Washington ESD unemployment benefits ended - what options do I have now?

Unfortunately Washington state doesn't offer extended benefits right now since unemployment rates aren't high enough to trigger them. Your regular UI benefits are done after 26 weeks unless there's some special federal program active, which there isn't currently.

same thing happened to me 2 months ago, benefits ended and thats it. i had to scramble to find ANY job just to pay rent

Have you considered reaching out to Washington ESD directly to discuss your situation? Sometimes there are programs or resources they don't widely advertise. I had success getting through to them using Claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you actually reach a human agent instead of sitting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

You should also look into retraining programs. Washington has some workforce development funding that might help you learn new skills while you're job searching. WorkSource should have information about this.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM!! They make you jump through hoops for 26 weeks then just cut you off like you don't matter anymore. Meanwhile politicians get their full salaries and benefits no matter what.

Check if you're eligible for any trade adjustment assistance programs if your job loss was due to foreign trade impacts. It's a long shot but worth checking.

also make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even after benefits end, just in case something changes or they find an error that extends your claim

I mentioned Claimyr earlier - just wanted to add that when I used their service, the agent I spoke with gave me information about programs I didn't even know existed. Sometimes the phone representatives have access to more current information than what's posted online.

Have you looked into temporary agencies? They're not ideal but can bridge the gap while you keep looking for permanent work.

My sister went through this last year. She ended up doing gig work like DoorDash and Uber while job hunting. Not great money but kept some income coming in.

Contact 211 - they can connect you with local resources for food, housing assistance, utility help, etc. It's not unemployment benefits but can help with immediate needs.

One more thing - make sure Washington ESD didn't make any errors in calculating your benefit weeks. I've seen cases where people thought they exhausted benefits but there was actually a calculation error that gave them additional weeks.

i hate to say it but you might need to take whatever job you can get even if its not ideal. my unemployment ended 3 months ago and i took a retail job that pays way less but at least its something

Look into your local community college for short-term certificate programs. Some have rapid retraining for in-demand fields and may have financial assistance.

Don't give up! The job market is still recovering and it's taking longer for everyone to find work. Keep networking and applying - something will come through.

Update on the Claimyr suggestion - I just realized they might also be able to help you verify if there are any programs you missed or if your benefits calculation was correct. Worth the call just to make sure you've explored every option with Washington ESD before moving on to other resources.

Check with your city and county too - some have emergency assistance programs for people who've exhausted unemployment benefits. Every area is different but worth looking into.

Been following this thread because I'm in week 24 and getting nervous about what happens next. Thanks everyone for the suggestions - taking notes for when my time comes.

Final thought - document everything as you go through this process. If you do find work later and something happens again, you'll have a better roadmap of resources and contacts.

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. I have a lot of leads to follow up on now. I'll try the Claimyr service first to make sure I haven't missed anything with Washington ESD, then start exploring the other programs people mentioned. This thread has been incredibly helpful.