How long can one be on unemployment in Washington state - hitting my limit soon

Thanks for the info! So I have about 6 weeks left potentially. Is there any way to extend it if I still haven't found work?

There are extended benefit programs that can kick in during high unemployment periods, but Washington isn't currently in one of those periods. You'd need to check with Washington ESD to see if any federal extensions are available.

Wait, so it's not always 26 weeks? How do they calculate how many weeks you get?

It's based on your work history and how much you earned during your base period. The more you worked and earned, the more weeks you can get, up to the maximum of 26.

Never heard of that service before. Did they charge you for it? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim.

Yeah there's a fee but it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of wasting hours on hold. They got me through to an agent who could explain exactly how many weeks I had left and what my options were.

Interesting, I might need to try that. I've been calling Washington ESD for days trying to get clarification on my benefit year end date.

So there's no chance of getting more weeks after my 26 are up? That's pretty scary considering how tight the job market still is.

Unfortunately not under current conditions. You'd need to either find work or look into other assistance programs once your UI runs out.

I feel you on that. It's frustrating when people act like 6 months is plenty of time to find a good job.

exactly! especially in construction where everything is seasonal and depends on weather and projects

Wait, so if I use up all 26 weeks in say 6 more weeks, I can't file again until next spring when my original claim date anniversary hits?

That's correct, unless you work enough to earn wages that would qualify you for a new claim. You'd need to check with Washington ESD about the specific wage requirements.

This is why I hate the unemployment system. It's so confusing with all these rules and timelines.

Good point, I should double check. Where exactly do you see the week count in your account?

When you log into your Washington ESD account, there should be a section showing your remaining benefit amount and weeks. Sometimes it's not super obvious where to find it though.

What kind of gig work did you do? I'm trying to think of backup plans in case I don't find something in the next few weeks.

Did some handyman work, helped people move, basic construction cleanup jobs. Nothing steady but it helped pay some bills.

That's smart. Sometimes you gotta get creative when the benefits run out.

Yeah I've been doing my job searches and logging them. That's been the easy part honestly.

Good, just checking. I've seen people get their benefits stopped for not meeting the search requirements.

Totally agree. Six months sounds like a lot until you're actually living it and trying to find work that pays a living wage.

Exactly. And then they wonder why people end up taking jobs that pay less than their benefits did.

I might need to look into that. I've been playing phone tag with Washington ESD for over a week trying to get a straight answer about my benefit year.

Yeah it's worth it if you need actual answers instead of just generic information from the website. The agents can look at your specific account and give you exact numbers.

That's confusing. So if I worked a few days here and there, those weeks don't count against my 26 week limit?

It depends on how much you earned. If you earned enough to make your weekly benefit zero, that week wouldn't count against your limit. But partial unemployment weeks usually do count.

This is why I hate dealing with unemployment rules. Everything has exceptions and conditions.

Yeah I'm trying to think of backup plans. It's just scary when you've been out of work this long already.

i get it, but having a plan helps with the anxiety even if you don't need to use it

That's a good idea. I should probably look into what's available locally. Construction might be slow but there could be other opportunities.

Exactly. WorkSource can help you explore options and some programs even provide financial assistance while you're training.

Yeah someone mentioned that earlier. I need to check my account to see both dates clearly.

Definitely worth understanding. The Washington ESD website has information about it but talking to an agent is the best way to get clarity on your specific situation.

Seems like a few people have had good luck with it. I might give it a try since I'm having trouble getting through on my own.

Yeah, saved me a lot of time and frustration. Worth it when you need actual answers about your specific claim.

Thanks, appreciate the support. This thread has been really helpful for understanding my situation better.

That's what these forums are for. We've all been there and it helps to share information.