What happens when unemployment balance runs out - Washington ESD options?

That's a relief! Do you know if EB is currently available in Washington? I haven't seen anything about it on the ESD website.

EB availability depends on the state's unemployment rate. You can check the current status on the Washington ESD website under the Extended Benefits section.

That's what I'm afraid of. Did you ever find work or did you have to reapply for benefits later?

found a temp job after about 2 months of nothing. then when that ended i had enough earnings to qualify for a new claim

Thanks for the tip! How much does something like that cost?

I'd rather not get into pricing here, but for me it was worth it to actually talk to someone who could explain my specific situation instead of guessing from the website.

I've heard good things about that service too. When you're dealing with benefit exhaustion, it's crucial to get accurate info directly from ESD.

I've been continuing to file weekly - good to know that's the right thing to do!

Yes this is critical! I made the mistake of stopping my weekly claims when I had like $200 left and it messed up my eligibility for extensions.

I haven't worked at all during my unemployment period, so I don't think I'd have enough earnings for a new claim.

In that case, extensions would be your only option if they're available. The good news is extended benefits use the same weekly benefit amount as your original claim.

That's reassuring. I'm trying not to stress too much but it's hard when you're watching that balance tick down.

I totally get the anxiety. Been watching my balance for weeks now too. At least we're not alone in this situation.

I'll check that out - having an exact date would help me plan better.

That calculator is really helpful. Just remember it assumes you'll keep getting your full weekly amount, so factor in any part-time work that might reduce your payments.

They usually do send notices about extensions, but sometimes they come later than people expect. If you're worried, you can always call to ask about your specific situation.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr - trying to get through to ESD by normal methods was impossible. At least with their service I could get real answers about my benefits timeline.

Good point - I've been keeping up with my job search log anyway since I actually want to find work.

Yes! And make sure to keep documenting everything in WorkSourceWA. They can audit your job search activities at any time.

Thank you for sharing that. It's good to hear from someone who's been through it, even if it wasn't easy.

Stories like this remind me how important it is to have some kind of emergency savings even when money is tight.

That's a good idea. I should probably be using all the resources available to me anyway.

WorkSource can also help with training programs that might make you more employable. Some of them even come with financial assistance.

Oh no, I hadn't thought about a gap in payments. How long could that be?

Usually just a week or two while they process the extension, but it varies. That's why it's good to plan ahead financially if possible.

Absolutely. I'm going to make sure I get official information rather than just worrying based on what I think might happen.

Smart approach. Getting accurate information from ESD directly is always better than trying to figure it out from forums or outdated websites.

I was skeptical too, but after spending literally days trying to get through to ESD on my own, it was worth it for me. Sometimes you need to weigh your time and stress against the cost.

I used it once when I had an urgent adjudication issue. Worked exactly as advertised - got connected to an actual ESD agent who could access my account.