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Dylan Cooper

How long can you draw unemployment benefits in Washington state?

I just got laid off from my restaurant job after 8 years and filed for unemployment yesterday. My manager said something about benefits only lasting 6 months but I'm seeing different info online. Does anyone know exactly how long you can draw unemployment in Washington? I'm worried because I work in hospitality and finding another decent paying job might take a while. Also do I need to be actively looking for work right away or is there a grace period?

In Washington state, you can typically receive unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks (6 months) in a benefit year. However, the exact duration depends on your earnings history and the wages you earned in your base period. Since you made $55k, you should qualify for the full 26 weeks assuming you meet the work requirements.

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Thanks! What exactly is the base period they use to calculate this?

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The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. So if you file in January 2025, they'd look at January-December 2024.

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Standard UI benefits in Washington are up to 26 weeks maximum. This is based on your base period earnings though - if you didn't earn enough, you might qualify for fewer weeks. The amount you get each week and total duration both depend on your wages from the base period (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters before you filed).

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Thanks! So if I worked full-time for the past 2 years making decent money, I should get the full 26 weeks?

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Most likely yes, as long as you earned enough in your base period and continue to meet all the weekly requirements.

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Mei Liu

In Washington state, the maximum duration for regular unemployment benefits is 26 weeks (about 6 months). This is standard across most situations. However, the actual amount of time you can collect depends on your work history and earnings in your base period. Washington ESD calculates this based on your wages from the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.

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Thanks for the info! So even if I worked for 3 years straight, I still max out at 26 weeks? That seems like a pretty short time to find another job in construction.

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Mei Liu

Yes, 26 weeks is the maximum for regular UI benefits regardless of how long you worked. The work history affects your weekly benefit amount and whether you qualify, but not the duration.

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Regular unemployment benefits in Washington last up to 26 weeks (6 months) if you qualify for the full amount. This is based on your earnings in your base period, which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.

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Thanks! So it's definitely 26 weeks max for regular UI? No chance of getting more time?

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Correct, 26 weeks is the maximum for regular state unemployment benefits. The federal extensions that were available during the pandemic ended in 2021.

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Just to add - you have to keep filing your weekly claims and meet all the job search requirements to continue getting benefits. Miss a week and you won't get paid for that week.

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Good point about the weekly claims. How many job searches do you have to do each week?

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You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log of them. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities at any time.

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I think its 26 weeks but not sure if thats changed recently. Mine ran out after 6 months last year

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Did you look into any extensions when yours ran out?

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no extensions were available then, just the regular 26 weeks

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The 26-week limit is correct for regular unemployment insurance. However, if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to verify your specific situation, I found Claimyr really helpful. It's a service that helps you actually get through to ESD agents - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and the site is claimyr.com. Sometimes you need to talk to someone to understand exactly how your base period wages affect your benefit duration.

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Interesting, I haven't heard of that service. Is it legit? I've been trying to call ESD for weeks.

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Yes, it's legitimate. They basically handle the calling process for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours or get disconnected. Really saved me time when I needed to check on my claim status.

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how much does it cost though? seems like something that should be free

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In Washington state, regular unemployment insurance (UI) provides up to 26 weeks of benefits during a benefit year. This hasn't changed recently. Your benefit year starts when you first file your claim and lasts 52 weeks. The 26 weeks is the maximum number of weeks you can receive payments within that year, assuming you continue to meet all eligibility requirements like weekly job search and being able and available for work.

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Thanks for clarifying! So if I started in early January, I'd have until late June to use up those 26 weeks?

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Exactly, but remember you only get paid for weeks you're actually unemployed and file your weekly claims. If you find work and then lose it again within the same benefit year, you can return to claiming benefits until you hit that 26-week limit.

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Mei Liu

Just went through this myself. Got 26 weeks but had to do the job search requirements every week. Make sure you're logging your job searches in WorkSource because they do check that stuff.

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How many job searches do you have to do per week?

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Mei Liu

It's 3 job search activities per week. Can be applications, networking, job fairs, etc. Just keep good records.

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If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to get answers about your specific situation, I'd recommend checking out Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help people get through to ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.

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Interesting, never heard of that service. Does it actually work?

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Yeah, I was skeptical too but it got me through to an actual person in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hours of busy signals.

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Regular unemployment benefits in Washington last for 26 weeks maximum. That's the standard duration for most people. Your benefit year runs for 52 weeks from when you first filed, but you can only collect for 26 of those weeks unless you qualify for an extension program.

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So I've got about 8 more weeks left then? That's cutting it pretty close. Are there any extension programs available right now?

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Yes, exactly 8 weeks if you started in February. Extension programs come and go based on unemployment rates and federal funding. Check your Washington ESD account for any extension eligibility.

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In Washington state, regular unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks (6 months) in most cases. Your weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your highest earning quarter, and the total you can receive is typically 26 times your weekly benefit amount. If you've been claiming for 12 weeks, you should have about 14 weeks left unless you're in a special situation.

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Thanks! That helps a lot. I was worried I only had a few weeks left.

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Just make sure you keep doing your job searches and filing weekly claims or you could get disqualified even if you have time left.

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In Washington state, you can typically receive unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks (6 months) during a benefit year. Your benefit year starts when you first file your claim. The exact amount you get each week depends on your wages during your base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed.

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Thanks! So it's definitely 26 weeks max? I was worried it might be less since I haven't been working super long at this job.

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Yes, 26 weeks is the standard maximum in Washington. Your eligibility is based on your total wages during the base period, not just your most recent job.

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Just went through this myself last year. Got my 26 weeks but it went by FAST. Make sure you're doing your weekly claims every week and keeping up with the job search requirements. Washington ESD requires you to do 3 job search activities per week and they do check up on it.

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Good to know about the job search requirements. What counts as a job search activity?

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Applications, networking events, WorkSourceWA workshops, even informational interviews count. Just keep good records of everything you do.

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I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my benefit duration but their phone lines are always busy. Anyone have tips for actually reaching someone?

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I had the same problem until I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have this service where they call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an actual agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it work exactly?

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You just tell them what you need help with and they handle getting through to Washington ESD. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

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Be careful about the job search requirements too - that can affect whether you get the full 26 weeks. You have to be actively looking for work and documenting it properly or they can cut off your benefits early.

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Good point. I've been keeping track in WorkSourceWA but wasn't sure if that was enough.

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That's exactly what you should be doing. Make sure you're logging at least 3 job search activities per week and they're legitimate contacts.

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In Washington state, regular unemployment insurance (UI) provides up to 26 weeks of benefits. That's the standard maximum for most people. The amount you get each week depends on your previous earnings, but the time limit is pretty much set at 26 weeks unless there are special federal extensions during emergencies.

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Thanks! So that's about 6 months total. Is that 26 weeks from when I first file or from when I start receiving payments?

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It's 26 weeks worth of benefit payments, not calendar weeks. So if there are any delays in processing or weeks where you don't claim, those don't count against your 26 weeks.

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In Washington, the standard maximum is 26 weeks of regular UI benefits. However, your actual benefit duration depends on your work history and earnings during your base period. Some people qualify for fewer weeks depending on how much they worked. The Washington ESD calculates this based on your wages from the last 4 completed quarters before you filed.

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In Washington state, regular unemployment benefits (UI) last up to 26 weeks. That's the standard maximum. The amount you get depends on your earnings history, but the duration is pretty much set at 26 weeks unless there are special federal extensions during economic downturns.

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Thanks! So it doesn't matter if I worked 3 years vs someone who worked 1 year - we both get the same 26 weeks?

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Correct, the duration is the same. Your work history affects how much you get per week, not how long you can collect.

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In Washington state, regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits last up to 26 weeks maximum. However, the exact duration depends on your earnings history during your base period. Washington ESD calculates your benefit year and potential duration when you file your initial claim.

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Thanks! So it's definitely 26 weeks max? I thought I heard something about extensions during COVID but wasn't sure if those were still available.

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The pandemic extensions like PEUC ended in 2021. Now it's back to the standard 26-week maximum for regular UI benefits in Washington.

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In Washington, regular unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks maximum. The exact amount depends on your earnings history during your base period. You'll need to file weekly claims and actively search for work starting immediately - there's no grace period for job search requirements.

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26 weeks seems short for how tough the job market is right now. Do you know if there are any extensions available?

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Extensions are rare and usually only during major economic downturns. Focus on maximizing those 26 weeks by keeping detailed job search logs.

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In Washington state, regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits last up to 26 weeks maximum. This is the standard duration for most claimants. The amount you receive each week depends on your earnings during your base period, but the duration is typically 26 weeks regardless of your previous wages.

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Thanks for clarifying! So everyone gets the same 26 weeks no matter what?

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Correct, 26 weeks is the standard maximum for regular UI benefits in Washington.

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In Washington state, regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits last up to 26 weeks in most cases. However, the exact duration depends on your earnings during your base period - that's the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. Washington ESD calculates your benefit year and weekly benefit amount based on those earnings.

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Thanks! So since I worked steadily for 8 years I should qualify for the full 26 weeks then?

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Yes, with 8 years of steady work you should definitely qualify for the maximum duration. Just make sure to file your weekly claims on time and meet all the job search requirements.

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The 26 weeks is correct but it can be less depending on your work history. I only qualified for 18 weeks when I got laid off last year because I hadn't worked long enough at my previous job.

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How do they calculate it? I worked at the same restaurant for 8 years so hopefully that helps.

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They look at your earnings in the base period which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. Your 8 years should definitely help you get the full 26 weeks.

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Be prepared for the weekly claims to be a pain though. You have to certify every week that you're actively looking for work and report any income. Miss a week and you lose that week's benefits permanently.

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Good to know. How many jobs do you have to apply for each week?

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In Washington you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of all your activities. More if Washington ESD requires it based on your situation.

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Standard unemployment benefits in Washington state are up to 26 weeks (6 months) for regular UI claims. The amount you receive is based on your earnings history but the duration is typically the same for everyone. Extensions are only available during specific economic conditions declared by the state or federal government.

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Thanks! So even though I made decent money the 26 weeks is pretty much set in stone unless there's some kind of emergency extension?

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Exactly. Your weekly benefit amount varies based on earnings but the 26 week maximum is standard. Keep in mind you have to actively search for work and report it.

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wait i thought it was only 20 weeks? I've been panicking thinking I'm almost done at week 18

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No, regular UI benefits in Washington are 26 weeks. You might be thinking of some other state or maybe a different benefit type.

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oh thank god lol I was about to have a breakdown

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just went through this myself. got the full 26 weeks but it went by fast. make sure you're actively job searching because they do check that stuff. also the weekly amount might be less than you expect

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How much less? I was making about $22/hour so I'm hoping it's at least half of that.

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it's based on your highest quarter earnings from the past year. for me it was about 50% of what i was making but everyones different

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Just to add - you have to keep filing your weekly claims and meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job contacts per week and register with WorkSource.

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What exactly counts as a job contact? I've been applying online but wasn't sure if that's enough.

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Online applications count! You can also do phone inquiries, in-person visits, networking contacts, job fairs, etc. Just keep track of everything in your job search log.

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I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim duration and can't reach anyone. Their phone lines are always busy or I get disconnected after waiting forever. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there? This is so frustrating when you need answers about your benefits.

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I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It actually got me connected to speak with someone about my claim issues.

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You might want to check with Washington ESD directly about your specific situation. I had trouble getting through on the phone for weeks when I needed to ask questions about my claim. If you're having the same issue, I found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me get connected to an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process way less stressful.

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That sounds helpful! I was already dreading trying to call them based on what I've heard.

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How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money.

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I think it's worth checking out their site at claimyr.com to see what they offer. For me, getting actual answers quickly was worth it instead of spending days trying to get through.

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I've been on unemployment twice and both times it was 26 weeks max. No extensions currently available like during the pandemic.

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Did you have any trouble getting through to Washington ESD when you needed help? I'm worried about getting my claim processed.

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Oh man, calling them is a nightmare. I spent hours trying to get through. Eventually found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an agent - you should check out claimyr.com if you need to talk to someone at ESD.

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The 26 weeks starts from when you file your initial claim, not when you get approved. So if there's delays in processing, you're still burning through your benefit weeks. Make sure to file your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still pending adjudication.

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Wait, that doesn't sound right. I thought the weeks only count once you start receiving payments?

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No, your benefit year starts when you file the initial claim. If you wait to file weekly claims you could lose those weeks entirely. This is why it's crucial to file immediately after becoming unemployed.

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Good to know! I filed my initial claim last week but haven't heard back yet. Should I be filing weekly claims already?

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I'm in a similar situation but I've been having trouble reaching anyone at Washington ESD to ask questions about my claim. The phone lines are always busy and I get disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

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I had the same problem until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got connected within an hour instead of calling for days. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

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Is it legit though? I'm desperate but don't want to get scammed.

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Yeah it's legitimate. They don't ask for your ESD login or anything sensitive. Just helps you get in the phone queue faster.

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Wait, I thought there were still pandemic extensions available? Or did those end completely?

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No, all the pandemic programs like PEUC and extended benefits ended a while ago. It's back to just regular UI with the 26-week maximum.

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Oh damn, that sucks. I was hoping there might still be something extra available.

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I'm in week 20 of my claim and starting to panic about what happens when it runs out. Is there anything you can do to prepare for that?

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You should be ramping up your job search efforts now. Also look into other assistance programs - food assistance, utility help, etc. Planning ahead is smart.

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Yeah I've been applying more but the market is tough right now. Thanks for the advice.

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Just to clarify - you can draw benefits for up to 26 weeks OR until you find new work, whichever comes first. You also have to keep filing your weekly