How long can you collect unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?
I'm about to start my unemployment claim with Washington ESD and trying to figure out how long I can collect benefits. My last job was at a tech company where I worked for about 2 years before getting laid off. I've heard different things from friends - some say 26 weeks, others mentioned extensions. What's the actual maximum time you can collect unemployment in Washington state? Also wondering if work history affects how long you can collect or just the weekly benefit amount.
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Amelia Cartwright
In Washington state, regular unemployment insurance (UI) provides up to 26 weeks of benefits. This is the standard maximum for most people. Your work history and earnings determine your weekly benefit amount, but the 26-week limit applies regardless of how much you made. There used to be extensions during the pandemic, but those ended in 2021.
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Royal_GM_Mark
•Thanks! So it's definitely 26 weeks max? No way to get more time even if you're still looking for work?
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Amelia Cartwright
•Correct, 26 weeks is the maximum for regular UI benefits. After that, you'd need to find work or look into other assistance programs if needed.
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Chris King
Just to add - those 26 weeks start from when you first file your claim, not when you get approved. So if there's any delay in processing or adjudication, that time still counts against your 26 weeks. Make sure to file as soon as possible after losing your job.
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Royal_GM_Mark
•Oh wow, I didn't know that! Good thing I'm filing this week then. How long does adjudication usually take?
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Chris King
•It varies but usually 2-4 weeks for straightforward cases. If there are any issues with your separation from work, it could take longer.
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Rachel Clark
I've been going through the Washington ESD phone nightmare trying to get answers about my claim timeline. After weeks of busy signals and dropped calls, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at Washington ESD. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration!
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Zachary Hughes
•How does that work exactly? Do they just keep calling for you?
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Rachel Clark
•Yeah basically. You give them your info and they handle all the calling and waiting. When they get through to Washington ESD, they conference you in. Way better than spending hours on hold yourself.
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Mia Alvarez
•Sounds too good to be true honestly. What's the catch?
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Carter Holmes
The 26 weeks is based on your benefit year, which runs for 52 weeks from when you first establish your claim. Within that benefit year, you can collect up to 26 weeks of payments. If you find temporary work and then get laid off again within the same benefit year, you might still have some of those 26 weeks left to use.
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Royal_GM_Mark
•That's really helpful to know. So if I worked for a few months and got laid off again, I wouldn't have to restart the whole process?
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Carter Holmes
•Exactly. You'd reopen your existing claim rather than file a new one, assuming it's within that same benefit year.
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Sophia Long
•Wait, what if you exhaust all 26 weeks and then get laid off again after finding work? Do you get another 26 weeks?
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Angelica Smith
i collected for almost the full 26 weeks back in 2019 when i got laid off from boeing. it was actually pretty straightforward once i figured out the weekly claims process. just make sure you keep up with the job search requirements or they'll cut you off early
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Royal_GM_Mark
•What are the job search requirements exactly? I keep hearing different things.
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Angelica Smith
•you have to apply for at least 3 jobs per week and keep a log of your job search activities. washington esd can audit you at any time so keep good records
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Amelia Cartwright
•It's actually 3 job search activities per week, not necessarily 3 applications. Can include networking, attending job fairs, etc.
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Logan Greenburg
Does anyone know if there are any exceptions to the 26-week limit? Like for certain industries or if you're in training programs?
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Amelia Cartwright
•There are some training programs that can extend benefits, but you have to be approved for them. Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) for certain workers affected by trade, but that's pretty specific.
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Logan Greenburg
•Interesting. Where would you find out about those programs?
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Chris King
•WorkSource WA offices usually have information about training programs. You can also ask when you speak to Washington ESD directly.
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Charlotte Jones
Just want to confirm - it's 26 weeks maximum, but you might not qualify for the full amount depending on how long you worked, right?
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Carter Holmes
•No, the 26 weeks is the maximum duration available to anyone who qualifies for unemployment. Your work history affects your weekly benefit amount, not the number of weeks.
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Charlotte Jones
•Got it, thanks for clarifying!
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Lucas Bey
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIDICULOUS. I waited 8 weeks for my first payment because of some bogus adjudication issue, and those 8 weeks STILL counted against my 26 week limit. So basically I only got 18 weeks of actual payments. It's like they're designed to screw you over.
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Harper Thompson
•That's so frustrating! Did you ever find out what the adjudication issue was about?
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Lucas Bey
•Something about them needing to verify my separation from my employer. Took forever even though it was a clear layoff.
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Rachel Clark
•This is exactly why I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. Had a similar adjudication delay and needed to speak to someone directly to resolve it.
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Caleb Stark
Quick question - do partial unemployment benefits count against the 26 weeks too? Like if you're working part-time but still collecting some unemployment?
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Amelia Cartwright
•Yes, any week you receive unemployment benefits (even partial benefits) counts against your 26-week limit. So if you work part-time and still get some UI, that week counts.
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Caleb Stark
•Makes sense, thanks!
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Jade O'Malley
I'm in a weird situation where I was on standby status with my union job. Does that count the same way toward the 26 weeks?
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Carter Holmes
•Standby benefits work the same way - they count against your 26-week maximum. Standby is just a special type of unemployment for union members with recall rights.
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Jade O'Malley
•Good to know. Hoping I get called back before I use up all my weeks.
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Hunter Edmunds
•What's standby status? Never heard of that before.
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Ella Lewis
For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD by phone, I second the Claimyr recommendation. Used them last month when I needed to check on my claim status and it worked great. Way better than the endless busy signals.
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Andrew Pinnock
•How much does something like that cost?
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Ella Lewis
•Worth checking their site for current info, but honestly after spending days trying to call Washington ESD myself, any reasonable cost would have been worth it.
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Mia Alvarez
•Still sounds sketchy to me. Why can't Washington ESD just answer their phones normally?
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Brianna Schmidt
Just wanted to add that the 26 weeks is per benefit year, not per job. So if you've been unemployed multiple times in the same year, you don't get 26 weeks for each job loss.
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Royal_GM_Mark
•That's a really important distinction. Thanks for pointing that out!
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Alexis Renard
•Yeah I learned this the hard way. Got laid off twice in one year and was surprised I didn't get a fresh 26 weeks the second time.
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Camila Jordan
does washington state ever do extended benefits like during recessions? or is it always just 26 weeks no matter what?
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Amelia Cartwright
•Extended Benefits (EB) can kick in during periods of high unemployment, but it's automatic based on state unemployment rates. We haven't had EB available in Washington for several years.
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Camila Jordan
•so basically don't count on it, just plan for 26 weeks max
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Chris King
•Exactly. Always better to plan conservatively and assume 26 weeks is all you'll get.
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Tyler Lefleur
One more thing - make sure you understand that you have to file weekly claims to get paid, even during adjudication. If you don't file weekly claims, you can't get back pay for those weeks even if your claim gets approved later.
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Royal_GM_Mark
•Really? Even if my claim is still being processed?
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Tyler Lefleur
•Yes! Keep filing those weekly claims no matter what. It's one of the most important things to remember.
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Madeline Blaze
•This is such crucial advice. I've seen people miss out on weeks of back pay because they stopped filing weekly claims during adjudication.
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Max Knight
To wrap this up - 26 weeks maximum, starts when you file (not when approved), counts any week you receive benefits including partial, applies per benefit year not per job. Did I miss anything important?
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Amelia Cartwright
•That's a great summary! Only thing I'd add is to keep up with job search requirements and file weekly claims consistently.
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Royal_GM_Mark
•Perfect summary, thanks everyone! This thread has been super helpful.
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Emma Swift
•Agreed, learned a lot here. Good luck with your claim OP!
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