Need help filing for ESD benefit extension - is it even possible in 2025?

Extensions arent automatic anymore since all the covid programs ended. You have to qualify for something called EB (Extended Benefits) and those only trigger when state unemployment is high. Last I checked Washington wasnt at the threshold where EB is available. Youre probably out of luck unles you qualify for training benefits if your in school.

I went through this last month. Regular UI benefits last for 26 weeks maximum in Washington. Extensions only become available when the state unemployment rate hits certain thresholds to trigger the EB (Extended Benefits) program. Currently, Washington's unemployment rate isn't high enough to trigger EB. Your best options are: 1. If you're in approved training, apply for Training Benefits which can extend your claim 2. If you have wages in another state, you might qualify for a combined wage claim 3. Check with WorkSource about intensive job placement programs The old pandemic extensions (PEUC, PUA, etc.) ended years ago and haven't been replaced.

my cousin said theres a secret extension you can get if you call and say the right things to the esd people. gotta mention hardship and stuff. worth a try maybe??

I'm going through something similar right now. The most frustrating part is actually getting someone on the phone to explain your options! I spent DAYS trying to call ESD to ask about potential extensions or alternatives when my benefits were running out. I finally tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that basically connects you with an ESD agent without the endless hold times. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 When I finally got through, they explained I didn't qualify for an extension but helped me understand some retraining programs I might be eligible for. At least I got a straight answer instead of the website's vague info. Definitely worth it to talk to an actual person about your specific situation.

I literally just exhausted my benefits last week. It SUCKS. No more extensions like during COVID. I'm applying for food stamps and rental assistance now. If you qualify for the Commissioner Approved Training program you can get an extension, but you have to already be enrolled in an approved training program BEFORE your benefits run out. Too late for me. 😩

The others are correct that standard extensions aren't currently available in Washington. However, there are a few potential paths forward you might consider: 1. **Training Benefits Program**: If you're willing to enroll in approved training, you can receive benefits for up to 52 additional weeks. The key is getting into an ESD-approved program and applying BEFORE your regular benefits exhaust. 2. **Commissioner Approved Training (CAT)**: Similar to Training Benefits but with different eligibility criteria. 3. **Check your monetary eligibility again**: If you've worked ANY jobs during your claim year, even part-time, you might have earned enough wages to establish a new claim when your current one expires. 4. **WorkSource intensive services**: They offer specialized help for industries with limited job prospects. 5. **Other assistance programs**: DSHS offers TANF (cash assistance), SNAP (food benefits), and housing assistance that you might qualify for. I'd recommend contacting WorkSource directly - they're separate from the unemployment office and can often provide more personalized guidance about all these options.

Regarding your Oregon work history - for it to help with a combined wage claim, you would need to have worked there during your base year (which is typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your initial claim). Work from 2 years ago likely falls outside this window. About the part-time gigs you mentioned - if you earned enough in a quarter to meet the minimum threshold (about $4,350 in 2025), AND these earnings weren't already used in your current claim's calculation, they could potentially help establish monetary eligibility for a new claim. This is something an ESD agent would need to review specifically for your case.

I HATE how they keep changing the rules!!! During covid we had all these extensions and now NOTHING?? I exhausted my benefits in January and have been living on credit cards since then. The whole system is designed to force us to take garbage jobs that don't even pay enough to cover rent. What happened to all the BILLIONS in the unemployment trust fund?? They just don't want to pay it out!!!

One other thing to consider - make sure you file your final weekly claim even after receiving the notice that your benefits are exhausting. Sometimes people miss out on their final week of benefits because they stop filing when they get the exhaustion notice. Also, if you do decide to pursue training benefits, you'll need to act fast. The approval process can take several weeks, and ideally, you want that approval before your regular UI ends. WorkSource can help with the training program approval process as well.