How to file extension for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD

Extensions depend on the unemployment rate in Washington. There's Extended Benefits (EB) that can kick in when unemployment is high enough, but it's not automatic. You need to check if EB is currently available in Washington state. The Washington ESD website should have current information about whether extended benefits are active.

i think you just keep filing your weekly claims and if extensions are available it will automatically continue but not sure

I was in the same situation last year and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask about extensions. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time and frustration.

ARE THERE EVEN EXTENSIONS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW?? I thought all the pandemic extensions ended years ago. This is so confusing and Washington ESD never explains anything clearly!!!

Extended Benefits availability changes based on unemployment rates. You need to check the current status on the Washington ESD website or call them directly. If EB is available, you'll get a notice after your regular benefits exhaust. Don't stop filing your weekly claims in the meantime.

just keep filing weekly claims until they tell you to stop

To be clear about the process: Regular UI in Washington is typically 26 weeks. If Extended Benefits are activated due to high unemployment, you may be eligible for up to 13 additional weeks (sometimes 20 weeks in very high unemployment). But EB isn't always available - it depends on state unemployment rates meeting federal triggers.

when my benefits ran out I just had to wait and see if they would continue automatically. got a letter in the mail about it

The key is getting accurate information from Washington ESD directly. When I couldn't get through by phone, using Claimyr really helped me connect with an agent who could explain my specific situation. Much better than guessing or relying on outdated information online.

Make sure you're still meeting all the eligibility requirements too - able and available for work, actively seeking employment, etc. Extensions have the same requirements as regular UI.

This whole system is so stressful. Why can't they just tell us clearly what happens when benefits run out instead of making us guess???

One important thing to remember: if you do get Extended Benefits, the weekly benefit amount is the same as your regular UI. The difference is just the additional weeks of eligibility. And you still need to file weekly claims and meet all the same requirements.

I'm in a similar situation - benefits ending soon and still no job. This thread is really helpful for understanding what might happen next.

Bottom line: continue filing weekly claims, watch for correspondence from Washington ESD, and don't assume anything will happen automatically. If you need specific information about your claim, contact them directly - either through their online system or by phone.

And if you do need to call Washington ESD for clarification, remember that Claimyr can help you get through faster instead of spending hours on hold. Really made a difference for me when I needed answers about my claim status.

Hope you get the extension if it's available. The job market is still tough out there.

Final reminder: Extended Benefits, when available, require the same job search activities as regular UI. Don't let up on your job search efforts while waiting to see if extensions kick in. Washington ESD tracks all of this through WorkSourceWA.

This whole discussion helped me understand what might happen when my benefits run out next month too. Thanks everyone.

Keep an eye on Washington ESD announcements too. They usually post updates about Extended Benefits availability on their website when there are changes to the program status.

Really appreciate all the detailed explanations here. Way more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone.

I went through this exact same situation last year when my regular UI benefits were ending. The most important thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even after your 26 weeks are up - don't stop! Washington ESD will automatically review your eligibility for Extended Benefits if they're available based on the state's unemployment rate. You'll get a letter in the mail within a couple weeks letting you know if you qualify. In my case, I was able to get an additional 13 weeks of EB. Just make sure you're still doing all your job search requirements through WorkSourceWA because those don't change whether you're on regular UI or extensions. The waiting period is nerve-wracking but they do communicate with you about what happens next.