How long can u get unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about duration limits

ok so if i made like 40k last year what would that mean for my weekly amount?

Your weekly benefit amount would be roughly $400-500 depending on your exact base period wages. Washington ESD uses a formula based on your highest earning quarter.

damn really? i was hoping to take some time to figure things out. what if i just dont report the school thing?

DO NOT do that. Washington ESD will find out and you'll have to pay back everything plus penalties. There are legitimate training programs you can get approved for though.

There's also the able and available requirement. If you're in school full-time, you might not be considered available for work.

Same problem here! I've been calling since 7am every day and can't get through. The system is broken.

I discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. It basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person.

is that legit? sounds too good to be true

I feel you but that's just how the system works. You can't collect forever.

easy for you to say. try finding a decent job in this economy when you're over 50

what if i only worked like 8 months at my last job? does that affect anything?

As long as you have sufficient earnings in your base period, the duration of your last job doesn't matter. It's all about total wages earned during the base period quarters.

thanks for the helpful advice captain obvious

Actually it can be complicated if you have unique circumstances like going to school or having part-time work.

how do i apply for that? is there a form or something?

You'd need to contact Washington ESD directly to discuss your specific training program. They have to approve it before you start.

Good luck getting through to them though. I ended up using Claimyr after trying for weeks and finally got my training benefits approved.

Yes, you can work part-time but you must report ALL earnings on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits based on how much you earn, but you might still get some unemployment benefits.

do they reduce it dollar for dollar?

No, there's a partial benefit formula. Generally, if you earn less than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you'll still get some unemployment benefits.

so if i use up all 26 weeks i cant get more unemployment for another 26 weeks?

Exactly, unless you've worked enough to qualify for a new claim or there are special extended benefits available.

did it cost anything to use?

Yeah there's a fee but honestly worth it compared to the hours I was wasting trying to call myself. They have the details on their website.

3 job contacts a week isn't impossible. just apply to stuff online

spoken like someone who hasnt been unemployed for months. employers dont even respond anymore

so theres no way to get more than 26 weeks? what if unemployment is really high?

There are federal extended benefit programs that can activate during high unemployment periods, but they're not active right now in Washington.

when do you get that letter? is it mailed or online?

You should get it within a week of filing your claim. It'll be available in your Washington ESD online account and usually mailed as well.

what planet are you living on? try finding a job that pays enough to live on in seattle

The job market varies a lot by industry and location. 26 weeks might be enough for some people but not others.

Washington eliminated the waiting week in 2020. So now you can get benefits starting from your first week of unemployment if you're eligible.

oh good, i was worried about that

what if you just go on vacation for a week?

Short vacations are usually ok but you need to be available for work. If you're out of state and can't accept a job offer, you might not get benefits for that week.

thanks this is really helpful. sounds like i need to just file and see what happens

Exactly. The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool that can give you an estimate of your weekly amount too.

how long do i need to keep that stuff?

I'd keep it for at least a year after your claim ends, just to be safe.

stay positive, things will get better

thanks for all the advice everyone. time to file my claim and start job hunting