How long can one collect unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

Thanks! How do they calculate the base year? Is it the last 12 months I worked?

Base year is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you filed in January 2025, it would be October 2023 through September 2024.

Yeah those pandemic extensions are long gone. Back to the regular 26 weeks max.

Got it, so I should plan for 26 weeks maximum. That's about 6 months to find something new.

Interesting, I haven't heard of that. Is it legit? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff.

Yeah it's legit, check out claimyr.com. They basically handle the phone queue for you so you don't have to sit there for hours. Really helped when I needed clarification on my job search requirements.

What are the job search requirements exactly? How many applications per week?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week. Can be applications, interviews, job fairs, etc. Keep good records because they audit sometimes.

Wait I thought it was 2 per week? Or does it depend on your situation?

Thanks for clarifying! I was getting confused about the number.

Good to know. I'll make sure to track everything carefully from the start.

I worked 8 years straight at the same company, so hopefully I qualify for the full 26 weeks. Should be plenty of earnings in my base year.

Yeah with 8 years you should be fine for the full duration. Just make sure to file your weekly claims on time every week.

Oh that's good to know! So I should expect my first payment in the second week?

Exactly. First week you file but get $0, then payments start from week 2 assuming everything processes correctly.

That's good to know. I might look for some part-time or contract work while I search for something permanent.

Yeah partial benefits are helpful. Just be honest about all income, even small amounts.

Yeah I'm definitely going to look into that if I have trouble getting through. The phone system sounds like a nightmare.

It really is. Claimyr made such a difference for me when I was dealing with an adjudication issue. Worth checking out their site.

It's not lifetime. If you work and earn enough wages to establish a new benefit year, you can qualify for another 26 weeks. You just need sufficient earnings in a new base year period.

Thanks! That makes sense. So it's 26 weeks per benefit year, not per lifetime.

Hopefully I won't need the full 26 weeks, but good to know what happens if I do. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

Good luck with your job search! Manufacturing has been picking up in some areas of Washington.

Do you know what the current maximum weekly benefit is in Washington?

I think it's around $999 per week for 2025, but don't quote me on that. Check the ESD website for current rates.

Any tips on the best way to keep track of job search activities?

I use a simple spreadsheet with date, company, position, and type of activity. Keep copies of applications and any correspondence too.

Definitely planning to start looking right away. Just wanted to understand the timeline so I can plan accordingly.

Smart approach. Having a timeline helps with motivation too.

I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully I won't need it, but good to know there's a backup option.

Better to know about it before you need it. ESD phone lines are brutal during busy times.

Interesting! I hadn't thought about training programs. Where would I find info about those?

WorkSourceWA has information about approved training programs. Some let you collect benefits while in training instead of doing job searches.

Perfect summary, thank you! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more prepared now.

This is exactly the kind of info I wish I'd had when I first filed. Great thread!