How many weeks unemployment benefits in Washington - confused about my duration

Thanks! That's a relief. I was panicking thinking I only had a few weeks left. Do you know if there are any extensions available after the 26 weeks?

Extensions depend on the unemployment rate and federal programs. Right now there aren't any federal extensions active, but Washington sometimes has state extensions when unemployment is high.

I found that section! It says I have $11,700 total and my weekly amount is $450, so that's exactly 26 weeks. Thanks for pointing me to the right place.

That's a good weekly amount! I only get $280 per week because my wages were lower.

That makes sense. I definitely earned way more than $1,400 over 18 months so I should be good for the full 26 weeks.

What if you worked less than that? I only worked 6 months before getting laid off.

If you worked 6 months and earned enough, you could still get benefits but maybe not the full 26 weeks. It depends on your total base period wages.

The phone situation is terrible. I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Thanks! I'll check that out. I'm desperate at this point, been calling for 3 weeks straight.

I used Claimyr last month and finally got through to someone at Washington ESD after trying for weeks on my own. Definitely worth it if you need to speak to an agent.

26 weeks is about 6 months, so your friend was right! It's 26 weeks or roughly 6 months of benefits.

ohh ok that makes sense. i was confused why everyone was saying 26 weeks lol

No, the 26 weeks only counts when you're actually receiving benefits. Time spent in adjudication doesn't count against your total duration.

That's good to know! My adjudication took 8 weeks so I was worried that counted against me.

It's all based on your total base period wages, not whether you worked full or part-time. If your total wages during the base period meet the requirements, you can still get up to 26 weeks.

Ok good, I was worried the part-time work would hurt my eligibility.

Standby benefits have the same 26-week duration as regular unemployment. The difference is in the work search requirements, not the benefit duration.

Thanks, that's what I thought but wanted to make sure.

The base is always 26 weeks in Washington. The unemployment rate only affects whether there are extended benefits available after you exhaust your regular 26 weeks.

Got it, so 26 weeks is guaranteed but extensions are rare. Makes sense.

You should have 16 weeks left if you qualified for the full 26 weeks. But definitely verify this with Washington ESD since every situation is different.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - sometimes you really need to talk to an agent to get clear answers about your specific situation.

Yeah I might have to try that service. I can't keep guessing about something this important.

Every state is different. At least Washington has decent benefit amounts compared to some states.

True, the weekly amount is better here than Oregon was.

Part-time work might reduce your weekly benefit amount but it doesn't extend your 26-week duration. You still have the same total time period to use your benefits.

Thanks, that's what I hoped. I have a chance for some part-time work but didn't want to mess up my benefits.

Currently there are no automatic extensions in Washington. You'd need to look into other assistance programs like food stamps or housing assistance.

That's what I was afraid of. Time to intensify the job search.

How long did it take them to get you connected to an agent?

It took about 2 days but they called me back when they got through. Much better than trying to call myself for weeks.

It starts from when your benefit year begins, which is typically the week you file your claim. But if there are delays in processing, you can get backpay for eligible weeks.

Ok that makes sense. So if I filed 3 weeks ago but just got approved, I can still get those 3 weeks?

Yes, if you were eligible for those weeks, you should receive backpay for them.

Their website is confusing and their phone lines are overwhelmed. That's why services like Claimyr exist - to help people navigate the system.

Makes sense. It shouldn't be this hard to get basic information about your benefits.

Yes, I used all 26 weeks last year. Washington ESD sends you notices as you approach the limit, and your online account shows your remaining balance.

Good to know they give you warning. I'm at week 20 so getting close.

Same here! This thread was really helpful. Good luck with your job search everyone.

Glad we could help! That's what these forums are for - helping each other navigate the unemployment system.