How long can u receive unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

ok so 26 weeks is like 6 months right? that should give me enough time to find something hopefully

Yeah 26 weeks = 6 months. But make sure you're actively job searching because Washington ESD requires you to do 3 job search activities per week and keep a log.

ugh same problem here, been calling for days and either get busy signal or hang up after 2 hours on hold

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I couldn't reach them on my own. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really saved me time and frustration.

never heard of that but willing to try anything at this point, thanks for the tip

what do you mean by base year? is that just the last year i worked?

Base year is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. Washington ESD uses this to calculate both your weekly benefit amount and total benefit duration.

This is confusing as hell, why can't they just say 'you worked X time so you get Y weeks' in plain english

what happens if i find a part time job while collecting? can i still get some benefits?

Yes you can work part time while on unemployment but you have to report all earnings on your weekly claim. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount based on what you earn but you might still get partial benefits.

wait what kind of activities count? just applying for jobs or other stuff too?

Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, skills training - lots of things count. Check the Washington ESD website for the full list of approved activities.

good to know, i better start keeping track of everything i do

Currently there are no extensions available. When your 26 weeks are up, that's it unless Congress passes new federal extension programs. You might qualify for other assistance programs though.

Have you looked into WorkSource for job training programs? Sometimes they have resources that can help while you're looking for work.

I feel you! Washington ESD customer service is terrible. The automated phone system is confusing and when you finally get through the agents often give different answers.

That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier actually worked for me - got through to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of waiting hours. Worth checking out if you need to talk to Washington ESD.

Yes, you must file your weekly claim every week by the deadline (usually Sunday night) even if nothing has changed. Missing even one week can interrupt your benefits and cause delays.

I missed one week by accident and it took 3 weeks to get my benefits restarted. Don't make that mistake!

noted, will set a reminder on my phone every week

wow $1015 a week would be nice but yeah i'm only getting like $450

The amount is calculated as roughly 50% of your average weekly wage during your base year, subject to the minimum and maximum limits.

oh crap i didn't think about taxes, how do i set up withholding?

You can change your tax withholding settings in your Washington ESD online account. I think it's 10% federal withholding option.

This is good advice. I waited too long to start seriously job hunting and ended up scrambling in my last few weeks of benefits.

yeah i'm already browsing job sites, definitely don't want to wait until the last minute

What counts as 'suitable work'? Do I have to take any job offer even if it pays way less than my previous job?

Generally after the first few weeks you're expected to consider work that pays at least 75% of your previous wage, but there are other factors like distance and your skills.

good to know, i was wondering about reporting small amounts

Yeah they cross-reference with tax records so better to report everything upfront than get caught later.

seems like a lot of people are having phone issues with Washington ESD, might look into that

I used Claimyr when my claim was stuck in adjudication for weeks. Got through same day and agent explained exactly what documents I needed to submit.

that makes me feel a bit better about the situation, thanks everyone for all the helpful info

Yeah Washington ESD isn't perfect but the benefits are reasonable if you can navigate the system.

will do, starting a folder now with all my unemployment stuff

Good idea. I had to appeal a disqualification once and having all my records saved my claim.

This is confusing - how do you know how much total benefits you're eligible for?

It should show in your Washington ESD online account under benefit information. Shows your weekly amount and maximum benefit amount for the year.

thanks everyone, this thread has been super helpful in understanding how it all works

appreciate the encouragement, definitely staying optimistic and using this time to find something better