How long is unemployment benefits in Washington state - confused about duration

Thanks for the info! So it's not automatically 26 weeks for everyone? I worked for about 2 years at my last job, does that help my case?

Two years of steady work should definitely help. Washington ESD needs to see sufficient wages in your base period to qualify for the full 26 weeks. You should be fine with that work history.

omg yes!! I've been calling for days and can't get through. The automated system just hangs up on me every time.

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 actually got me connected to someone who explained my benefit duration.

Thanks! So the 26 weeks is the maximum? How do I find out exactly how many weeks I qualify for?

Check your monetary determination notice from Washington ESD - it should show your maximum benefit amount and the number of weeks you're eligible for.

Your coworker might be thinking of a different state or a different time period. In Washington, regular UI benefits are up to 26 weeks. There used to be extended benefits during economic downturns, but those have different rules.

Oh man, that's way better than what I thought! I was already panicking about finding a job in 13 weeks.

Good point about the weekly claims. I've been doing those but the job search requirement is confusing too.

How do I know if I worked enough? I'm worried now that I might not qualify for the full amount.

You can check your quarterly wage report on the Washington ESD website. Generally, you need wages in at least two quarters of your base period and total wages of at least 680 times your weekly benefit amount.

Regular UI benefits stop at 26 weeks unless there are special circumstances like extended benefits during high unemployment periods. You'd need to check if Washington state has any extended benefit programs active.

Thanks, I'll look into that. Hopefully I'll find something before week 26!

Partial unemployment still counts toward your 26-week limit. Each week you file a claim, whether for full or partial benefits, uses up one of your available weeks.

Got it, thanks for clarifying that!

That's helpful! So the benefit year is different from how long I can actually collect?

Exactly. The benefit year is like a window - 52 weeks during which your claim is valid. But you can only collect benefits for up to 26 of those weeks total.

Never heard of that service before. Did they charge you anything for it?

They do charge for the service but it was worth it to actually talk to someone at ESD instead of wasting entire days trying to get through on my own.

No, your benefit year starts when you file, but you only use up your available weeks when you actually receive payment. Time spent in adjudication doesn't count against your 26 weeks.

That's a relief! I was worried I'd lose weeks while waiting for them to resolve my case.

You can file a new claim after your benefit year ends, but you'd need to have worked and earned wages since your last claim to qualify. You can't just reapply for the same benefit year.

Makes sense. Guess I better focus on finding a job before my benefits run out.

Working while collecting doesn't extend your 26-week limit, but it might help you qualify for a new claim sooner if you earn enough wages. The 26 weeks is a hard limit for each benefit year.

Ah okay, I misunderstood. Thanks for clearing that up.

Did it actually work? I'm so desperate to talk to someone about my claim duration.

Yeah, it connected me within a few hours instead of me calling for weeks. The agent was able to tell me exactly how many weeks I had left and explained the calculation.

Unfortunately yes, 26 weeks is the maximum for regular unemployment benefits in Washington regardless of how long you worked. The amount you get each week is based on your earnings, but not the duration.

wow that sucks. I thought working longer would get you more weeks of benefits

Regular extensions aren't automatic anymore like they were during the pandemic. You'd need to look into other programs or assistance once your regular UI benefits are exhausted.

there might be some training programs through WorkSource that can help extend benefits while you learn new skills

Have you looked into WorkSource services? They have job placement assistance and sometimes training programs that can help extend your benefits while you gain new skills.

I registered with WorkSource but haven't really used their services much. Maybe I should look into that more seriously.

Definitely worth exploring. Some training programs can qualify you for additional benefits while you're in the program.

Washington eliminated the waiting week requirement, so you should be eligible for benefits from your first week of unemployment if you qualify.

Oh good! I was worried I'd lost a week of benefits for nothing.

Extended benefits are only available during periods of high unemployment and are triggered by specific economic indicators. Washington doesn't currently have any extended benefit programs active.

Bummer, but good to know. Guess 26 weeks is what we get for now.

You can collect Washington unemployment while living in another state, but you still need to meet all the job search requirements and be able and available for work. Your 26-week duration stays the same.

Good to know, thanks! I might need to relocate for family reasons.

You can check your remaining benefit balance on your Washington ESD online account. It should show your maximum benefit amount and how much you have left, which you can divide by your weekly benefit amount to see remaining weeks.

Perfect, I'll log in and check that right now. Thanks!

Same here! I feel way less anxious now that I know what to expect.

Glad this helped everyone. The Washington ESD system can be confusing but once you understand the basics it's not too bad.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr - I was in the same situation spending entire days trying to reach someone at ESD. The service actually worked and I got my questions answered.

Maybe I should look into that. I can't keep taking time off work to sit on hold all day.

Good point! I almost forgot about the job search requirement. How many activities do we need to do each week?

It's typically 3 job search activities per week, but check your specific requirements on your Washington ESD account to be sure.

That's a good distinction to know! I was wondering about that timing myself.

Yeah, it's one of those details that can cause confusion if you don't know. Worth getting clarification from an actual agent.

Yes, standby benefits are still subject to the same 26-week maximum duration within your benefit year.

Thanks for clarifying that!

Extended Benefits (EB) can sometimes be available during periods of high unemployment, but they're not currently active in Washington. Regular UI is 26 weeks max right now.

oh ok so no extensions available currently then

Good advice! I should dig up that letter and read it more carefully.

yes this! everyone's situation is different based on their work history

What's standby unemployment? I haven't heard of that.

Standby is when you're temporarily laid off but expected to return to work within a specific timeframe. It has different rules than regular unemployment.

If you worked in multiple states, you might be able to file an interstate claim that combines wages from different states, but you'd still be subject to the benefit rules of the state where you file (Washington's 26 week maximum in this case).

That makes sense. I'll need to look into the interstate claim process then.

Totally agree! This was way more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone.

Happy to help! Good luck with your job search everyone.

It's good that you're thinking about this now. Make sure you're documenting all your job search activities for your weekly claims too.

Yeah I've been keeping track but maybe not as thoroughly as I should be

You can collect partial benefits if you're working part-time and earning less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. But it doesn't extend the duration - you're still limited to 26 weeks total within your benefit year.

So working part-time actually uses up my benefit weeks faster then?

Yes, each week you claim benefits (even partial) counts toward your 26 week maximum.

Washington ESD's website has benefit calculators and charts, but they can be hard to find. Your best bet is really looking at your monetary determination letter.

or calling them directly if you can ever get through lol

Good to hear another positive experience with that service. I might have to try it myself.

seems like a lot of people are having success with it for getting through to ESD

Perfect summary! Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses.

this thread was really helpful, I had the same questions about benefit duration