How many months is 26 weeks of unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?

Thanks! That helps with planning. Do you know if Washington ESD ever extends benefits beyond the 26 weeks?

Extended benefits are only available during high unemployment periods. Right now there's no federal extension program like there was during COVID.

Good point about the job search requirements. How many job contacts do I need per week in Washington?

It's 3 job search activities per week minimum. Keep detailed records in your job search log because Washington ESD audits these regularly.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you through to Washington ESD agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Finally talked to someone about my claim status issues.

Never heard of that but I'm desperate at this point. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit. I was skeptical too but they actually connected me within a few hours. Way better than spending days trying to get through myself.

Wait, so if I find a job after 10 weeks and then get laid off again, I still have 16 weeks left from my original claim?

Exactly, as long as it's within your benefit year. You'd reopen your existing claim rather than file a new one.

This is confusing - I thought you had to use all your weeks in a row or lose them?

lol calm down its just basic math

Easy for you to say when you're not stressed about money and trying to figure out how long your benefits will last!

I get the frustration. The Washington ESD website could definitely explain this better for people who aren't familiar with the system.

Washington ESD typically extends filing deadlines when there's a state holiday. You'll get an extra day or two to file without it being considered late.

Good to know, thanks!

Take a deep breath! Washington ESD has guides on their website about job search requirements. As long as you're documenting 3 legitimate job search activities per week, you should be fine.

What counts as a legitimate job search activity though? I've been applying online but not sure if that's enough.

Online applications definitely count. You can also include things like networking events, job fairs, career counseling sessions, or even informational interviews. Just keep detailed records.

That's what I'm worried about. Did you find work right after your benefits ran out or did you have a gap?

had about a month gap which sucked. but at least i had those 6 months to really focus on finding the right job instead of just taking anything

That's awesome! I might need to try that if I have more questions. What other stuff were you able to ask about?

Mostly about my adjudication status and when I might hear back. The agent was actually really helpful once I got through.

Good point. Mine was less than I expected because I had a slow period last year.

Same here. I thought it would be more based on my most recent job but they use some complicated formula.

Yeah I'm definitely not planning to wait around. Already started looking even though I just got approved.

Smart approach. The job market is tough right now and it's taking people longer to find work than before.

So basically I need to plan for 6 months max and hope I find something before then?

Exactly. There's also WorkSource services that can help with job placement if you need additional support during your search.

Oh man I didn't even think about taxes. Can I have them automatically withhold federal taxes from my weekly payments?

Yes, you can request 10% federal tax withholding when you file your weekly claims. It's optional but saves you from a big tax bill later.

It's natural to feel anxious about it. Just focus on making the most of the time you have - use the job search requirements as motivation to stay active in your search.

Honestly talking to an actual Washington ESD person helped me feel less anxious about everything. That Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really saved me from weeks of phone frustration.

They do have benefit calculators and duration information on the website, but I agree it could be presented more clearly for first-time users.

If it exists, it's buried so deep I couldn't find it after an hour of looking!

File your weekly claims on time every week, even if you worked some hours. Missing a filing deadline can cause delays in your payments.

And report any work or income honestly. It's better to report everything and let them calculate your benefit reduction than to risk an overpayment situation later.

yeah and save all your paperwork. if they ask for verification of anything you want to have it ready

That's good to know. I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into issues I can't figure out online.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already worried about money.

It's worth checking their site for current info. For me it was worth it to avoid the stress of trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks.

Very true. I'm going to treat each week seriously and not get complacent just because I have 26 of them.

That's exactly the right attitude. Good luck with your job search!