Will my unemployment benefits be extended past the normal 26 weeks in Washington?

So there's literally nothing after 26 weeks? That's terrifying. I thought there might be some kind of emergency extension program.

The only way to get more benefits is if you've worked enough hours since your claim started to qualify for a new benefit year. You'd need to have earned at least 680 hours of work.

I am registered with WorkSource but haven't heard about any training programs. Are those paid training programs?

Some are! They have programs through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that can pay for training while you're learning new skills. Definitely worth checking out.

Wait, you have to pay someone just to call ESD? That seems sketchy.

I was skeptical too but it actually worked. The regular ESD phone lines are impossible to get through on your own. At least this way I could get real information instead of just guessing.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already broke from being unemployed so long.

I mean, 26 weeks is 6 months. That should be enough time if you're really looking for work.

Tell that to everyone over 50 trying to find work, or people in specialized fields, or anyone dealing with the current job market. 6 months goes by fast when you're competing with hundreds of applicants for every decent position.

I did some gig work and part-time stuff but I don't think it adds up to 680 hours. How do I check that?

you can see your work history in your eServices account under 'view claim details' or something like that. it shows all the wages reported by employers

Good idea. I'll contact my county's social services office and see what they have available.

United Way also has a 211 helpline that can connect you with local resources. Just dial 2-1-1 from any phone.

I have been looking for work! I've applied to probably 200+ jobs. It's not like I've been sitting around doing nothing.

Yeah, that's a really unhelpful comment. Most people on unemployment ARE actively job searching. The problem is there aren't enough good jobs available.

Same here. I've lowered my standards so much just to try to find anything. It's really depressing.

You might want to try that Claimyr service the other person mentioned just to get official confirmation about your options. At least then you'll know for sure what your situation is.

That's good to know. I was worried that working part-time might mess up my claim somehow.

Nope, as long as you report the wages correctly on your weekly claims, part-time work can actually help you in the long run by building up hours for a potential new claim.

Easy to say when you're not the one facing homelessness in a few weeks.

I'm not trying to be harsh, just realistic. The sooner you accept that the benefits will end, the sooner you can make plans for what comes next.

Thanks, I'll look into that. I never thought I'd need to use a food bank but here we are.

There's no shame in getting help when you need it. That's what these programs are for - to help people through tough times.

Yeah I'm seriously considering it at this point. I need to know definitively what my options are.

The not knowing is almost worse than knowing bad news, you know? At least then you can plan accordingly.

Good point. I should apply for that now before my benefits end and I have zero income.

What industries are you talking about? Some sectors are actually hiring a lot right now.

Sure, if you want to work retail or food service for minimum wage. But for professional jobs that actually pay a living wage, it's much harder.

I've done some DoorDash and Uber but it barely covers gas money. The gig economy isn't what it used to be.

I know it's not great pay, but every little bit helps and it does count as work hours for unemployment purposes.

Yeah I'm starting to realize that. It's scary but I need to face reality and figure out my next steps.