How long does unemployment benefits last in Washington - confused about my benefit year

So even though my benefit year is 52 weeks, I can only get paid for 26 weeks total? What happens to the other 26 weeks?

Correct - the other 26 weeks are there in case you find work and then become unemployed again within that same benefit year. You'd use up your remaining weeks then.

How fast did it go by? I'm trying to budget and plan ahead.

26 weeks is basically 6 months if you file every single week. mine lasted from march to september last year

What do you mean by not using a full week? I thought if you work at all you lose that week's benefits.

No, Washington ESD has partial benefit rules. If you work part-time and earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5, you can still get partial benefits. This means your 26 weeks could last longer calendar-wise.

This is confusing - so working part time could actually help make benefits last longer?

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Finally got my questions answered about my benefit timeline.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - they basically help you navigate the phone system and get in the queue. Way better than spending hours trying to call myself.

I'm hoping 26 weeks is enough time to find something decent. The job market seems tough right now.

Good luck with that. I used up all 26 weeks last year and still took another 3 months to find work. The system abandons you right when you need help most.

Extended benefits can trigger when state unemployment rates hit certain thresholds, but Washington hasn't met those triggers lately. During the pandemic there were federal extensions like PEUC, but those ended in 2021.

Ah ok that makes sense. So right now it's just the standard 26 weeks and that's it.

Your benefits end when you either exhaust your balance (usually after 26 weekly payments) OR when your benefit year ends, whichever comes first. Most people use up their balance before the year ends.

Ok so if I have $6,500 balance and get $250/week, that's 26 weeks worth regardless of when my benefit year ends?

Exactly right. You'd exhaust your balance after 26 weeks of full payments.

Yeah I've already started applying places. The job search requirements are pretty strict too from what I've read.

Definitely keep track of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and they do audit people randomly.

You can file a new claim if you've worked enough since your last claim started and earned sufficient wages. Washington ESD looks at your work history in the base period to determine if you qualify for a new claim.

what if you haven't worked enough? then you're just stuck with no benefits?

If you don't qualify for a new regular UI claim, you might be eligible for other programs, but it's much more limited. That's why it's important to find work before your benefits run out.

What did they tell you that was different from what you heard before?

Mainly clarified how partial benefits work and how that affects the timeline. The first two reps I talked to gave me wrong info about working while collecting.

Wait, what waiting week? I thought you get paid starting from week one?

There's a one-week waiting period before benefits start. So your first payable week is actually your second week of unemployment.

Actually, Washington temporarily waived the waiting week during COVID and I believe it's still waived. You should get paid for your first week now.

Reasonable? Try living on $300/week in Seattle and tell me 26 weeks is reasonable. The whole system is a joke.

I didn't say the amount was reasonable, just the duration compared to other states. Obviously the benefit amounts need work too.

How did missing one week waste a benefit week? Can't you just file it late?

You can file late but there are restrictions and it still counts against your 26-week total. Plus late filing can cause payment delays.

Washington ESD connects you with WorkSourceWA for job search assistance, but there's no additional cash benefits after your 26 weeks unless you qualify for a new claim.

So basically after 26 weeks you're on your own? That's pretty harsh.

Seems like a lot of people are using that service. Is it expensive?

Focus on the value - getting accurate information about your benefits is worth it when you're trying to plan your finances for the next 6 months.

So if I worked for 2 months, then got laid off again, I'd only have like 18 weeks left?

Exactly - if you used 8 weeks of benefits earlier in the benefit year, you'd only have 18 weeks remaining for the rest of that benefit year.

That's rough timing. Does Washington ESD take that kind of thing into account?

Nope, 26 weeks is 26 weeks regardless of job market conditions or seasonal factors.

Good advice. I'll start keeping better records of my job search activities.

Smart move. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities and if you can't prove you were looking, they can make you pay back benefits.

Thanks everyone for all the info. Sounds like I need to get serious about job searching right away.

That's the right attitude. Use your benefits as a bridge while actively searching, not as a long-term solution.

Yikes, that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. Starting my serious job search now.

Good call. Six months sounds like a lot of time but it goes by faster than you think, especially if you're being picky about jobs.