. That's why I'm trying to plan ahead now. Already cut back on expenses and focusing on the job search.

You're smart to think ahead. Too many people assume they'll find work quickly and don't prepare for the full duration.

How much does something like that cost?

It's worth it when you consider the time you save and the peace of mind from getting accurate information directly from Washington ESD staff.

I feel your frustration. Have you considered expanding your job search area or looking at adjacent industries?

I've tried everything. The good jobs want experience I don't have and the available jobs pay half what I was making.

Really? That's good to know. Hopefully I find something stable but good to have that as backup.

Yes, unused benefits can sometimes be claimed later in the same benefit year if you become unemployed again. The rules are specific though.

I'm not on standby - I was permanently laid off. But good to know there are different types of unemployment claims.

Yeah standby is for temporary layoffs where you expect to be called back. Sounds like regular UI is what you want.

Yes, you can reopen your existing claim if you lose a job within your benefit year, as long as you have weeks remaining and meet the eligibility requirements.

good to know thanks

Yeah I've been religious about filing every Sunday. Don't want to risk losing benefits over a technicality.

Smart approach. Washington ESD doesn't give you much leeway on missed deadlines.

Were you able to find something before benefits ran out?

Found something in week 24, thankfully. But it was a close call and not the job I really wanted.

Good to know there are options if I can't get through the normal way.

Yeah their video demo shows exactly how it works. Makes the whole process much smoother.

Agreed. I remember when 6 months seemed like plenty of time to find work.

Now you're lucky if you get responses to applications within 6 weeks.

Good tip. I'll start paying attention to that number.

Yeah it's easy to lose track of how many weeks you have left if you're not watching.

That's reassuring. I'm trying to stay optimistic while being realistic about the timeline.

That's the right attitude. Good luck with your search!

I got extended benefits during the 2008 recession. They were available for several months when unemployment was really high.

That's ages ago though. Doesn't seem like they've been available recently.

Extended Benefits are triggered automatically when the state's unemployment rate hits certain thresholds. Just not active right now.

That's a great suggestion. I should probably sign up for some of their services anyway for the job search requirements.

WorkSource has some good workshops and networking events. Worth checking out even if you don't need their other services.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Feeling much more prepared now to navigate this process.

Good luck with your job search! Manufacturing is tough right now but there are still opportunities out there.

I bookmarked their site just in case. Hopefully won't need it but good to have options if I can't get through normally.

Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get answers about your specific situation. The automated stuff only goes so far.