What happens when my Washington ESD unemployment runs out - need to know my options
My regular UI benefits are going to run out in about 3 weeks and I'm getting really anxious about what comes next. I've been collecting for about 22 weeks now and Washington ESD hasn't said anything about extensions or what I should expect. I'm still actively job searching but the market is tough in my field (IT). Does anyone know if there are any extended benefits available right now? Or do I just fall off a cliff when my 26 weeks are up? I really can't afford to lose this income right now.
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Jamal Carter
Unfortunately there aren't any federal extensions available right now like there were during COVID. Regular UI in Washington is 26 weeks maximum. Once that's exhausted, you'd need to look into other options like SNAP benefits, local assistance programs, or see if you qualify for any state-specific programs.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•That's what I was afraid of. Are there any other Washington state programs I should look into?
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Jamal Carter
•You might qualify for WorkFirst if you meet income requirements, or check with DSHS for other assistance programs.
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Mei Liu
Same boat here, mine runs out next month. Been trying to call Washington ESD to confirm but can never get through. The phone system is absolutely terrible.
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Liam O'Donnell
•Try calling right at 8am when they open, that's usually your best bet for getting through to someone.
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Mei Liu
•I've tried that so many times! Either busy signal or I get disconnected after waiting for an hour.
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Amara Nwosu
If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I had success using Claimyr recently. It's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents - they have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get answers about my claim status.
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Mei Liu
•Is that legit? I'm so desperate at this point I'll try anything to talk to someone at Washington ESD.
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Amara Nwosu
•Yeah it's real, they basically handle the calling and waiting for you. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through myself.
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AstroExplorer
•Interesting, never heard of that before. How much does something like that cost?
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Amara Nwosu
•I'd rather pay something reasonable than waste entire days trying to get through on my own. The peace of mind was worth it for me.
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Giovanni Moretti
you need to file a new claim if you worked enough in the past year. sometimes you can get a second benefit year if you earned enough wages since your original claim started
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•I haven't worked at all since I started collecting though. Would I still be eligible for a new claim?
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Jamal Carter
•No, you need qualifying wages in your base period to establish a new claim. If you haven't worked, you won't have enough wages.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
This is exactly why the unemployment system is broken! 26 weeks isn't enough time to find decent work, especially in specialized fields. We're basically being thrown to the wolves after 6 months.
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Dylan Cooper
•I agree it's frustrating but that's been the standard for decades. At least we have 26 weeks, some states only give 12-16 weeks.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
•That doesn't make it right though. People need more time, especially when the job market is terrible like it is now.
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Liam O'Donnell
Make sure you're documenting all your job search activities thoroughly. If you do exhaust benefits and later become eligible again, Washington ESD will want to see that you were actively looking for work during the gap period.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Good point, I've been keeping my job search log updated in the system. Should I keep doing that even after benefits end?
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Liam O'Donnell
•Yes, definitely keep documenting everything. It shows good faith effort and protects you if you need to file again later.
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Sofia Perez
Have you looked into temp agencies? Sometimes that can bridge the gap while you're looking for permanent work. At least it's some income coming in.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•I've registered with a few but haven't had much luck. Most temp work in IT requires security clearances I don't have.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•What about contract work through platforms like Upwork? Not ideal but might help pay some bills.
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ElectricDreamer
Wait, can't you apply for Extended Benefits (EB) when regular UI runs out? I thought that was still a thing.
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Jamal Carter
•EB only triggers when unemployment rates hit certain thresholds. Washington state isn't currently in an EB period.
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ElectricDreamer
•Oh, I didn't realize it was based on unemployment rates. Thanks for clarifying.
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Ava Johnson
I went through this last year. Once my benefits ended, I had to get really creative with side hustles and gig work. It's tough but you can make it work if you hustle hard enough.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•What kind of gig work did you find? I'm open to anything at this point.
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Ava Johnson
•Food delivery, some freelance writing, odd jobs from Craigslist. Not glamorous but it kept me afloat until I found full-time work again.
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Miguel Diaz
THIS IS WHY I HATE THE SYSTEM! They make us jump through hoops for 6 months then just cut us off like we don't matter. Meanwhile politicians get their paychecks no matter what.
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Zainab Ahmed
•I get the frustration but unemployment was never meant to be permanent. It's supposed to be temporary assistance while you find work.
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Miguel Diaz
•Easy to say when you're not the one facing homelessness after 26 weeks!
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Connor Byrne
Check with local nonprofits and churches too. Many have emergency assistance programs that can help with rent, utilities, food, etc. while you're between benefits and finding work.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•That's a good idea, I hadn't thought about local assistance programs. I'll start researching what's available in my area.
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Yara Abboud
Don't forget about COBRA for health insurance if you lose coverage when benefits end. It's expensive but better than having no insurance at all.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Yeah I'm worried about that too. Healthcare costs are insane without insurance.
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PixelPioneer
•Look into Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) too. You might qualify for coverage based on your income situation.
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Keisha Williams
I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I needed to talk to Washington ESD about my benefit calculation. Really saved me time and frustration. The system is so hard to navigate on your own.
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Paolo Rizzo
•Good to hear another positive review. I'm definitely going to check that out before my benefits run out.
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Amina Sy
Are you networking in your field? Sometimes the best opportunities come from connections rather than job boards. LinkedIn, professional associations, former colleagues, etc.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•I've been trying but a lot of people in my network are also struggling to find work. The IT market is really saturated right now.
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Oliver Fischer
•Have you considered expanding into related fields? Sometimes transferable skills can open up new opportunities.
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Natasha Ivanova
Just want to say hang in there. I know it's scary when benefits are about to end but you'll figure it out. Most people do, even though it feels impossible right now.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Thanks, I really needed to hear that. Some days it feels hopeless but I'm trying to stay positive.
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NebulaNomad
Consider reaching out to Washington ESD about any retraining programs they might have. Sometimes they offer vocational training or skills development programs that can help you transition to a different field.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•That's actually a really good suggestion. I hadn't thought about retraining programs. Do you know how to find information about those?
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NebulaNomad
•Check the WorkSourceWA website or contact your local WorkSource office. They have information about training programs and sometimes help with funding.
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Javier Garcia
Also look into food banks and community resources now, before you really need them. It's better to know what's available ahead of time rather than scrambling when you're desperate.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Good advice. I've been too proud to look into food assistance but I might not have a choice soon.
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Emma Taylor
•There's no shame in getting help when you need it. That's what these programs are for.
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Malik Robinson
If you do find work after benefits end, even part-time or temporary, make sure to report it properly if you ever need to file for unemployment again. Washington ESD tracks everything.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Will do. I've been careful to report everything accurately throughout this whole process.
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Isabella Silva
One more thing - if you end up needing to file a new claim later and had issues with your previous claim, that Claimyr service might be helpful for getting those resolved quickly with Washington ESD.
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Ravi Choudhury
•Yeah, dealing with Washington ESD phone system is nightmare fuel. Any service that can help with that is probably worth it.
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CosmosCaptain
Update us on what happens when your benefits end. I'm in a similar situation and would like to know how it goes for you.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
•Will do. Hopefully I'll find work before then but if not, I'll let everyone know what the transition is like.
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