How to apply for more unemployment benefits after exhausting regular Washington ESD claim?

Where do I apply for EB? Is it through the same Washington ESD portal or a different system?

Same portal - secure.esd.wa.gov. Look for the option to file for extended benefits, but first check if EB is even triggered in Washington right now.

How do I find out the current trigger status? This is so confusing.

Washington ESD publishes the EB trigger status on their website. If you can't find it, try calling them directly, though good luck getting through.

Never heard of Claimyr - is it legit? I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point.

Yeah it's real. They basically help you get through to Washington ESD agents when the phone lines are jammed. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

How much does something like that cost though? If I'm out of benefits I can't afford to pay for calling services.

I only worked for about 3 months before getting laid off, so probably not enough work history for a new claim.

You need to have earned at least $1,000 in your base period and meet other wage requirements. Check your wage history in your Washington ESD account to see if you qualify.

Because Washington ESD wants to make it as hard as possible so people give up and don't collect benefits they're entitled to.

While frustrating, the system is designed this way because different programs have different eligibility requirements and funding sources. It's not ideal but there are reasons.

Good point, I should probably apply for food assistance. Do you know if that affects unemployment eligibility?

No, SNAP benefits don't affect your unemployment at all. They're completely separate programs.

Where would I find info about disaster programs?

Usually announced on the Washington ESD website homepage or in news releases. These are rare though and usually only for specific disasters.

That's what I'm afraid of. How long ago was this for you?

about 6 months ago. maybe things have changed but i doubt it

Wait, I have to keep filing even though my benefits are exhausted? That doesn't make sense.

Yes, if you want to maintain your claim and be eligible for any future extensions. It's called 'continuing to claim' and it's required.

This is correct. I made the mistake of stopping my weekly claims and had to restart everything when EB became available.

I've tried that but still can't get through. The line is always busy or I get disconnected.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The regular phone system is basically impossible to get through on your own.

Yeah I've been doing that religiously. Three job contacts per week logged in the system.

Good! That's the minimum but doing more never hurts. Also make sure you're applying to suitable work based on your experience.

I hadn't thought about that. Where do I find approved training programs?

WorkSourceWA has a list of approved training providers. You might be eligible for Training Benefits if you qualify for certain programs.

So even if I become eligible, it might not last long?

Exactly. It's based on economic indicators that change constantly. Very unpredictable.

What do you mean by suitable work? Can they force me to take any job?

There are rules about what jobs you can refuse. Generally has to be similar to your previous work and pay a reasonable wage based on your experience.

You can only file in one state at a time and it has to be based on where you worked. Filing multiple claims is fraud.

Good to know, thanks for clarifying. Didn't want to suggest anything illegal.

That's a good idea. Are the offices open for walk-ins now?

Most are but call ahead to check. Some still do appointments only or have limited hours.

Good advice. I've heard people get different answers from different agents about the same question.

Exactly. Having documentation protects you if there's ever a dispute about what you were told.

I'll bookmark that page. Thanks for all the advice everyone, this has been really helpful.

Hope you get through to an agent soon. The Claimyr thing really did help me avoid the phone runaround if you decide to try it.

How long of a delay are we talking about typically?

Could be 2-4 weeks for processing, but they'll backpay you to when you were eligible. Just keep filing your weekly claims.