How many weeks of unemployment benefits can I get in Washington - confused about duration

Thanks! So everyone gets the same 26 weeks? That's actually more straightforward than I thought.

Yep, 26 weeks is standard. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims and doing your job search activities or you'll lose benefits.

What exactly is standby status? My employer said they might call me back in a few months but weren't specific.

Standby means you have a definite return-to-work date within 6 weeks. You still file weekly claims but don't have to do the job search requirements. If your employer was vague about timing, you probably don't qualify for standby.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD normally.

Yeah it's real. They basically do the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when they get an agent on the line. Way better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.

Your friend might have been disqualified for some weeks due to job search issues or other problems. The maximum is still 26 weeks, but you can lose weeks if you don't follow the requirements.

oh that makes sense, she was always complaining about the job search stuff

Unfortunately, once you exhaust your 26 weeks of regular UI, that's usually it unless there are special extended benefit programs active. You should start looking into other assistance programs now - WorkSource has job training programs that might help.

That's what I was afraid of. Guess I need to expand my job search beyond my usual industry.

Have you checked if you qualify for any job training programs through WorkSource? Sometimes they have income support while you're in training.

I feel you on the frustration but 26 weeks is actually pretty standard across most states. Some have a little more, some less, but it's usually in that range.

Still not enough when you're competing with hundreds of people for every decent job posting.

It starts from your first payable week, which is usually the week you file (if approved). The adjudication delay doesn't eat into your 26 weeks - you'll get paid for those waiting weeks once approved.

Oh good, I was worried I lost those weeks. Thanks for clarifying!

It depends on how long you worked and how much you earned. If you earn enough wages to establish a new benefit year, you get a fresh claim. If not, you continue with your previous claim's remaining weeks.

How much do I need to earn to start fresh? I might be going back to work temporarily.

You need to earn at least $7,000 in covered employment during your benefit year to potentially qualify for a new claim, but there are other factors too. Best to check with Washington ESD directly.

How much does that service cost? I'm barely scraping by on unemployment as it is.

I don't remember the exact amount but it was reasonable considering I would have wasted days trying to get through on my own. Sometimes you have to spend a little to save your sanity.

Correct, working part-time while on unemployment doesn't change your total weeks available. Just make sure you report all earnings on your weekly claims or you could face overpayment issues.

Perfect, thanks. I always report everything, learned that lesson from a friend who got in trouble for not reporting.

Unfortunately, you lose any unused weeks when your benefit year expires. You can't carry them over to a new claim. This is why it's important to file weekly claims consistently even if you're doing part-time work.

Ugh, that sucks. I was trying to save them for when I really needed them but I guess that backfired.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is a federal program that kicks in during declared disasters. It has different rules and duration than regular UI, but it's only available during specific disaster periods and for people affected by those disasters.

Ah okay, so not something most people would qualify for under normal circumstances.

Extended benefits are triggered when state unemployment rates hit certain levels. They were last available during the recession, but the current unemployment rate in Washington doesn't trigger them. It's an automatic federal-state program, not something the state chooses to activate.

So basically don't count on extended benefits being available. Plan for the 26 weeks and that's it.

Military service can count for establishing eligibility under certain circumstances through the UCX program, but it doesn't change the standard 26-week duration. Veterans might have access to additional job training programs through WorkSource though.

Good to know, I'll look into those training programs. Thanks!

Same experience here. I finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. They actually got me through to an agent who answered all my questions about my benefit duration and claim status. Worth checking out if you're stuck.

At this point I'm desperate enough to try anything. The phone system is broken.

You might be thinking of other states or special programs. In Washington, regular unemployment insurance is capped at 26 weeks. The only way to get more is if extended benefits are triggered, which hasn't happened recently.

Must have been confusing it with another state. Good thing I asked!

This is great advice. I made a simple spreadsheet to track my weekly claims and remaining balance. Helps with budgeting too.

That's smart. I'm definitely going to start tracking mine better after reading all this.