How long to collect unemployment benefits in Washington state?

In Washington state, the maximum duration for regular unemployment benefits is 26 weeks. This is based on your benefit year which starts when you first file your claim. The actual number of weeks you can collect depends on your work history and earnings during your base period. Some people qualify for fewer weeks if they haven't worked enough.

In Washington state, you can collect unemployment for up to 26 weeks (6 months) in a regular benefit year. Your benefit year starts when you first file your claim. There's no waiting week in Washington - you can get paid for your first week if you're eligible. Make sure to file your weekly claims every week even if you haven't been paid yet.

Yeah 26 weeks is the standard but don't count on extensions right now. During COVID there were federal extensions but those ended. If you exhaust your regular UI you might qualify for Extended Benefits but only if unemployment rates are high enough in the state.

You also have to meet work search requirements to keep getting benefits. In Washington you need to make 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. They can audit you at any time so make sure you're actually doing the searches and documenting them properly.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for months trying to get through to someone about my claim issues. If you need to talk to an actual person at Washington ESD, I found this service called Claimyr that actually got me connected. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

One thing to keep in mind - your benefit amount is based on your wages from the last 5 quarters before you filed. So if you worked consistently for 2 years, you should qualify for a decent weekly benefit amount. The maximum weekly benefit in Washington is currently around $1,015 but most people get less than that.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You have to be actively looking for work and logging your job searches. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you need to keep detailed records in case they audit your claim.

I had issues getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to ask questions about my claim timeline. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally used a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent quickly. You might want to check it out at claimyr.com if you run into phone issues - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

26 weeks goes by faster than you think especially if you're being picky about jobs. I made the mistake of turning down a couple positions early on thinking something better would come along.

dont forget you have to file weekly claims every week to get paid!! even if your first claim is still being processed. i made that mistake and lost 2 weeks of benefits because i thought i had to wait

Also remember that your benefit year is 52 weeks from when you first file, not when you get approved. So if there are delays in processing your claim, that time still counts against your benefit year.

Also worth mentioning that if you find part-time work while collecting unemployment, you can still get partial benefits in Washington. They have a formula where they deduct your earnings from your weekly benefit amount. It's actually encouraged because it helps you transition back to full-time work.

Don't forget about the waiting week either. There's a one week waiting period before you can start collecting benefits, so effectively you're looking at 25 weeks of payments.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE IT HARD TO GET BENEFITS!!! I've been fighting with Washington ESD for months over an adjudication issue and they keep giving me the runaround. 26 weeks sounds good on paper but try actually getting through their broken system.

The 26 week thing is such BS. Other states give you more time. Washington state is cheap with their benefits compared to places like Massachusetts or New Jersey.

Quick update - I filed my claim yesterday and got my determination letter today. Looks like I'll get $487 per week for up to 26 weeks. That should help while I'm job hunting. Thanks everyone for the advice!

I've been on unemployment for 4 months now and it's been a lifesaver. The key is staying organized with your job search log and filing your weekly claims on time. Don't procrastinate on either of those things.

I collected unemployment for the full 26 weeks last year when my company downsized. The key is staying organized with your job search log and filing your weekly claims on time every week. Missing even one weekly claim can cause issues.

Just a heads up that if you work part-time while collecting unemployment, they'll reduce your benefits based on what you earn. There's a formula they use but basically any income affects your weekly benefit amount.

One thing they don't tell you upfront is that your benefit year is 52 weeks total, but you can only collect for 26 of those weeks. So even if you find work and then get laid off again within that same benefit year, you only have whatever weeks are left from your original 26.

honestly the 26 weeks went by so fast for me, wish I had started looking harder earlier instead of taking it easy the first month thinking i had plenty of time

Just want to echo what others said about the work search requirements. Washington ESD does audit these and they will ask for your job search log. I got selected for an audit in my 3rd month and had to provide detailed documentation of every contact I made.

Another thing - if you're thinking about going back to school while on unemployment, Washington has some programs that might waive the work search requirements. Look into the Training Benefits program if you're interested in career retraining.

I tried calling Washington ESD last week to ask about extending my benefits and couldn't get through after 3 hours of trying. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and got connected to an agent in about 10 minutes. They explained that there are no extensions available right now but I could explore training programs. Definitely recommend it if you need to talk to someone at ESD.

watch out for the tax implications too. unemployment benefits are taxable income so you'll owe taxes on whatever you receive. you can have them withhold taxes from your weekly payments or pay estimated taxes quarterly

The 26 weeks can go by really fast, especially in today's job market. I used up all my benefits last year and had to rely on savings for a few months before finding work. Make sure you're applying to jobs outside your comfort zone and don't be too picky early on.

Does anyone know if the 26 weeks includes holidays? Like if there's a week where you can't file because of a system holiday or something?

I was on unemployment for the full 26 weeks last year. Towards the end I was getting pretty anxious about finding work before the benefits ran out. The pressure actually helped me be less picky and I ended up finding a job in my last month. Sometimes that deadline is motivating.

If anyone is having trouble with their Washington ESD account or getting responses to messages, I had good luck with Claimyr too. Used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication and needed to talk to someone urgently. Much better than the endless phone loops.

Just remember that even though you can collect for up to 26 weeks, the goal should be to find work as soon as possible. The longer you're unemployed, the harder it can be to explain gaps in your employment to potential employers.

The 26 week limit is actually pretty standard across most states. Some states have shorter durations, so Washington isn't terrible compared to the national average. Focus on making the most of the time you have.

I had to use Claimyr twice during my claim period - once for an identity verification issue and once when my payments stopped for no reason. Both times they got me through to someone at Washington ESD who could actually help. Worth every penny when you're stuck.

One more thing - if you're thinking about going back to school or training while on unemployment, Washington ESD has programs that might extend your benefits. Look into the Training Benefits program if you want to learn new skills.

Bottom line: 26 weeks maximum, file weekly claims on time, do your job searches, and don't count on extensions. Plan accordingly and you should be fine. Good luck with your claim!