How long is unemployment benefits in Washington - maximum duration?

Thanks! So it's not automatic 26 weeks? How do they calculate the exact number of weeks I'd get?

Right, it's based on your earnings history. You need to have earned at least $3,850 in your base period and meet other wage requirements. The higher your wages, the closer you get to the full 26 weeks.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week? I want to make sure I follow all the rules.

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of all your activities. WorkSourceWA is really helpful for tracking this stuff.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Made a huge difference for me when I needed to resolve my claim issues.

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

It's legitimate - they basically handle the waiting and calling for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Really helped when I had adjudication questions.

What happens after the 26 weeks run out? Do you just get cut off completely?

Yeah pretty much. You'd have to find work and earn enough wages to qualify for a new benefit year, or look into other assistance programs like SNAP or TANF.

That's scary. Really hoping I can find something before then.

Wait, so I have to file for a week but don't get paid for it? That seems unfair when you're already struggling financially.

Yeah the waiting week is standard in Washington. You still need to file your weekly claim for that first week and meet all requirements, you just don't get a payment for it.

What happens if you miss filing a weekly claim? Can you make it up?

you can sometimes file late claims but there's usually a good cause requirement. better to just set a reminder and file every week on time

I missed one week and had to call Washington ESD to explain why. They accepted it but said not to let it happen again.

You can see your maximum benefit amount and duration in your eServices account once your claim is processed. It should show you exactly how many weeks you qualify for.

Good to know! I haven't checked my account in a while, should probably log in and see what it says.

My layoff is permanent, not temporary, so I think I'm on regular UI. But good to know there are different types.

Yeah sounds like you're on regular benefits then. Standby is mainly for people who expect to go back to their employer within a specific timeframe.

Definitely not planning to do that! I want to do everything by the book. Can you work part-time while on unemployment though?

Yes you can work part-time, just have to report all earnings on your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earn but you can still get partial benefits.

There's a formula for partial benefits - generally you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing your benefits dollar for dollar.

I mentioned Claimyr earlier - they might be able to help you get through to someone about your adjudication status. The waiting is the worst part because you don't know what's happening.

Thanks, I'll look into that. This whole process is so stressful when you're already worried about money.

Adjudication doesn't reduce your total weeks available, but you won't get paid for weeks while it's pending. If approved, you should get back pay for the waiting period.

I feel your frustration but getting angry doesn't help. Try to work within the system and document everything.

Easy for you to say when you're not dealing with their bureaucracy ruining your life. Some of us don't have the luxury of patience.

How much do you need to work to qualify for a new benefit year?

i think you need to earn at least 680 hours or equivalent wages in covered employment but don't quote me on the exact numbers

The requirement is earning wages in at least two quarters with total base period wages of at least $3,850. The 680 hours is for some other programs.

Any tips for job searching while on unemployment? This is all new to me.

Use WorkSourceWA, Indeed, LinkedIn, company websites. Cast a wide net and apply to anything you're qualified for. The job market is tough right now.

Also check out the WorkSource centers in person if you can. They have job fairs and workshops that count toward your job search requirements.

It's 26 calendar weeks, not business days. So it includes weekends and holidays. Each week runs Sunday through Saturday for filing purposes.

Thanks for clarifying! That's what I thought but wanted to make sure.

Same here, lots of good information. Feeling more confident about navigating the system now.

Glad this helped! The key is staying organized and following all the requirements. Washington ESD can be difficult but the system works if you do everything correctly.

What's the significance of the 52 week benefit year vs the 26 weeks of benefits?

The benefit year is the time period your claim is valid. So if you find work after 10 weeks but get laid off again 6 months later, you could still collect the remaining 16 weeks if you're still in the same benefit year.

That's a good point. A lot of people don't realize they don't lose unused weeks if they return to work temporarily during their benefit year.

Definitely helped a lot! Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences. Feeling much better prepared to deal with this now.

Good luck with your claim! The first few weeks can be overwhelming but it gets routine once you get the hang of it.

Absolutely. I'm treating this as temporary assistance, not a long-term solution. Thanks for the reminder to stay focused on finding work.

That's the right attitude. Benefits are there to help but the goal is always getting back to work as soon as possible.