Will unemployment be extended again in Washington - any updates from Washington ESD?

That's what I was afraid of. I've been doing the WorkSource job search stuff but the market is just brutal right now.

Have you tried contacting Washington ESD directly to ask about any upcoming programs? Sometimes they have info that isn't widely publicized yet.

OMG yes, the communication from Washington ESD during the pandemic was terrible. I waited months just to get basic info about my claim status.

If you need to get through to Washington ESD for current info about your claim or any potential programs, I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you reach agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

That makes sense but it's still frustrating. The job market might not be pandemic-bad but it's still really tough out there.

You should also check if you qualify for any other programs like SNAP or housing assistance while you're still looking. Don't wait until your UI runs out completely.

You're thinking of Extended Benefits (EB) which can trigger automatically, but Washington's unemployment rate hasn't been high enough to trigger that program. EB requires specific federal criteria to be met.

oh ok thanks for clarifying. so we're basically stuck with just the regular 26 weeks then

Good luck getting through to them on the phone! I've been trying for weeks just to resolve an issue with my weekly claim.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it actually works for getting through to Washington ESD agents. Worth trying if you really need to speak with someone about your specific situation.

I tried calling last week and sat on hold for 3 hours before giving up. The system is still a mess.

That's not entirely accurate - states can use their own funds to extend benefits, but it's extremely rare because of the cost. Most states wait for federal programs.

You're right, technically they could, but politically and financially it's not likely to happen in Washington right now.

Exactly! Even if the answer is no, I'd rather know so I can plan accordingly.

Keep checking the Washington ESD website and their news releases. If anything changes, that's where they'll announce it first.

What kind of backup plan do you recommend? I'm trying to think through all my options.

Look into other assistance programs, consider temp work even if it's not ideal, maybe talk to family about support. Just don't wait until the last minute to explore options.

Also make sure you're documenting ALL your job search activities properly. If there are any changes to requirements or if Extended Benefits do trigger, you want your records to be perfect.

True, but I'd still rather have messed up extended benefits than no benefits at all!

Fair point about the implementation issues, but complaining doesn't help us figure out what's actually going to happen.

That's a great idea! I hadn't thought about contacting my state legislators about this.

Legislative staff are usually pretty responsive to constituent questions about unemployment issues. Worth a try.

I feel you on the anxiety. Try to focus on what you can control - your job search activities and exploring other resources.

If you need to get definitive answers about your claim status or any programs you might qualify for, seriously consider using Claimyr to actually reach a Washington ESD agent. Sometimes getting direct info from them is better than speculating.

That's disappointing but I appreciate the inside perspective. What kind of training programs are they focusing on?

Mostly tech skills, healthcare support roles, and green energy jobs. Check WorkSourceWA for current training opportunities that might help your job search.

Good point - regular UI claimants, gig workers, and self-employed people all had different programs with different rules.

And some of those programs were a nightmare to navigate. I'd almost prefer clearer information about regular UI limits than dealing with complex extension programs.

That's a really good question. The pandemic depleted a lot of state unemployment funds, and I'm not sure how well Washington has recovered.

From what I understand, Washington's fund is in better shape than many states, but still not at pre-pandemic levels. That could definitely factor into any extension decisions.

Same here. I'm trying to decide whether to take a part-time job that might interfere with my UI benefits, but I can't make that choice without knowing if extensions are coming.

Remember that part-time work might actually be beneficial even with UI - you can often still collect partial benefits while working part-time, and it shows continued job search effort.

This thread has been really helpful for getting different perspectives. At least we're not dealing with this uncertainty alone.

Agreed. Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I'll keep monitoring the situation and update if I hear anything definitive.

And remember, if you do need to contact Washington ESD for any reason related to your claims, Claimyr can save you a lot of frustration with their phone system. Good luck everyone!