What happens after Washington ESD unemployment benefits run out - next steps?

Unfortunately there aren't any federal extensions right now like there were during COVID. Once your regular 26 weeks of UI benefits end, that's generally it unless Washington state has specific programs. You'll want to contact Washington ESD directly to see what options might be available.

You might want to look into other assistance programs while you're still getting benefits. Things like SNAP, housing assistance, utility help. Also make sure you're registered with WorkSourceWA if you aren't already - they have job training programs that might help.

I went through this last year and honestly, I had to get creative with gig work and part-time jobs to make ends meet. It's tough but there are options if you're willing to piece things together temporarily.

If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your options, I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent. They have this system that calls for you and waits on hold. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth trying since the phone lines are impossible otherwise.

Check if Washington has any state-specific extended benefits. Some states trigger extended benefits when unemployment rates are high enough, but it depends on the current economic conditions.

this happened to my brother last year and he was screwed basically. no extensions, no extra help, nothing. the system just drops you

One thing to remember is that even after regular benefits end, you can still file a new claim if you've worked enough since your last claim started. But you'd need to meet the earnings requirements again.

The job market is brutal right now. I've been looking for 8 months and my benefits ran out 2 months ago. It's really rough out there, especially in certain industries.

Don't forget about local resources too - food banks, community assistance programs, churches sometimes have emergency funds. It's not unemployment benefits but it can help bridge the gap.

I used Claimyr too when I needed to talk to Washington ESD about my benefit calculations. Worth every penny to actually reach someone who could explain my options instead of guessing what would happen next.

Look into disaster unemployment assistance if there have been any declared disasters in Washington recently. Sometimes those programs have different eligibility rules.

Whatever you do, don't stop applying for jobs. Even if benefits end, you want to show continuous job search effort in case any programs open up later.

The whole system is designed to fail people. 26 weeks isn't enough time to find decent work in this economy, especially if you're being picky about salary and benefits.

consider temp agencies if you haven't already. not ideal but it's income and sometimes temp jobs turn permanent

I'm in week 24 of my benefits so this thread is really helpful. Sounds like I need to start preparing for the worst case scenario.

Check with local workforce development boards too. They sometimes have emergency assistance or know about programs that aren't widely advertised.

The reality is that most people have to figure out survival mode after benefits end. It sucks but you're not alone in this situation.

Update us on what you find out when you contact Washington ESD. I'm sure others in this thread would benefit from knowing what options are actually available.

Just remember that even if regular benefits end, keep filing your weekly claims until you're officially told to stop. Sometimes there are delays in processing extensions if they become available.

I'm in a similar situation - my benefits end in about 5 weeks and I'm really worried about what happens next. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's responses, it sounds like Washington doesn't have automatic extensions right now, but there might be some state-specific programs depending on unemployment rates. The suggestion about using Claimyr to actually get through to someone at ESD seems really helpful since so many people are having trouble reaching them by phone. I'm also going to look into those WorkSource training programs and start researching local assistance options now rather than waiting until the last minute. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's scary but at least we're not going through this alone.