What exactly is an unemployment spell? Washington ESD keeps using this term

Ok that makes sense. So if I worked for 2 days last month but then got laid off again, would that break my spell?

Yes, any period of employment technically breaks the spell. But for Washington ESD purposes, they look at your overall benefit year more than individual spells.

Good to know! I'm hoping to get into a retraining program since the restaurant industry seems pretty unstable right now.

I had the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They actually call Washington ESD for you and get you connected to an agent. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

I don't remember the exact cost but it was worth it for me. Saved me hours of calling and actually got my adjudication issue resolved.

Part-time work during unemployment doesn't necessarily reset your spell completely. Washington ESD allows you to work part-time and still collect partial benefits as long as you report your earnings correctly on your weekly claims.

ok good because i was worried i screwed something up. the weekly claim questions are confusing

I hope I don't need to worry about that. Trying to find work as fast as I can but the job market is tough right now.

Keep documenting your job search activities. Washington ESD requires proof of at least 3 job search activities per week, and good records help if they ever audit your claim.

I agree it's confusing at first, but once you learn the terminology it makes more sense. The unemployment system has to be precise about these definitions for legal and administrative reasons.

I guess that makes sense but it sure doesn't help when you're already stressed about money and trying to figure out benefits

That's helpful to know. I'll look into WorkSource programs once I hit the minimum timeframe.

Yes, standby is for temporary layoffs where you expect to be called back to work within a specific timeframe. It has different requirements than regular unemployment benefits.

Wish someone had explained all these different types when I first filed. Would have saved a lot of confusion.

No, your benefit year is still 12 months from when you first filed your claim, regardless of breaks in unemployment. But if you earn enough wages during those 2 months, you might be able to file a new claim with higher weekly benefits.

interesting, thanks. this stuff is way more complicated than i thought it would be

So you can have multiple unemployment spells within one benefit year? I didn't realize that.

Yep, as long as you have weeks of benefits remaining in your benefit year, you can file again after working. Just have to meet the weekly requirements each time.

lol same! like someone cast an unemployment spell on me and now i can't find work

If only there was a magic spell to make Washington ESD answer their phones faster!

I'm seriously considering this. Spent 4 hours on hold yesterday just to get disconnected.

That's exactly why I started using it. The service connects you to an actual Washington ESD agent who can answer questions about unemployment spells, adjudication status, whatever you need to know.

Technically yes, any period of unemployment is a spell regardless of whether you file for benefits. But for Washington ESD purposes, they only track spells when you're actively claiming benefits.

Makes sense. I probably should have filed for those 2 weeks but thought it wasn't worth the hassle.

Hang in there. What field are you in? Maybe someone here has leads or advice.

retail management. seems like every store is either cutting management positions or wants you to work for peanuts

This is so important. I missed one weekly claim filing and it took 3 weeks to get it sorted out with Washington ESD.

Good reminder. I've been pretty good about staying on top of the weekly claims but the job search log is harder to keep organized.

You need to report all income on your weekly claims, including freelance work. As long as you report it correctly and it doesn't put you over the earnings threshold, it shouldn't break your spell or affect your benefits much.

Thanks! I've been reporting everything but wasn't sure about the spell terminology.

I understand the frustration, but these terms exist for legal precision. Each one has a specific meaning that affects how your claim is processed.

i get that but they could at least provide a glossary or something when you first file

Extended benefits depend on the state's unemployment rate and federal programs. Currently there aren't any extended benefit programs active in Washington, but that could change if unemployment rates rise significantly.

Hopefully I'll find something before I need to worry about that. Just good to know what options might exist.

Agreed! Having real people explain these things in plain English makes such a difference.

That's what these forums are for. We've all been through the confusion of navigating the unemployment system, so sharing knowledge helps everyone.

Alright, you've convinced me. Going to try it next time I need to reach them. Thanks for the recommendation!

No problem. The video demo I mentioned earlier really shows how simple it is to use.