How long can u get unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

ok so 26 weeks total? thats like 6 months right? im getting close to that limit then

Yes exactly, 26 weeks equals about 6 months. You should check your remaining balance on your SecureAccess Washington account to see exactly how many weeks you have left.

Extended Benefits (EB) can trigger when state unemployment rates hit certain thresholds, but Washington hasn't triggered EB recently. The pandemic-era extensions like PEUC ended in 2021.

Ah ok that makes sense. I was confusing it with the COVID stuff from a few years ago.

did you have trouble getting through to them when you reapplied? ive been trying to call for weeks about some other issues

Oh absolutely, the phone system is a nightmare. I actually found this service called Claimyr that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an agent. Saved me hours of busy signals. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

really? that sounds too good to be true but at this point im desperate

how long was the gap? im already stressing about money

It was about 3 weeks for me, but that was because I had some wage verification issues. If your work history is straightforward it might be faster.

I mean, unemployment isn't supposed to be permanent though. 6 months is a decent amount of time to find something.

DECENT?? Try finding a job that pays what you used to make in 6 months. Most people end up taking whatever they can get just to survive

The 26-week limit is pretty standard across most states. It's designed as temporary assistance while you search for work, not long-term income replacement.

yeah ive been doing that, using the worksource website mostly. its such a pain though

WorkSourceWA is one way but you can also count things like networking events, career fairs, contacting employers directly. Just make sure you document everything in your job search log.

It's possible if you time it right and have enough work history. You need to file the new claim in your last week of the current benefit year. But honestly, getting through to Washington ESD to ask about your specific situation is crucial.

That's exactly my problem - can't get through to anyone! The phone system hangs up on me every time.

That's why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. They handle the calling hassle for you and actually get you connected to real agents. Worth checking out if you need to talk to Washington ESD about your benefit year transition.

Good question! Working part-time while on unemployment doesn't extend your 26-week limit, but it might reduce your weekly benefit amount depending on how much you earn. The weeks still count toward your 26 total weeks even if you work part-time.

oh thats annoying. so even if i only get like $50 that week because i worked, it still uses up one of my 26 weeks?

Exactly. Each week you file a claim counts toward your 26-week maximum, regardless of the payment amount.

Your remaining balance shows the total dollar amount left on your claim, but you're limited to 26 weeks regardless of the balance. So if you reach 26 weeks before exhausting the dollar amount, your claim ends.

That seems like such a waste! What happens to that leftover money?

It just expires with your benefit year. You can't carry it over or extend your claim to use it up.

That's smart planning. Look into SNAP benefits, housing assistance, and other programs while you still have some income. The application processes can take time.

Also check if you qualify for job training programs through WorkSource. Some of them provide support while you're learning new skills.

this is getting complicated. how do you figure out if you have enough wages?

You can check your wage history on SecureAccess Washington, or call Washington ESD to ask about your eligibility for a new claim. Though good luck getting through...

Again, this is where Claimyr really helps. Instead of spending hours trying to get through, they handle the calling and get you connected to someone who can check your wage eligibility right away.

I appreciate that perspective. It's been really discouraging feeling like I'm running out of time.

totally get it. just remember that taking care of yourself financially long-term is more important than rushing into the wrong job

how do you track it? is there somewhere on the website that shows exactly how many weeks youve used?

Yeah, log into SecureAccess Washington and look at your claim summary. It should show weeks remaining and your benefit year dates.

There are some limited exceptions for approved training programs, but they're pretty specific. Most people are subject to the standard 26-week limit.

Good to know. I'm looking into some certification programs and wondering if that might help extend things.

thats encouraging to hear! what kind of work did you find?

ended up in customer service, not exactly what i wanted but it pays the bills and has decent benefits

Can you explain that more? I'm not sure I understand the difference.

Your benefit year is 12 months from when you first filed. You can collect up to 26 weeks within that year. So you could exhaust your 26 weeks early, or reach the end of your benefit year with weeks unused.