Washington ESD extended unemployment benefits - how can i apply for extended unemployment benefits?

Darn, I was hoping there might be something available. Do you know what the unemployment rate needs to be for extended benefits to kick in?

I think it's when the state rate hits a certain trigger, usually around 6.5% or higher for a sustained period. But don't quote me on the exact number.

I haven't really looked into that yet. Are these full-time programs or can you do them while still job searching?

It varies by program but many are flexible. The Trade Adjustment Assistance program is particularly good if your job was affected by trade issues.

Interesting, I've never heard of that service. Did they charge you anything to help you get through?

Yeah there's a fee but honestly it was worth it to actually talk to a human being at Washington ESD instead of getting the runaround for weeks.

I'm always skeptical of services that charge to help with government stuff, but I have to admit getting through to Washington ESD is nearly impossible these days.

DUA is only for specific disasters declared by FEMA. It's not a general extended benefits program - you'd need to be affected by something like a wildfire or flood.

oh ok nevermind then, thought it might help

Exactly! It feels like they expect you to magically find a job the day your benefits end.

Have you applied for food assistance through DSHS? At least that helps with grocery costs.

Yeah I'm on SNAP but it barely covers half my food budget for the month.

That makes sense but it's still frustrating when you're personally struggling to find work even if the economy looks good on paper.

The disconnect between economic stats and individual experience is real. Just because unemployment is 'low' doesn't mean everyone can find decent paying work.

Good idea, I'll look into that. Do you know if temporary work affects your ability to reapply for unemployment later?

Temporary work actually helps your work history for future claims. Just make sure to report all earnings properly if you do find temp work.

SharedWork sounds interesting but I'd need to find an employer first. Still job hunting with no luck so far.

Yeah it's definitely not ideal but at least it's something to keep in mind if you get interviews but they can only offer part-time initially.

Good point! I've been tracking everything in a spreadsheet but wasn't sure if I needed to keep doing that after benefits end.

Definitely keep tracking. Washington ESD requires three job contacts per week and if programs open up later, they'll want to see you've been actively searching.

Gig work is tough though because you have to report that income and it can affect future unemployment eligibility.

True but when you're facing eviction, you do what you have to do. Just keep detailed records of everything.

No, you can only collect unemployment in the state where you worked and earned your wage credits. That would be fraud.

Oh okay, never mind then. Just desperate for options here.

That's actually a really good suggestion. Do you know if these programs conflict with job search requirements?

Usually training programs satisfy the job search requirement, but you'd want to confirm that with Washington ESD first.

They'd need federal matching funds for most extensions anyway, and Congress isn't exactly in a cooperative mood these days.

Politics aside, it's frustrating that individual circumstances don't matter when it comes to getting help.

Thanks, I'll definitely call 211. Every little bit helps at this point.

211 connected me with a program that helped with my electric bill when I was between jobs. Definitely worth calling.

I might try that if I need to call Washington ESD about anything else. The regular phone system is absolutely useless.

Same experience here - spent literally hours trying to get through the normal way before finding out about services like that.

Yeah, I figured that was probably the case but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and info.

Good luck with your search! Keep your head up and keep applying. Something will come through.