Washington ESD unemployment benefits - how long can you get them?

Thank you! That's reassuring. I was worried it might be shorter since I've never filed before.

Yep, 26 weeks is standard. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims every week and do your job search activities or they'll cut you off early.

How do I find out what my base period wages were? Is that something I can see on my Washington ESD account?

Yes, once your claim is processed you can see your base period wages and benefit duration on your Washington ESD account dashboard. It usually takes a few days after filing to show up.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by phone. They handle all the calling and waiting for you. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost and do you have to give them all your personal info?

It's actually pretty straightforward - you don't need to share sensitive info with them. They just help you get connected to the right Washington ESD agent so you can ask your questions directly.

I understand the frustration, but 26 weeks is actually pretty standard across most states. Some states do offer extended benefits during high unemployment periods, but that's rare.

Well it's not enough. I'm already 4 months in and still haven't found anything that pays close to what I was making before.

Have you been documenting your job search activities? Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week to keep your benefits going.

Generally no, you can't get unemployment if you quit voluntarily. There are some exceptions for 'good cause' like unsafe working conditions or harassment, but those are rare and hard to prove.

Oh okay, that makes sense. I was just curious because my friend quit her job and was talking about filing.

Your friend might be confused or have a special situation. Most voluntary quits result in disqualification from benefits.

It depends on how long you worked and how much you earned at the new job. You might be able to file a new claim if you worked enough to establish a new base period, or you might be able to reopen your old claim if it hasn't expired.

That's confusing. How do you know which option is better?

Washington ESD will automatically determine which option gives you the higher benefit amount. You don't have to choose - they'll pick the best one for you.

There used to be federal extended benefits programs, but those ended after the pandemic. Right now, 26 weeks is the maximum unless Congress creates a new extension program.

That's what I was afraid of. Guess I need to step up my job search efforts.

Have you looked into WorkSource Washington? They have job placement services and training programs that might help you find something before your benefits run out.

The appeal process doesn't change your total benefit duration. If you win your appeal, you'll still get the same 26 weeks (or whatever your calculated duration is), but you might get back pay for the weeks you were denied.

Good to know. My appeal hearing is next week and I was worried about losing time.

Yes, unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have 10% federal tax withheld from your weekly payments, or you can pay the taxes when you file your return.

Ugh, I wish someone had told me that earlier. I haven't been having taxes withheld.

You can change your withholding election in your Washington ESD account if you want to start having taxes taken out now.

How did you finally get it resolved? I'm dealing with the same issue right now.

I had to call Washington ESD and explain what happened. Took multiple tries to get through, but they eventually removed the hold after I provided documentation of my job search activities.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. I couldn't get through to Washington ESD on my own when I had a similar problem. They got me connected within a few hours and I was able to explain my situation directly to an agent.

Thanks for the reassurance! I'm feeling much better about this whole process now.

Yeah, 26 weeks should give you plenty of time to find something good. Don't rush into the first job offer if it's not right for you.

That's a good point. I didn't know about the 52-week benefit year rule.

Yeah, it's one of those details that Washington ESD doesn't explain very clearly. The 26 weeks is how long you can actually collect benefits, but the benefit year is longer.

They use your earnings from the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. So if you filed in 2025, they'd look at your 2024 Q1-Q4 earnings first. If you don't qualify with those quarters, they can use an alternate base period.

Okay, that makes sense. I think my 2024 earnings should be sufficient.

Part-time work can actually extend your benefit duration in some cases. If you work part-time and earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you might still get partial benefits, and those partial weeks don't count against your 26-week maximum.

That's actually really helpful to know. I was worried about taking a part-time job because I thought it would reduce my total benefits.

Just make sure you report all your earnings when you file your weekly claims. Washington ESD has formulas for calculating partial benefits, and it's usually worth it to work part-time if you can find something.

Standby is for people who expect to return to their job within a specific timeframe, usually seasonal workers or temporary layoffs. You still get benefits for the same duration, but you don't have to do job search activities since you're expected to return to your employer.

Ah, that doesn't apply to me then. My layoff is permanent.

Yeah, I'm feeling much more confident about this now too. It's nice to know there are people here who actually understand the system.

This thread should be pinned or something. Lots of good information here about Washington ESD benefit duration.

How exactly does that work? Do they just call for you or what?

They handle all the calling and waiting in the queue. When they get through to a Washington ESD agent, they connect you so you can ask your questions directly. Check out their demo video - it explains the whole process.

I can vouch for this. Used them twice now and both times got connected within a few hours. Way better than spending all day redialing Washington ESD's busy phone lines.