How long can I get unemployment benefits in Washington - what's the maximum time?

In Washington state, regular unemployment benefits (UI) can last up to 26 weeks maximum. This hasn't changed - it's still the standard duration. The amount you get each week depends on your wages during your base period, but the maximum duration is always 26 weeks unless there's some special federal extension program active (which there isn't right now).

The 8 years you worked definitely helps - you'll easily meet the work requirements. Washington ESD looks at your highest earning quarter during your base period to calculate your weekly benefit amount. With 8 years of steady work history you should qualify for a decent amount.

Just a heads up - filing your initial claim can be a pain. I spent 3 hours trying to get through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my application. Their phone system is terrible and you'll probably get disconnected multiple times. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

dont forget you have to do job search activities every week to keep getting benefits!! washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to keep a log

The 26 weeks goes by faster than you think. I burned through mine in 2022 when I got laid off from Boeing. Make sure you're actively looking for work and not just coasting because once those 26 weeks are up, that's it unless Congress passes some emergency extension.

Also make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you don't think you qualify that week. If you skip a week you can't go back and claim it later. I learned this the hard way.

Just curious - why did your plant lay people off? I work in manufacturing too and wondering if this is industry-wide cuts or just your company.

One more thing about the 26 weeks - that's based on a 'benefit year' which starts when you first file your claim. So if you file today, your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from today, but you only get 26 weeks worth of payments during that year.

Washington's system is actually pretty straightforward compared to other states I've heard about. The hardest part is getting through to talk to someone when you have questions, but the online system for filing claims works pretty well most of the time.

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs fired. If you were laid off due to lack of work (which sounds like your situation), you should have no problems qualifying. If you were fired for misconduct that's a whole different story.

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off 3 weeks ago and just finished my first weekly claim. The hardest part so far has been keeping track of all my job search activities. I made a spreadsheet to log everything.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Your first week of unemployment is a 'waiting week' where you file a claim but don't get paid. It's like a one-week deductible.

If you run into any issues with your claim getting stuck in adjudication or anything like that, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. I had my claim pending for 3 weeks and couldn't get anyone on the phone until I used their service. Saved me a lot of stress.

26 weeks seems like a lot but it really isn't when you're actually unemployed. I recommend treating job searching like a full-time job from day one, not waiting until you start getting desperate.

Quick question - do you know if the 26 weeks includes holidays? Like does the week of Christmas count as one of your 26 weeks even if you couldn't really job search that week?

The maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington is $999 per week as of 2025, but that's only if you were making really good money. Most people get somewhere between $300-600 per week depending on their previous wages.

Don't forget you can also apply for other assistance programs while you're on unemployment - food stamps, utility assistance, etc. Every little bit helps when you're not working.

Good luck with everything! Being laid off sucks but at least Washington has a decent unemployment system compared to some states. Just stay on top of your weekly filings and job search requirements and you should be fine.

One thing I'd add - make sure you file your initial claim as soon as possible after your layoff date. There's no benefit to waiting, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you file. I made that mistake when I first got laid off years ago and lost out on a week of benefits because I waited too long to apply. Also, keep all your layoff paperwork handy when you file - they'll ask for details about your last day of work, reason for separation, etc.