What happens after unemployment runs out in Washington state?

When your regular UI benefits exhaust, you'll get a notice from Washington ESD explaining your options. Extended Benefits (EB) are only available during high unemployment periods and they're not active right now in Washington. Your main options are reapplying if you've worked enough since your original claim or looking into other assistance programs like SNAP or temporary assistance.

I went through this last year. Once your benefits end, you'll need to file a new initial claim if you've worked at all during your benefit year. Even part-time or temporary work can help you qualify for a new claim with a lower weekly benefit amount.

Honestly, trying to get through to Washington ESD to check your wage credits or ask about new claim eligibility is a nightmare. I spent weeks trying to call them. Finally found out about Claimyr.com which actually got me connected to an agent in like 30 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me so much time and frustration.

same boat here, benefits ending soon and no job yet. this economy is brutal

Check with DSHS for other assistance programs. When my UI ran out, I was able to get food assistance and basic food benefits while I kept looking for work. Also look into local food banks and utility assistance programs - they don't require you to be on unemployment to qualify.

The system is so messed up. They make it nearly impossible to get help when you need it most. I've been trying to figure out if I can get a new claim for weeks and can't get anyone on the phone at Washington ESD.

Also want to mention - if you do qualify for a new claim, your weekly benefit amount will likely be lower since it's based on your more recent earnings. And you'll have to serve a new waiting week. Just so you know what to expect.

I'm in the same situation but trying to stay positive. I've been using this time to take some free online courses and update my skills. WorkSourceWA has some good resources too.

One thing to watch out for - don't let your claim just expire without doing anything. Even if you don't qualify for a new claim right away, you want to keep your account active in case Extended Benefits become available later.

Check your benefit year end date carefully. Sometimes people think their benefits are exhausted when they actually just need to file a new benefit year. The dates can be confusing.

Don't forget about the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program. Even after benefits end, you might be able to get job search assistance through WorkSource.

I was in this exact situation 6 months ago. Had to swallow my pride and move back in with family temporarily. It's tough but sometimes you have to make hard choices while you figure out your next steps.

Make sure you're also looking into local emergency assistance programs. Many counties have rental assistance and utility help that can bridge the gap while you transition off unemployment.

The scariest part is losing health insurance when benefits end. Make sure you understand your COBRA options or look into Apple Health (Medicaid) if your income is low enough.

I've been helping my neighbor deal with this same issue. She finally got through to Washington ESD using some service called Claimyr that handles the phone calls for you. Might be worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your options.

One more thing - if you do any freelance or gig work while trying to find full-time employment, make sure you report it properly. It might help you qualify for a new claim later.

The whole thing is just depressing. I never imagined I'd be in this situation at my age. But I guess we just have to keep pushing forward and exploring every option.

Just want to add - document everything. Keep records of all your job search activities, any wages you earned, and all communications with Washington ESD. You never know when you'll need that information.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. This thread has given me a lot to think about and some concrete steps to take. At least I feel like I have a better understanding of my options now.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - my benefits are set to end in about 3 weeks and I'm terrified. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening. I had no idea about some of these options like applying for SNAP or checking into county assistance programs. The Claimyr service sounds like it might be worth trying too since I've been completely unable to get through to anyone at Washington ESD to ask about my wage credits. It's scary how little support there seems to be once regular UI runs out, but at least now I have some concrete steps I can take instead of just panicking. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it helps to know I'm not alone in this.