How long can someone claim unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Thanks! So it's not automatically 26 weeks for everyone? How do they calculate the exact number of weeks you get?

Right, it's based on your quarterly earnings during the base year. Washington ESD has a formula they use - generally you need at least 680 hours of covered employment or earnings of at least $3,200 in your base year to qualify for the full benefit period.

Did you have any trouble getting through the full 26 weeks or did Washington ESD ever review your case during that time?

nope no issues as long as you keep filing your weekly claims and do the job search stuff. they dont really bother you unless you mess up the requirements

That's good to know about part-time work potentially extending things. I've been doing some gig work here and there but wasn't sure how that affected my benefit duration.

Yes, if you report part-time earnings and your weekly benefit gets reduced but not eliminated, you're still using up benefit weeks but at a slower rate. It can help stretch things out.

Wait really? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status. How much does something like that cost?

They focus on getting you connected rather than charging a ton. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting hung up on. I was able to get clarification on my exact benefit weeks remaining and when my benefit year expires.

I'm always skeptical of third-party services for government stuff but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken that I might try this.

I understand the frustration, but 26 weeks is actually pretty standard across most states. Some states offer even less. The key is using that time effectively for job searching.

Easy for you to say. Some of us have been looking for months and these employers want you to have experience in 15 different software programs for an entry level job.

I feel you on the job market being tough. That's exactly why I'm worried about my benefits running out.

Oh good tip! I always forget to check the online account. I'll log in and see what it says about my remaining weeks.

Yeah the online account is actually pretty helpful for tracking this stuff. Shows your payment history too so you can see exactly how many weeks you've used up.

Wait, so if I use up all 26 weeks in like 6 months, I can't file again for another 6 months even if I'm still unemployed?

Exactly. That's why it's called a benefit year. You get up to 26 weeks of benefits within that 52-week period. After that you'd need to qualify for a new claim with new wages earned since your last claim.

This is confusing... so what happens to people who can't find work in 26 weeks? They just get nothing?

You're thinking of Training Benefits (TB). If you're enrolled in an approved training program, you might be able to get additional weeks beyond the standard 26. But you have to be approved for the training first.

Yeah that sounds right. I remember hearing about people going back to school and getting extended benefits but didn't know the details.

I've been keeping track of my applications. Do you know how many you're supposed to apply to each week in Washington?

I think it's 3 job search activities per week but don't quote me on that. You should check the WorkSourceWA website or ask Washington ESD directly.

Good advice. I'm at week 16 so I still have some time but I should probably start looking into backup plans now.

Smart thinking. Also check if you qualify for any retraining programs through WorkSourceWA. Sometimes they have funding for people whose benefits are running out.

Those federal extensions (PEUC, extended benefits) ended in 2021. Right now in 2025 we're back to just regular state unemployment which is the 26 weeks maximum.

Damn, that sucks. Those extra weeks really helped people during the pandemic.

Yeah that's exactly why I ended up using it. The regular phone system is basically unusable. At least with Claimyr you know you'll actually talk to someone instead of wasting your whole day on hold.

I've seen people mention this service a few times now. Might be worth trying if the regular system keeps failing people.

I'm on regular UI, not standby. But good to know there are different rules for different types of benefits.

Yeah standby is pretty specific - usually for seasonal workers or temporary layoffs where you have a definite return date. Most people are on regular UI like you.

I maxed out mine back in 2019. Had to get really creative with budgeting and picked up some cash jobs while continuing to look for full-time work. It was rough but eventually found something.

How long after your benefits ended did you find work? I'm trying to plan financially for potentially having no income.

Took about 2 more months after benefits ended. I applied for emergency assistance programs and food stamps to bridge the gap. Don't be too proud to ask for help if you need it.

Tell me about it. I had one company take 3 months to make a hiring decision. By then I'd already moved on but that's 3 months of my benefit time wasted waiting.

Exactly! The system assumes you can find work in 6 months but the hiring process itself takes months now.

That's really helpful to hear. I think I'm going to try it too because I have a lot of questions about my specific situation that I can't get answered online.

Good to know they actually help with useful information and not just basic stuff you can find online.