How many months unemployment benefits can I get in Washington?

Thanks! What exactly is the base period? Is that the last year I worked?

The base period is usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. So if you filed in January 2025, it would typically be January 2024 through December 2024.

How many job searches do you have to do each week? I heard it changed recently.

It's 3 job search activities per week now. Can be applications, networking, job fairs, etc. Just make sure you document everything in your job search log.

Interesting, I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days but can never get through. Does it actually work?

Yeah, I was skeptical too but it got me connected to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of spending all day redialing. Worth it when you need actual answers about your claim.

Actually, part-time work doesn't reduce the total duration of your claim, just the weekly amount. You still get the same number of weeks available, but some weeks might be reduced or zero if you earn too much.

oh ok that makes more sense. i was confused about how that worked

Wait, so there's no way to get benefits longer than 26 weeks even if unemployment is high?

Extended benefits can trigger during periods of very high unemployment in the state, but Washington hasn't met those thresholds recently. The triggers are based on specific unemployment rates compared to previous years.

Good to know. So I should plan on 26 weeks maximum and not count on any extensions.

I felt the same way around week 20. That's when I really ramped up my job search efforts. Consider expanding your search radius or looking at adjacent fields to your experience.

Yeah I'm starting to look at positions I wouldn't have considered before. It's scary but bills don't wait.

You can file a new claim if you've worked and earned enough wages since your last claim ended. The earnings requirements are the same as for a first-time claim - you need sufficient work history in your new base period.

That's helpful. So if I work 6 months after my benefits end and then get laid off again, I could potentially get another 26 weeks?

Potentially, yes, if you meet the wage and work requirements during that time. Washington ESD looks at your earnings in the base period to determine eligibility for a new claim.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. Their whole thing is getting you through to Washington ESD agents without the endless hold times. Might be worth checking out if you keep having trouble reaching someone.

At this point I'm willing to try anything. This is ridiculous.

Standby status is for temporary layoffs where you expect to be called back to work. You still get benefits but don't have to do job searches. The 26-week maximum still applies though.

Oh that makes sense. My company said the layoff might be temporary so I wasn't sure if that changed anything.

Good point. I filed within a few days of my last day of work. Better safe than sorry.

exactly what i should have done. i waited 3 weeks thinking i'd find something fast and ended up losing those weeks of potential benefits

That's encouraging to hear. I'm trying to stay disciplined about my search routine but some days are harder than others.

The mental health aspect is real. Consider it part of the process and don't be too hard on yourself during the tough days.

No, your benefit year is still 52 weeks regardless of processing delays. The 26 weeks of benefits is the maximum you can collect during that year, not necessarily 26 consecutive weeks.

Thanks for clarifying that. I was worried about losing time due to system maintenance or holidays.

Congrats! That must be such a relief. Gives me hope that I'll find something before my benefits run out too.

That's awesome! What field did you end up finding work in?

That's a good reminder. Hopefully it doesn't come to that but it's good to know there are other safety nets available.

DSHS has a lot of programs that can bridge the gap. Worth looking into before you actually need them so you know what's available.

You need to report all earnings when you file your weekly claims. It might reduce your benefit amount for that week but doesn't typically reduce your total available weeks. Just make sure to report everything accurately to avoid overpayment issues later.

Ok good to know. I've been afraid to take any side work thinking it would mess up my claim.

True, I looked it up and some states have much shorter benefit periods. 26 weeks is actually on the longer side nationally.

Still feels short when you're living it though. Every week counts when you're trying to pay rent and groceries.

I'm definitely going to check that out. I still have questions about how part-time work affects my timeline and I can't get through to ask anyone at Washington ESD.

Same here. Been trying to reach them for over a week about my specific situation. Will give this a try.