How long does unemployment last in Washington ESD - confused about benefit duration

Washington state provides up to 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits in most cases. Your benefit duration is based on your work history and earnings during your base period (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed). The exact number of weeks depends on your total wages during that time period.

I think it's 26 weeks max but you might get less depending on your work history. I only qualified for 18 weeks when I filed last year because I hadn't worked the full base period.

The duration formula is actually pretty complex. Washington ESD calculates it based on your total base period wages. If you can't get through to them on the phone to ask questions, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you actually reach ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Made it way easier to get my questions answered about benefit duration.

Just to clarify - the 26 weeks is for regular unemployment insurance (UI). There used to be extended benefits during the pandemic but those are gone now. Don't confuse regular UI with other programs like standby or partial unemployment which have different rules.

ugh this is so confusing!! why can't they just make it simple - if you lose your job you get X weeks of benefits period. All these calculations and base periods make no sense.

One thing to remember is that you have to keep filing your weekly claims to get benefits, and you need to be actively looking for work. The duration doesn't matter if you don't meet the ongoing requirements.

Been unemployed 3 times in the last 10 years and it's always been 26 weeks max in Washington. Never got less than that but I always worked full time for years before filing.

The Washington ESD website has a benefits calculator but it's not very user friendly. Your determination letter is really the best source for your specific situation.

Important to note that the 26 weeks doesn't reset - once you use them up, that's it unless you work again and earn enough to establish a new claim. Plan your job search accordingly.

Also worth mentioning that if you find part time work while collecting, it might extend how long your benefits last since you're getting partial payments instead of full weekly amounts.

Whatever you do, don't assume anything about your benefit duration. I thought I had 26 weeks but only qualified for 20 because of gaps in my work history. Check your determination letter carefully!

Update on the Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier - I used it again yesterday to ask about extending benefits and got through to an ESD agent in about 10 minutes. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

The unemployment system is so broken. You shouldn't need a third party service just to talk to the agency that's supposed to help you. But I guess that's the reality now.

Quick question - does anyone know if the 26 weeks includes the waiting week? I can't remember if Washington state has one.

Make sure you understand the difference between your benefit year and your benefit duration. Your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you filed, but you might only have 20-26 weeks of actual benefits to collect during that time.

Been collecting for 12 weeks now and still have 14 weeks left according to my online account. The countdown is pretty clear in eServices if you log in regularly.

Don't forget that even if you qualify for 26 weeks, you still need to be able and available for work the whole time. If you become unable to work for any reason, your benefits can stop even if you have weeks remaining.

The duration also depends on Washington's unemployment rate. In high unemployment periods, they sometimes extend benefits, but right now it's just the standard 26 weeks maximum.

Bottom line - check your determination letter for your specific duration, file your weekly claims on time, keep looking for work, and don't assume you'll get the full 26 weeks unless your letter specifically says so.

One last tip - if you're getting close to exhausting your benefits and still haven't found work, contact Washington ESD early to see if there are any retraining programs or other resources available. Don't wait until your last week.