Washington ESD unemployment is exhausted now what - next steps?

I don't see anything about Extended Benefits in my account. How do I know if Washington state qualifies for EB right now?

Washington ESD posts EB trigger information on their website. The state has to meet specific unemployment rate thresholds. If we don't qualify for EB, there's unfortunately no other unemployment extension program right now.

I had success getting through to Washington ESD using Claimyr - it's a service that helps you reach agents by phone. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and the site is claimyr.com. Really helped me get answers about my claim status when I couldn't get through normally.

never heard of that before, does it actually work? ive been trying to call for weeks

Yeah it worked for me. I was able to speak with someone about my adjudication issue that had been pending forever. Worth trying if you're stuck.

What kind of job training programs? I've been looking for work in my field but maybe I need to consider something different.

WorkSource offers various training programs including apprenticeships, vocational training, and skills development. Some programs even provide financial assistance while you're training.

I never thought about TANF. Do you know if there are income limits or other requirements?

TANF has strict requirements including asset limits and work requirements. But it might provide some temporary cash assistance while you're job searching.

Extended Benefits are actually a federal program triggered by state unemployment rates. It's not really up to individual states to create their own versions.

Still doesn't help people who are struggling to find work through no fault of their own. The whole system needs an overhaul.

Glad you got through! Did they mention anything else about other resources or programs?

they mentioned worksource for job training but thats about it. mostly just confirmed what we already suspected about no more ui benefits

I've thought about that but wasn't sure if doing gig work would affect any future unemployment claims if I needed to file again.

Gig work income would count as wages if you needed to file a new claim later, but right now you don't have active benefits anyway so it shouldn't matter.

Good point, I haven't been keeping as detailed records since my benefits stopped. I should start doing that again.

I hadn't thought of that. I'm not really religious but if they help people regardless that could be worth looking into.

Most community assistance programs don't require you to be a member or attend services. They're usually just focused on helping people in need.

Yes I'm on Apple Health right now. I need to make sure that continues. Thanks for the reminder.

How much would I need to earn to qualify for a new claim? Is there a minimum amount of wages required?

Washington requires you to earn at least $7,000 in wages during your base period to qualify for UI. The exact requirements depend on when you work and when you file.

That's a great suggestion. I've been doing all my job searching from home but getting out and using different resources might help.

Good warning. I haven't seen any of those yet but I'll keep an eye out.

I've been applying for remote positions but haven't had much luck yet. The competition seems really fierce for those jobs.

I've been hesitant to reach out to old colleagues because I feel embarrassed about being unemployed for so long. But you're probably right.

dont be embarrassed, lots of people are in similar situations. most people are happy to help if they can

How much does something like that cost? Seems like it could be expensive when you're already out of money.

I found it worth it considering how much time I was wasting trying to get through on my own. Sometimes you need to spend a little to get the information you need.

Good luck! Make sure to ask about any financial assistance they might offer during training programs.

Hope things work out for you. Keep us posted on how the WorkSource visit goes.

I'll look into that. At this point I need to explore every option available.

Thank you for the encouragement. Some days it's really hard to stay motivated but I have to keep trying.

That's amazing! How long is the program and what kind of healthcare training?

its a medical assistant program, takes about 6 months. they help with job placement after too. really seems like a good opportunity

I'm definitely going to look into that. Healthcare seems like a stable field with good job prospects.