How long do unemployment benefits last in Washington ESD system?

Thanks! Where exactly do I find the benefit year end date in my account? I'm still figuring out how to navigate the SAW system.

Log into your SAW account, go to the unemployment services section, and look for your claim summary. It should show your benefit year dates and remaining balance.

So if I find a job for a few weeks then get laid off again, I can still use the remaining weeks from my original claim?

Exactly, as long as it's within your benefit year and you haven't used up all 26 weeks of benefits.

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

Online applications count, but you need 3 total activities per week. This can include job fairs, networking events, or creating profiles on job sites.

Same here! I tried calling about my benefit duration and couldn't get through for days. Super frustrating when you need answers.

I actually found a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I was having issues. They have a system that calls for you and connects you when an agent is available. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

This is important - I only qualified for 18 weeks because I hadn't been working full-time for very long before my layoff.

How do they calculate the exact number of weeks? Is there a formula or do I just have to wait and see what they tell me?

Extended benefits can be available during periods of high unemployment, but they're not automatic. Washington ESD announces when they're available and you have to apply separately.

Good to know, thanks. I'll keep an eye out for any announcements about that.

That's really helpful to know. I started collecting right away so I should be good through the full 26 weeks.

Exactly right. The benefit year clock starts ticking when you file your initial claim, not when you start getting payments.

Yeah don't count on any extensions right now. The job market is decent enough that they're not offering extra weeks like they did during COVID.

How much can you earn before it affects your benefits? I might be able to pick up some part-time work.

Generally you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount minus $5 before they start reducing your benefits. So in your case, probably around $482 per week.

There are different programs. Regular UI is 26 weeks, but there's also standby unemployment for certain industries, and sometimes federal extensions during economic downturns.

Ah okay, that makes sense. I was wondering why the numbers seemed different from what people were saying.

Good point. I've been filing every Sunday just to stay on schedule.

Smart move. The weekly filing deadline is really strict with Washington ESD.

Have you tried calling right when they open at 8am? Sometimes that works better than calling later in the day.

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an ESD agent when I couldn't reach them myself. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and redialing.

It's definitely tight. I used up all 26 weeks and had to rely on savings after that. The key is to really focus on your job search early rather than waiting.

Same situation here. I wish I had been more aggressive with my job search in the first few weeks instead of taking it easy.

How many job contacts do I need to make each week? I think they told me 3 but I want to make sure I'm doing enough.

It's 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Keep detailed records in case they ask for your job search log during an audit.

And make sure you're reporting any work or income on your weekly claims. Even a few hours of part-time work needs to be reported or you could end up with an overpayment issue.

Yes! I found a job in week 20 of my claim. The key is to really ramp up your job search efforts around week 15-20 so you have time for the interview process.

Don't wait until the last minute. Start intensifying your search around week 20. Use WorkSourceWA resources too - they have job placement services that can help.

Washington doesn't have a waiting week anymore, so it's 26 weeks of actual benefit payments if you qualify for the full amount.

This confused me too. So even if I find a job after 10 weeks and stop claiming, I could theoretically file again later in that same benefit year if I lost the new job?

Exactly, as long as you haven't exhausted your benefit amount and you're still within your benefit year.

Did you have to pay for that service? I'm already stretched thin financially.

It was worth it for me to get actual answers instead of guessing. Much less stressful than spending hours trying to call.

I had the same problem until someone recommended Claimyr to me. They basically call ESD for you and get you connected to an agent. Worth checking out if you're stuck in call limbo.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does that even work?

It's legitimate - they handle the calling and waiting, then connect you when they reach an agent. Check their website for details.

This is great advice. My letter showed I qualified for 22 weeks, not the full 26, because of my earning history.

What's the difference between standby and regular unemployment? I might be in standby status but I'm not sure.

Standby means your employer expects to call you back within a certain timeframe. You don't have to do job searches, but you have to be available to return when called.

What kind of records should I be keeping? Just the company names and dates?

Company name, position applied for, date, method of contact, and any follow-up. The WorkSourceWA system has a job search log feature that makes it easier.

That's a great idea. I'll set those up today.

Also don't forget about company websites directly. A lot of employers post jobs there first before they hit the job boards.

I'm in warehouse work so I think regular UI applies to me, but good to know there are other options.

Yeah, most people fall under regular UI rules. The industry-specific stuff is pretty niche.

Definitely. I'm treating this like a full-time job - spending at least 6-8 hours a day on job search activities.

That's exactly the right approach. Treat job searching like it's your job because it basically is.

How quickly were you able to get connected? I've been dreading having to call Washington ESD about anything.

Usually within an hour or two, which is way better than the 3-4 hours I was spending trying to call directly.

Any tips for staying motivated during the job search? I'm at week 12 and starting to feel discouraged.

Set daily goals, not just weekly ones. Apply to 2-3 jobs every day rather than trying to do 15 jobs in one day. Keeps you consistent.

That's a really good point I hadn't considered. So partial benefits don't count as a full week used up?

Right, it's based on the dollar amount of your total benefit award, not the number of weeks.

This happened to me. I worked part-time for 8 weeks during my claim, so my benefits stretched longer than 26 weeks because I wasn't exhausting the full weekly amount.

So true. I thought I had plenty of time and then suddenly I was at week 24 with no job prospects. Had to take the first offer I got.

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it might be worth it if it actually works.

I found it reasonable for the time it saved me. Check their website for current pricing - claimyr.com has all the details.

This is why it's important to understand your separation reason and make sure ESD has the correct information from your employer.

Good point! You can elect to have 10% withheld for federal taxes when you file your weekly claims.

Thanks everyone for all the detailed information! This has been incredibly helpful for understanding what I'm dealing with.

This thread should be pinned - so much good information about benefit duration that people always ask about.