How many weeks of unemployment can you get in Washington state?

In Washington state, the standard maximum is 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. This is based on your base year earnings and work history. The exact number of weeks you qualify for depends on how much you earned during your base year - some people might get fewer than 26 weeks if their earnings were lower.

Thanks! So it's not automatically 26 weeks for everyone? How do they calculate the exact number you get?

Right, it's not automatic. Washington ESD looks at your earnings in your base year (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters) and uses a formula to determine both your weekly benefit amount and total weeks available.

I'm in the same boat and have been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks to ask about my specific situation. Their phone lines are constantly busy and I keep getting disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They basically call for you and connect you when they reach someone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work? I'm getting desperate here.

Yeah it worked for me. I was able to get my questions answered about my benefit calculation and they explained exactly why I was getting 24 weeks instead of the full 26.

Keep in mind that Washington state doesn't currently have any federal extensions active like during the pandemic. So you're looking at just the regular state benefits. The 26 weeks is the maximum, but like others said, you might get less depending on your earnings history.

Wait, so there's no chance of getting more than 26 weeks right now? I thought there might be some kind of extended benefits program.

Extended Benefits (EB) can sometimes be available when unemployment rates are high enough, but Washington isn't currently in an EB period. You'd need to check Washington ESD's website for current status.

just started collecting last week and my account says I have 25 weeks available. not sure why its not 26 but whatever, better than nothing i guess

That's normal - the calculation is based on your specific earnings. Some people get the full 26, others get fewer weeks.

At least you got approved! I'm still waiting on my adjudication to finish. Been three weeks now.

This is all so confusing. I worked part-time for the last two years while going to school. Will that affect how many weeks I can get? I'm worried I won't qualify for very many weeks since my earnings weren't that high.

Part-time work can definitely affect your benefit calculation. Washington ESD needs to see sufficient earnings in your base year to qualify you for benefits. If your earnings were too low, you might not qualify at all, or you might get fewer weeks.

How do I find out what my base year earnings were? I've worked at a few different places.

You can check your wage history on the Washington ESD website after you create your account. It will show all reported wages from employers in your base year.

The whole unemployment system is such a mess. 26 weeks isn't enough for most people to find decent work in this economy. Other states have better benefits than Washington.

yeah but at least washington has pretty decent weekly amounts compared to some states

True, the weekly benefit amount is better than some places. But still feels like they make it as hard as possible to get help when you need it.

Update: I finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Turns out I qualify for 24 weeks based on my earnings history. The agent was really helpful in explaining how they calculated it.

How long did it take them to connect you?

About 45 minutes. Way better than the hours I spent trying to call myself and getting nowhere.

For anyone still confused about the weeks calculation - Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website that can give you an estimate. It's not perfect but gives you a rough idea of what to expect.

I tried that calculator but it was asking for information I didn't have. Do you need your exact quarterly earnings?

You need your gross wages for each quarter in your base year. If you don't have that info, you might need to contact your previous employers or wait until you can see your wage history on the ESD site.

Don't forget that you still have to meet the weekly requirements even if you qualify for 26 weeks. You need to be able and available for work, actively searching for jobs, and file your weekly claims on time.

What happens if you miss filing a weekly claim? I was out of town last week and forgot to file.

You can usually file late claims, but there might be a delay in payment. Washington ESD allows you to file for previous weeks if you have a good reason for the delay.

I got 26 weeks when I filed last year, but I had been working full-time for several years with pretty good wages. I think the calculation really depends on your individual work history and earnings.

That makes sense. I had some gaps in my employment which probably affected my calculation.

Yeah, gaps can definitely impact it. The base year calculation looks at specific quarters, so if you weren't working during some of those quarters, it affects the total.

Just wanted to add that if you're getting close to exhausting your regular benefits, it's worth checking if Washington has activated any extended benefit programs. Sometimes they become available when unemployment rates hit certain thresholds.

Good point. Washington ESD usually announces on their website when extended benefits become available. It's not common, but it has happened during economic downturns.

How often do they update that information? I'm at week 20 and starting to worry about what happens next.

They update it pretty regularly, usually monthly. You can also sign up for email notifications from Washington ESD to stay informed about any changes to benefit programs.

The 26 week maximum is definitely the standard, but like everyone said, you might get less depending on your work history. I got 23 weeks because I had some periods where I wasn't working full-time.

Did they explain exactly how they calculated your 23 weeks? I'm still trying to understand the formula they use.

It's pretty complicated. They look at your highest earning quarter in your base year and use that to determine your weekly benefit amount and total weeks. Higher earnings generally mean more weeks, up to the 26 week maximum.

Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread has been really helpful. I was worried I might not qualify for very many weeks, but it sounds like as long as I have decent earnings history, I should be okay.

You're welcome! The most important thing is to file your claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Don't wait around trying to figure everything out first.

Already filed! Just waiting for them to process everything now. Hopefully it goes smoothly.

One more thing to remember - even if you qualify for 26 weeks, you need to use those weeks within your benefit year. The benefit year is typically 52 weeks from when you first filed your claim.

What happens if you find work and then lose it again within that benefit year? Can you still use your remaining weeks?

Yes, you can usually reopen your existing claim if you become unemployed again within your benefit year, as long as you still have weeks remaining.

That's good to know. I might have a temporary job opportunity coming up but wasn't sure what would happen to my claim.

For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD by phone, I had success using Claimyr too. It's definitely worth trying if you've been stuck trying to reach them. The service connected me within an hour and I got all my questions answered about my benefit duration.

Is there a cost for using that service?

Yeah there is a fee, but honestly it was worth it to finally get through and get accurate information instead of guessing or getting conflicting advice online.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for a few months now and wanted to share what I learned about the weeks calculation. The maximum is indeed 26 weeks, but it's based on a formula that considers your earnings in your base year. What really helped me understand my situation was looking at my quarterly wage report on the ESD website - it breaks down exactly which quarters they used and how much I earned in each. If you're unsure about your qualification, I'd recommend checking that wage history first before trying to call them. It gives you a clearer picture of what to expect.