How long can a person receive unemployment benefits in Washington?

Thanks! So it's definitely 26 weeks maximum? I heard someone mention something about extensions during certain economic conditions.

Yes, 26 weeks is the standard maximum for regular UI benefits. Extensions only happen during severe economic downturns when Congress authorizes them, like during the 2008 recession or COVID pandemic.

Good point about the weekly claims. How many job search activities do I need to do each week?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week but check your WorkSourceWA account to be sure. requirements can vary

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to ESD agents without the endless busy signals. There's even a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Made a huge difference for me when I needed to clarify my claim details.

I feel your pain. I've been calling at 8am sharp every day for two weeks and still haven't gotten through. The system is ridiculous.

That's good advice. I'm trying to be realistic about what jobs I'll accept while still aiming for something in my field.

Smart approach. I made the mistake of being too picky early on and ended up taking a job I hated at week 24 because I was running out of benefits.

Oh interesting, I didn't know about the benefit year vs. weeks of benefits distinction. That's actually reassuring to know.

Yeah this confused me too when I first filed. The Washington ESD website explains it but it's buried in all the other information.

Yeah, I'm already feeling the financial pressure and I just started. Definitely motivating me to search hard.

Same here. I thought I'd be fine for months but reality hit pretty quick. Started applying to anything remotely related to my field by week 8.

Standby is different - you can still collect benefits while on standby but you don't have to do job searches. The 26-week maximum still applies though. If you're not called back, you'll need to start active job searching.

Good to know, thanks. My employer is being vague about when they might call people back so I wasn't sure how this worked.

No extensions right now. The pandemic-era programs (PUA, PEUC) ended in 2021. Extensions only happen when Congress authorizes them during major economic emergencies.

I was hoping there might be something too but doesn't look like it. 26 weeks is what we get unless something major happens economically.

That's scary! I've been kind of loose with my record keeping. Better start being more careful.

Yes! I got audited at week 18 and had to scramble to find all my job search proof. Keep everything - applications, emails, networking contacts, everything.

Don't panic! I found my current job at week 24. Sometimes the pressure of running low on benefits actually helps you make decisions faster and be less picky.

I was in your exact situation and ended up using Claimyr to get through to ESD about extending my job search timeline. Turned out I had some options I didn't know about. Worth calling to discuss your situation.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll keep pushing and maybe try that Claimyr thing if I need to talk to someone at ESD.

That's a great way to think about it. I'm going to try to keep that mindset.

Exactly! I treated job searching like a full-time job - 40 hours a week of applications, networking, skill building. Made all the difference.

This is important info. I didn't realize you had to qualify all over again for a new benefit year.

Right, you need sufficient wages in your new base period. If you only worked briefly between claims, you might not qualify for a new claim.

You can see your remaining balance and weeks on your ESD account dashboard. It's not super obvious but it's there under your claim summary.

Oh really? I'll have to look for that. I've been keeping track manually like some kind of caveman lol

Good point. Better to focus on finding stable work than trying to maximize unemployment benefits.

Definitely wasn't planning to game anything, just want to understand how it all works. Thanks for the heads up though.

I hear you. The job market is tough right now. But extensions are rare and only happen during major economic disasters. 26 weeks is what we get unless Congress acts.

At least we have 26 weeks. Some states have way less. I think Florida only gives like 12 weeks or something crazy like that.

That's the third mention of Claimyr in this thread. Sounds like it's actually legit. Good to know if I run into issues.

Yeah it's not free but honestly worth it if you actually need to talk to someone. The regular phone system is basically broken.