How many months is unemployment in Washington ESD - confused about duration

So it's definitely 26 weeks max? I was worried it might be shorter since I only worked for 2 years.

Yes, 26 weeks is the maximum for regular UI benefits in Washington. Your 2 years of work should be plenty to qualify for the full duration as long as you earned enough wages.

What happens if you don't find a job before the 26 weeks are up? Are there extensions?

there used to be extensions during covid but not anymore. after 26 weeks you're on your own unless there's some special program i don't know about

How much does that service cost? I'm already struggling financially and can't afford extra fees right now.

It's worth checking out their website for current info. For me, getting through to an agent quickly was essential since I had questions about my claim that affected my payments.

Never heard of this before but might try it. The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible.

What are the work search requirements exactly? I know I have to look for jobs but how many per week?

You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep detailed records. Washington ESD can audit these at any time, so document everything - company names, dates, method of contact, and results.

That's scary. What happens if you're still unemployed after 26 weeks? Is there any help available?

You might qualify for other assistance programs through DSHS but unemployment benefits just stop. Some people go back to school or try to find part-time work to get by.

Yes, you can work part-time while on unemployment in Washington, but your weekly benefit will be reduced based on how much you earn. Generally, you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount before it affects your payment.

That's helpful to know. I might look into some part-time opportunities to stretch my benefits further.

If your claim is pending for more than 2-3 weeks, there might be an adjudication issue that needs to be resolved. Check your account for any outstanding issues or requests for information.

I've checked and there's nothing showing that I need to do. Just says 'under review' with no explanation.

This is exactly the kind of situation where Claimyr helped me. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get answers from the regular phone line. Their callback service got me connected to someone who could actually look at my case and explain what was holding it up.

Wait, that doesn't seem fair. If it's their delay, why should that count against my time?

That's not entirely accurate. Your benefit year starts from when you file, but if there are processing delays due to Washington ESD issues, you may be able to get backdated payments. However, the 26-week clock does start ticking from your claim date.

Good advice. I've been hesitant to apply for jobs that pay less than my previous position, but maybe I should be more flexible.

Exactly. Something is better than nothing, and you can always negotiate or find better opportunities once you're working again.

You can establish a new benefit year if you've worked and earned sufficient wages since your last claim. Generally, you need to earn at least 6 times your weekly benefit amount in covered employment to qualify for a new claim.

That's good to know. So if I find temporary work, it might help me qualify for benefits again later if needed.

Have you tried reaching out to your state representative? Sometimes they can help push things along when you're stuck in the system.

I didn't think of that. Might be worth a try at this point.

Before going the political route, you might want to try Claimyr again. They specialize in getting people connected to the right Washington ESD representatives who can actually resolve adjudication issues.

Smart approach. Read through all the Washington ESD materials carefully and keep detailed records of everything. Good luck with your job search!

yeah definitely start applying everywhere immediately. the 6 months goes by faster than you think