How long is unemployment good for in Washington state - confused about benefit duration

In Washington state, regular unemployment benefits last for up to 26 weeks during your benefit year. Your benefit year is the 52-week period from when you first filed your claim. So if you filed in January, your benefit year runs through the following January.

Thanks! So even if I find a job after 10 weeks, I could still use the remaining 16 weeks later if I lose that job within the same benefit year?

Exactly, as long as you're still within your benefit year and meet the other eligibility requirements when you file again.

Just to add - there's also something called Extended Benefits that can kick in during high unemployment periods, but that's not always available. Right now I don't think Washington has any extended programs running.

Yeah the extended benefits are triggered by the state's unemployment rate. Haven't seen those activated in Washington recently.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about this same thing! Their phone lines are always busy and when I do get through I get disconnected. It's so frustrating when you just need basic information about your claim.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. I used it last week and actually got to talk to someone within 30 minutes. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That sounds almost too good to be true given how impossible it is to reach them normally.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent picks up.

The 26 weeks is the maximum but you might not get the full amount if you don't have enough work history. Washington ESD calculates your benefit duration based on your earnings in the base period.

How do they calculate that? I worked full time for the past 2 years so I'm hoping I qualify for the full 26 weeks.

If you worked full time for 2 years you should definitely qualify for the full duration. They look at your highest earning quarter and use that to determine both your weekly benefit amount and total duration.

Don't forget you have to file your weekly claims every week to actually receive the benefits, even if you qualify for 26 weeks. Miss a week and you don't get paid for that week.

And you have to be actively looking for work and keeping a job search log. Washington ESD can audit your search activities.

Yes, I've been doing my weekly claims and job searches. Just wanted to understand the overall timeline better.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though you might qualify for 26 weeks, you should still be actively job searching the whole time. The job market changes and the sooner you find work, the better off you'll be financially.

Absolutely, I'm treating this as temporary support while I find my next position. Just nice to know I have some breathing room to find the right opportunity.

I think there used to be federal extensions during the pandemic but those ended a while ago. Now it's just the regular state program.

Right, programs like PUA and PEUC ended in 2021. Now we're back to the standard 26-week maximum for regular unemployment insurance.

Your online account should show your remaining benefit balance and the date your benefit year ends. That's the most reliable way to track how much time you have left.

I'll check that tonight. I usually just log in to file my weekly claim but haven't looked at the other details.

Yeah, there's a lot of useful information in there once you poke around. Shows your payment history, remaining balance, all that stuff.

Just remember that if you work part-time while collecting benefits, those earnings will reduce your weekly benefit amount. But it doesn't affect the total duration of 26 weeks.

Good to know. I might take some freelance work to supplement income while I'm looking for full-time employment.

The system is so confusing sometimes. I wish Washington ESD would make this information clearer on their website.

Their website has gotten better over the years but yeah, it's still not the most user-friendly for finding basic information.

If you're still having trouble getting specific information about your claim, I'd recommend trying that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used it last month when I had questions about my benefit calculation and it saved me hours of trying to call.

I'm definitely going to try it. This phone situation with Washington ESD is ridiculous.

26 weeks goes by faster than you think, especially if you're being selective about job opportunities. I'd suggest starting your job search intensively right from the beginning rather than waiting.

That's good advice. I've already started networking and applying, but I'll ramp up my efforts.

Also worth noting that if you exhaust your regular benefits and still can't find work, you might want to look into other programs like SNAP or housing assistance while you continue job searching.

Good point. There are other safety net programs available if unemployment isn't enough to cover all your expenses.

The key thing is to stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements. As long as you do that, you'll receive your full 26 weeks of benefits assuming you qualified initially.

Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. Thanks everyone for the helpful information!

One last tip - if you do find work before exhausting your benefits, make sure to report your return to work to Washington ESD so they can close your claim properly.

Will do. Hopefully I'll need to do that sooner rather than later!