How long does unemployment last in Washington - need to plan ahead

Thanks for the info! So the 26 weeks is the maximum but I might get less? How do they calculate the exact number of weeks I'm eligible for?

Right, 26 weeks is the max. Washington ESD uses a formula based on your total wages in the base period. If you worked steadily for several years like you mentioned, you'll likely qualify for the full 26 weeks.

Good to know about the job search requirements. How many jobs do I need to apply to each week?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week. This can be applications, interviews, job fairs, etc. Keep detailed records because they audit people randomly.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It saved me hours of calling.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another thing taking advantage of people who are already struggling?

It's legit - I was skeptical too but I got connected to an agent within an hour instead of spending days calling. Worth checking out the demo at least.

I feel you man. The job market is rough right now especially in construction. Have you looked into retraining programs? Sometimes they can extend benefits if you're in approved training.

I looked into it but most programs are full or don't start for months. By then my benefits will be exhausted anyway.

So if I don't use all 26 weeks right away, I can still claim them later in that year?

Exactly. If you find work and then get laid off again within that same benefit year, you can collect the remaining weeks. But once that year is up, you'd need to file a new claim.

That's a good point. I was making good money the past few years so hopefully my weekly amount will be decent. Do you know what the maximum weekly benefit is?

I think it's around $900-1000 per week max but most people don't get that much. It depends on your wages during the base period.

Have you checked if you qualify for food assistance or other programs? Sometimes there are resources available even after unemployment runs out.

Yeah I'm looking into SNAP and other programs. Never thought I'd need them but here we are.

Mine is definitely permanent - company went out of business. So I should plan for 26 weeks max. Thanks for clarifying the standby thing.

Sorry to hear about the company closing. At least with permanent separation you don't have to worry about the standby rules and waiting periods.

Don't give up! I found my job in week 25. Sometimes it just takes time. Have you tried reaching out to former coworkers or supervisors for leads?

Yeah I've contacted everyone I can think of. Construction industry is just really slow right now. Hoping something opens up soon.

Did you have to pay them to help you call? I'm already tight on money and don't want to spend more if I don't have to.

Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ - it explains how their system works. For me it was worth it to get quick answers instead of wasting days calling.

Good to know! So I should file every week even if I'm not sure I want to collect?

Exactly. You can always choose not to request payment for a week, but you have to maintain the filing schedule or you could lose weeks.

Part-time work can extend how long your benefits last because you're not using up full weeks. If you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you can still collect partial benefits and those weeks count as partial weeks used.

that actually sounds good then - makes the 26 weeks stretch further if I can find some part time stuff

It's crazy that they haven't updated this in years. Cost of living keeps going up but the duration stays the same.

Tell me about it. 26 weeks doesn't go as far as it used to, especially with how competitive the job market is now.

That's scary - so they can just cut you off if your job search log isn't good enough?

Yes, they audit people and if you can't document 3 job search activities per week, they can stop your benefits immediately. Keep everything organized.

What did you do after your benefits ended? I'm worried about being in the same situation.

Had to take a job paying $10/hour less than what I was making before. Sometimes you just have to survive until something better comes along.

Thanks everyone for all the info. Sounds like I need to be realistic about the 6 month timeline and start preparing for different scenarios. This has been really helpful.

Good luck with your job search. Construction can be unpredictable but hopefully things pick up soon. Just remember to follow all the rules so you don't lose any of those 26 weeks.