What happens after my Washington ESD unemployment runs out - need to know my options

That's what I was afraid of. So there's literally nothing else through Washington ESD after the 26 weeks?

Correct. The extended benefit programs from COVID are long over. Your best bet is to really ramp up the job search and look into other state assistance programs.

How long did it take to get approved for SNAP? I should probably start that process now.

took about 2 weeks for me, but start online at washington connection, it's faster than going in person

Yeah I've been doing my 3 job searches per week and logging them. WorkSource has been helpful but haven't found much through them yet.

Good, keep doing that even after benefits end. And consider their training programs - some are paid training that could lead to better job prospects.

What did the agent tell you about extensions? Was there anything you weren't aware of?

They confirmed no extensions available, but helped me understand the timeline for reapplying if I work again and earn enough wages. Also got info about training programs that might qualify for different benefits.

Never heard of Claimyr but might be worth trying. I've been calling Washington ESD for weeks about my own situation and can never get through.

That's a good point about partial benefits. Do you know what the earnings limit is for that?

It's complicated but generally if you earn less than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you might still qualify for partial payments. You'd need to report all earnings though.

I understand the frustration, but Washington actually has better unemployment benefits than many states. The maximum weekly amount is higher than most places.

Higher weekly amount doesn't help when it just STOPS after 26 weeks and there's no extensions available!

I'm in marketing/communications. Been applying everywhere but the market seems pretty competitive right now.

check out the seattle startup scene, lots of marketing roles opening up lately. also remote work has opened up more options

Good call on medical assistance. I've been worried about losing my Apple Health coverage too.

Apple Health eligibility is separate from unemployment, based on income. You might actually qualify for longer since your unemployment income is ending.

I haven't heard of WIOA. Is that through Washington ESD or a different agency?

It's federal funding administered through WorkSource offices. You'd need to meet with a counselor to see if you qualify, but it can cover tuition and living expenses during training.

That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person who can explain your specific situation.

might have to try that, the automated system is useless for real questions

You're absolutely right. I think I've been too picky about positions. Time to cast a wider net.

Exactly. Sometimes you have to take something to bridge the gap while continuing to look for your ideal position.

That's discouraging but I appreciate the honesty. How are you managing financially?

Combination of savings, food banks, help from family, and some odd jobs here and there. It's not sustainable long-term though.

I'm in Spokane - I'll look into what they have available locally.

Spokane has some good programs through the city and through Community Action Partnership. Worth checking out.

Wow, I had no idea about that formula. That's helpful to know for planning.

yeah it's not widely advertised but important to understand. means you can't just work a few weeks and get back on unemployment

That's a great suggestion. Might actually lead to job opportunities too.

Exactly! Some of the best jobs come through connections you make while volunteering.

I'll look into that as a last resort option. How much does General Assistance typically provide?

It's pretty minimal, like $200-300 per month, but every bit helps when you're facing zero income.

Thank you for mentioning that. The stress is definitely getting to me and affecting my job search motivation.

Many community health centers offer sliding scale mental health services. Taking care of your mental health is crucial during job searching.

A few people have mentioned that service now. Might be worth trying since I keep getting conflicting information elsewhere.

Yeah, sometimes paying for clarity is better than spending weeks confused and stressed about what's going to happen.

Good advice. I'll keep better records of everything moving forward.

You never know when Congress might pass new assistance programs, and having documentation ready makes the application process smoother.

This is really helpful advice, thank you. I especially appreciate the reminder about reaching out to personal connections - I've been so focused on online applications that I haven't been leveraging my network enough. Did you find that taking any work while continuing to search was manageable, or did it make the job search harder to maintain?

Taking part-time or temp work actually helped my job search in some ways - it kept me in a routine, gave me recent work experience to talk about in interviews, and reduced the financial stress that was making me desperate in interviews. The key is being strategic about scheduling - I tried to take positions with flexible hours or work that didn't conflict with interview opportunities. It's definitely more challenging to manage both, but the mental health benefits of having some income and purpose made it worth it for me.