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

Thanks! So if I filed in January 2025, I have until January 2026 to use up those 26 weeks of payments?

Exactly right. You don't have to use them consecutively either - if you find temporary work and stop claiming for a few weeks, you can come back to your claim as long as it's still within your benefit year.

what are the job search requirements? i keep getting confused about how many jobs i need to apply for each week

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. Washington ESD can audit this anytime so keep good records of where you applied and when.

Try calling right when they open at 8am, that's when I had the best luck getting through.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I was having issues with my claim. They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Good point. I'm already applying to jobs but I should probably step it up. Did you have to pay any of the benefits back?

No, once the 26 weeks are up you're just done receiving payments. You don't owe anything back unless you got overpaid for some other reason.

That's rough. Did you win your appeal?

Eventually yes, but it took 6 weeks and I had to provide all kinds of documentation. Keep detailed records of every job application!

What kind of documentation did they want for the appeal?

All the pandemic programs like PUA and PEUC ended in 2021. Now it's just regular state UI benefits with the 26 week maximum.

Got it, thanks for clarifying. So many programs were available during the pandemic it's hard to keep track of what's still active.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr - I was spending entire days trying to reach Washington ESD and getting nowhere. They got me connected to an agent in under an hour and I could actually get my questions answered.

Is that service legit? Seems too good to be true.

Yeah it's real, they just handle the calling process for you. Worth it when you need to actually speak to someone at Washington ESD instead of waiting on hold all day.

Where exactly do I find that information in the SAW portal? I've looked around but the interface is confusing.

Log into SAW, go to unemployment services, then look for 'claim summary' or 'benefit information'. It should show your maximum benefit amount and how much you've used so far.

How does that work exactly? If I work one day a week does that make my benefits last longer?

Yes, if you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll get reduced UI payments but your claim will stretch out longer. You still have the same total dollar amount available, just spread over more weeks.

Unfortunately there aren't any extensions available right now. Once you hit 26 weeks that's it for regular UI benefits. You might want to look into other assistance programs if you're still unemployed.

Have you looked into retraining programs? Sometimes there are grants available for people who've been unemployed for a long time.

I haven't but that's a good idea. Do you know where to find information about those programs?

It's based on federal guidelines and state funding. The Extended Benefits program can trigger additional weeks but only when unemployment rates hit specific thresholds, which we haven't reached.

It's better than some states that only do 12-20 weeks. At least Washington gives you the full 26.

I'm not on standby, I was permanently terminated. But good to know for others who might be reading this.

Standby claims still have the same 26 week maximum in most cases. The difference is you don't have to do job searches while on standby status.

I totally understand that feeling. The pressure definitely makes everything worse. Hang in there!

Try to use the remaining weeks strategically. Maybe expand your search to jobs you wouldn't normally consider, or look into temporary work to bridge the gap.

You can't file a new regular UI claim until your current benefit year expires (52 weeks from when you first filed). You'd need to have worked and earned enough wages during your current benefit year to qualify for a new claim.

This is why it's important to take any work you can get, even part-time. It helps build up wages for a potential future claim.

Agreed, but at least we have unemployment benefits at all. Some people aren't eligible for anything.

True, but that doesn't mean we can't advocate for improvements to help people who are genuinely trying to find work.

Wait, really? So if Washington ESD takes 4 weeks to resolve an issue, I lose 4 weeks of potential benefits?

That's correct. The benefit year clock keeps ticking regardless of processing delays. It's one of the most unfair aspects of the system.

This is exactly why I used Claimyr when I had adjudication issues. Getting through to someone quickly to resolve problems saves you from losing weeks of benefits to bureaucratic delays.