How many months unemployment benefits can I get in Washington ESD?
I'm trying to figure out exactly how many months of unemployment I can collect through Washington ESD. I've been working for about 3 years at my last job before getting laid off last week. I know there's a maximum but I'm seeing different numbers online - some say 26 weeks, others mention extensions. Can someone break down how many months unemployment benefits actually last in Washington state? I need to plan my budget and job search timeline.
42 comments
Join the conversation
Christian Burns
Standard unemployment benefits in Washington are 26 weeks maximum, which is about 6 months. However, the actual amount you receive depends on your work history and earnings in your base period. You might qualify for less than the full 26 weeks if you haven't worked enough quarters.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Thanks! So it's definitely 6 months max? I worked full-time for 3 years so I should qualify for the full amount right?
0 coins
Christian Burns
•Yes, with 3 years of full-time work you should qualify for the maximum 26 weeks. Just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week.
0 coins
Sasha Reese
Just to add - there used to be federal extensions during COVID but those ended in 2021. Right now it's just the regular 26 weeks unless they pass new legislation. I learned this the hard way when my benefits ran out last year.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Good to know, thanks. I was wondering if there were still extensions available.
0 coins
Muhammad Hobbs
•Yeah those pandemic extensions were a lifesaver but they're long gone now. Back to the regular 6 months.
0 coins
Noland Curtis
The 26 weeks is the maximum but you need to meet the monetary requirements. Washington ESD looks at your earnings in the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. If you made at least $4,213 in your base period and at least $1,000 in a single quarter, you should qualify for benefits.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•I definitely made way more than that working full-time for 3 years, so I should be good on the monetary requirements.
0 coins
Diez Ellis
•Just make sure Washington ESD has all your wage information. Sometimes employers don't report properly and it can delay your claim.
0 coins
Vanessa Figueroa
If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to check your eligibility or claim status, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Interesting, I haven't heard of that before. How does it work exactly?
0 coins
Vanessa Figueroa
•Basically they handle the calling for you and get you connected to an actual Washington ESD representative. Much better than spending all day hitting redial.
0 coins
Abby Marshall
•That sounds too good to be true. How much does something like that cost?
0 coins
Sadie Benitez
I'm on unemployment right now and can confirm it's 26 weeks maximum. I'm at week 15 so I have about 11 weeks left. The key thing is to file your weekly claims every week and keep doing your job search activities. Don't miss any deadlines or you could lose benefits.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•What kind of job search activities do you have to do? I know there are requirements but I'm not sure what exactly.
0 coins
Sadie Benitez
•You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. Can be applications, networking, interviews, job fairs, etc. Just document everything.
0 coins
Drew Hathaway
•Don't forget to register with WorkSource too. That's required within 4 weeks of filing your claim.
0 coins
Laila Prince
26 weeks sounds right but I swear I read somewhere that Washington has extended benefits during high unemployment periods. Is that still a thing or am I thinking of the old federal programs?
0 coins
Christian Burns
•Washington does have Extended Benefits (EB) that can kick in during high unemployment, but the trigger hasn't been met in recent years. It would add up to 13 additional weeks.
0 coins
Isabel Vega
•The EB program is still on the books but unemployment would have to be pretty high statewide to trigger it. Right now we're at regular benefits only.
0 coins
Dominique Adams
Just filed my claim last month and they told me 26 weeks max. But honestly getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions is nearly impossible. I must have called 50 times before I got through to someone.
0 coins
Vanessa Figueroa
•That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. I was in the same boat with the constant busy signals until I found their service.
0 coins
Dominique Adams
•I might have to check that out. This calling situation is ridiculous.
0 coins
Marilyn Dixon
Quick question - do those 26 weeks start from when you file or from when you were laid off? I waited a week before filing and I'm worried I lost a week of benefits.
0 coins
Christian Burns
•Benefits start from the week you file your claim, not when you were laid off. You can't get retroactive benefits for weeks before you filed.
0 coins
Marilyn Dixon
•Ugh, so I did lose that week. Good to know for future reference I guess.
0 coins
Louisa Ramirez
•Always file as soon as possible after losing your job. Every week counts when you only get 26 total.
0 coins
TommyKapitz
The 6 months goes by faster than you think. I'm at week 22 now and starting to panic about finding something before my benefits run out. Make sure you're actively job searching from day one.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•That's good advice. I'm planning to treat job searching like a full-time job while I'm on unemployment.
0 coins
Angel Campbell
•Smart approach. I wish I had been more aggressive with my job search early on.
0 coins
Payton Black
For what it's worth, I used Claimyr twice when I needed to talk to Washington ESD about my claim status and it worked great both times. Much easier than the endless calling. Here's their site again: claimyr.com
0 coins
Harold Oh
•How long did it take them to get you connected to someone at Washington ESD?
0 coins
Payton Black
•First time was about 2 hours, second time was less than an hour. Way better than the days I spent trying to call myself.
0 coins
Amun-Ra Azra
Just want to confirm - it's definitely 26 weeks maximum in Washington, which equals about 6 months. There's no state extension program currently active. Focus on your job search and make those 26 weeks count!
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•Perfect, thanks everyone for the clear answers. 6 months it is. Time to get serious about job hunting.
0 coins
Summer Green
•Good luck with your job search! The 26 weeks will give you a decent runway if you use the time wisely.
0 coins
Gael Robinson
One thing to remember - if you find part-time work while collecting unemployment, you can still get partial benefits. Just report all your earnings on your weekly claim. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good when it comes to job opportunities.
0 coins
Jenna Sloan
•That's helpful to know. I wasn't sure if part-time work would disqualify me completely.
0 coins
Edward McBride
•Nope, you can work part-time and still collect partial benefits. Just be honest about your earnings.
0 coins
Darcy Moore
I'm at week 8 of my 26 weeks and honestly the weekly claim filing is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Just don't miss any weeks or you'll have to call Washington ESD to fix it, and we all know how fun that is.
0 coins
Dana Doyle
•Truth! I missed one week early on and it took forever to get it sorted out.
0 coins
Vanessa Figueroa
•This is another situation where Claimyr came in handy for me - fixing a missed week filing. Much easier than trying to get through the regular way.
0 coins