How many months can I collect Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

Thanks! So it's definitely 26 weeks maximum? I was worried it might be less since I'm still pretty young.

Yes, 26 weeks is the standard maximum for regular UI benefits in Washington. Your age doesn't matter - it's all based on your work history and earnings.

Good to know! I filed yesterday and it's showing as pending right now.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check on your pending claim, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get connected to actual agents instead of dealing with the busy phone lines. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Thanks! So it's definitely not a full year like I thought I heard somewhere. 26 weeks seems reasonable for finding something new.

Yeah 26 weeks is standard but sometimes there are extensions during bad economic times, though those are rare.

You're thinking of benefit eligibility vs. duration. You need to meet minimum earnings requirements to qualify at all, but once you qualify, you can get up to 26 weeks regardless of your exact earnings amount.

Oh okay that makes sense. I was confused because my friend only got like 12 weeks last year.

Your friend might have found a job and stopped claiming, or there could have been work search issues. The full 26 weeks is available if you remain eligible and keep filing weekly claims.

That makes sense. I had steady employment so hopefully I'll get the full duration. Do I need to keep filing weekly claims the entire time?

Yes, you must file your weekly claim every week to continue receiving benefits, even if you don't have any work to report that week.

Yeah I saw that on the website. Do they actually check the job search log or is it just something you keep in case they ask?

They can audit your job search activities at any time, so definitely keep detailed records. I know people who got disqualified for not having proper documentation.

Interesting, I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication. How does that service work exactly?

Basically they handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through myself.

I feel you! But it's better than losing your benefits. I just set aside time each week to update my log right after I apply places.

Same here, I make it part of my routine. Apply, then immediately log it with all the details they want.

Good point. So I really need to focus on job searching during those 6 months rather than assuming there will be more help available.

Exactly. The job search requirements are pretty strict too - you need to log your activities and be able and available for work.

Got it. Hopefully I won't need the full 26 weeks but good to know what I'm working with.

Yeah, those pandemic extensions are long gone. It's back to the regular 26 weeks and that's it.

When do I need to file the weekly claims? Is it the same day each week?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week, and you have until Saturday to submit it. Most people do it Sunday morning to stay on schedule.

I always file mine Sunday morning with my coffee. Makes it routine so I don't forget.

Oh wow, I didn't realize that. So the benefit year and the payment period are two different things?

Right, your benefit year is the 12-month period during which you can receive benefits, but the actual payments are limited to 26 weeks maximum during that year.

That's a really important distinction that trips up a lot of people. Washington ESD should explain this better in their initial materials.

Unfortunately, there aren't automatic extensions right now. You might want to look into WorkSource services for job placement assistance and training programs that could help before your benefits end.

Thanks, I'll check out WorkSource. I've been doing the minimum job search requirements but maybe I need to step it up.

You can file a new claim after your benefit year ends, but you'll need to have sufficient work and earnings in the new base period to qualify. You can't just automatically get another 26 weeks.

That makes sense. So I'd need to have worked enough during the previous year to establish a new claim.

Oh cool, I'll check that out. Is it pretty accurate?

Yeah it's usually pretty close. It's based on your earnings from your base period quarters, so as long as you have that info it should be accurate.

Good point. Can I have them automatically take out taxes?

Yes, there's an option when you set up your claim to withhold 10% for federal taxes. You can also change this later if needed.

Yeah I'm hoping to find something similar. The pay was decent and I liked the work.

Check out the WorkSource centers too - they sometimes have job fairs specifically for warehouse and logistics jobs.

Is that like a service that calls for you? How does it work?

Yeah exactly - they handle the calling and waiting, then connect you when they get an actual person on the line. Saved me hours of trying to get through myself.

Yeah I'm planning to start applying this week. Don't want to waste any time.

Smart approach. Some people get too comfortable and then panic when they're down to their last few weeks.

That's helpful to know. So I could take a part-time job and still get some benefits?

Yes, they'll reduce your weekly benefit amount based on what you earn, but you can still collect something. It's called partial unemployment.

Just make sure to report all your earnings accurately. They cross-check with employers and the penalties for not reporting income are severe.

Thanks everyone for all the info! This has been really helpful. I feel much more prepared now.

Good luck with your job search! The warehouse industry is pretty active right now so hopefully you'll find something before you need the full 6 months.

Good call, I need to update mine with my most recent job. Thanks for the reminder!

I know it's frustrating, but the calculations are designed to base your benefits on your actual work history and earnings. It's more fair than just giving everyone the same amount for the same time.

I guess that makes sense but it shouldn't be this hard to understand basic information about your own benefits

I'll look for that handbook. Do you remember where on their site it was?

I think it was in the claimant handbook section, but their website organization changes frequently so I'm not sure if it's still in the same place.

It affects your weekly benefit amount but doesn't extend your total duration. You still have the same maximum number of weeks available, but you might receive partial benefits during weeks when you work part-time.

Good to know. So working part-time doesn't 'save' weeks for later use.

Yes! I used Claimyr last month when I was stuck in adjudication. Much easier than spending hours on hold. They connected me within a few hours and I was able to resolve my issue.

That sounds amazing. I'm definitely going to check out their website and that demo video.

Yes, unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return.

Thanks! I'll probably have them withhold taxes to avoid a big bill later.

That explains why I was seeing different information online. Some sites probably still had pandemic-era information that's no longer current.

Exactly. Always make sure you're looking at current Washington ESD information, not outdated articles from 2020-2022.

This is the clearest explanation in the whole thread. Thank you!

Agreed. 26 weeks maximum, about 6 months, and I need to make the most of that time to find new employment.

Washington eliminated the waiting week in 2021, so there's no unpaid waiting period. Your first week of unemployment can be your first week of benefits if you're eligible.

oh good, I was worried I'd lose a week of benefits for nothing

Definitely connect with WorkSource if you haven't already. They have job placement services and sometimes training programs that can help you transition to a new field if needed.

I'll check them out. At this point I'm willing to consider career changes if it means steady employment.

Also might be worth using Claimyr to speak with Washington ESD about any retraining programs or resources they might have available. Sometimes there are programs that aren't well-publicized.

That's the right attitude. Use the time wisely but don't wait too long to start seriously job hunting. The requirements are there for a reason.

Definitely. I'm already updating my resume and reaching out to contacts. Thanks again for all the helpful responses!