How long can a person collect unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! She started in October so she should have until around April then. Is there any way to extend beyond 26 weeks?

Extended benefits can sometimes be available during high unemployment periods, but it depends on state and federal programs. She should keep filing her weekly claims and watch for any announcements from Washington ESD about extensions.

This is so confusing! I thought everyone gets the same amount of time. How do they calculate how many weeks you get?

It's based on your total earnings in your base year. Higher earnings usually mean more weeks available, up to the 26 week maximum. The monetary determination letter breaks it all down.

Really? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my benefit duration. How does this Claimyr thing work exactly?

It basically navigates the phone system for you and gets you connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. No more sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your specific benefit timeline.

Oh no, really? Her claim was stuck in adjudication for like 3 weeks. Does that mean she loses those weeks?

No, that's not correct. The 26 weeks refers to weeks of benefits you can actually collect, not calendar weeks. If your claim was in adjudication, those weeks don't count against your total if you weren't receiving payments.

Are there any other programs she might qualify for after regular UI runs out? I heard about some training programs that extend benefits.

Yes, there are training programs like the Trade Adjustment Assistance program or other workforce development programs that can provide extended benefits while you're in approved training. Contact WorkSource for information about those options.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. I was in the same boat - couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD for weeks. This service actually gets you connected to a real person who can look at your account and answer specific questions about your benefit duration and options.

I might have to try that. This whole system is so frustrating when you just need basic information about your own claim.

Good point. What are the current job search requirements in Washington? I want to make sure my sister is doing everything right.

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. This includes applications, interviews, job fairs, networking events, etc. Make sure she's documenting everything in case Washington ESD asks for verification.

What did you do after your benefits ran out? I'm worried about the same thing happening to me.

I had to look into other assistance programs like SNAP and see if I qualified for any training programs. It's not easy but there are resources out there. The key is starting to research your options before your benefits actually end.

I feel your frustration. The system is definitely not user-friendly. Have you tried using any of the callback services people have mentioned? Might be worth a shot if you're at your wit's end.

Same here. I spent literally 6 hours on hold last week just to get disconnected. The whole system is broken.

Is this the letter you get when your claim is first approved? I think I threw mine away not realizing it was important.

Yes, that's the one! You can usually access it again through your Washington ESD online account. It's really important to keep for your records.

This is great advice. I wish I had known this earlier in my unemployment journey.

Thank you everyone for all this helpful information! I'll make sure my sister knows about all these resources and the 26 week timeline.

Good question! You can establish a new claim if you've worked enough hours and earned enough wages since your last claim. The requirements are specific but yes, you can potentially get another 26 weeks if you qualify for a new benefit year.

I think you need to work for at least 680 hours to establish a new claim, but don't quote me on that. Best to check with Washington ESD directly for the current requirements.

I reached the limit last year. You get a notice that your benefits are exhausted and you can't file any more weekly claims. It's pretty clear when it happens.

That's another situation where being able to talk to someone at Washington ESD is really helpful. Claimyr helped me get connected when I had questions about benefit exhaustion and what options might be available. Sometimes there are programs you don't know about unless you talk to the right person.

I agree. The Washington ESD website has all the information but it's scattered across different pages and hard to understand. A simple calculator would be really helpful.

Actually your monetary determination letter is basically that chart - it shows your exact benefit amount and duration. The problem is people don't always understand how to read it.

That's a good point. I know someone who transitioned from unemployment to disability benefits when they realized they had a medical condition that was affecting their ability to work.

The key is not to wait until your benefits run out to explore all your options. Start looking into everything available at least a month before you hit that 26 week mark.