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thanks everyone for the info, this is exactly what i needed to know even though it's not what i wanted to hear
UPDATE: I'm going to try that Claimyr service to get through to Washington ESD and ask about my specific situation. Will report back if I learn anything new about extensions or other options.
The bottom line is that regular unemployment in Washington maxes out at 26 weeks. Extensions are rare and usually only happen during major economic downturns. Your best bet is looking into training programs if you want to extend your benefits while learning new skills.
I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. After my 26 weeks ran out, I ended up applying for a WIOA-funded training program through WorkSource for medical coding. It took about 3 weeks to get approved, but once I started the program I was able to get additional financial support that helped bridge the gap. The key is to start the application process early - don't wait until your last week of benefits. Also worth noting that some community colleges have their own workforce development grants that can provide income support during training. Definitely explore all your options because once those 26 weeks are done, there's no going back to regular UI unless you work enough to requalify.
Final reminder for anyone reading this - make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' vs 'standby' status. If you're laid off temporarily and expecting to return to the same job, you might qualify for standby which has different job search requirements.
Hey there! I'm in a similar situation and have been researching Washington ESD benefits. Based on everything I've read here, it looks like you'd be looking at around $400-450 per week with your $800 weekly wages. The formula is pretty straightforward: they take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385. Just make sure to file your weekly claims right away even while waiting for approval, and definitely register with WorkSourceWA for the job search requirements. Good luck if you end up needing to file!
This is such a helpful summary! I've been following this thread as someone who might need to file soon too. The $400-450 range seems to be the consensus for someone making $800/week. One thing I'm still confused about though - do they use your actual weekly wages or do they calculate everything based on quarterly totals? Like if I had some weeks with overtime that pushed me over $800, would that help my benefit amount?
I just went through this exact same situation! Filed my claim about 2 weeks ago and was constantly refreshing my account trying to figure out if I was approved. What finally clued me in was when I logged in one morning and suddenly saw a "File Weekly Claim" button that wasn't there before, plus my weekly benefit amount showed up under the claim summary section. That's basically Washington ESD's way of telling you you're approved without actually saying it directly. The determination letter came in the mail about 3 days later confirming everything. If you can see your weekly benefit amount ($421 sounds right for approval!) and can file weekly claims, you're definitely good to go. Just make sure to file those weekly claims every Sunday - that's when the money actually starts flowing!
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really reassuring to hear. I've been checking my account obsessively and was starting to worry something was wrong. The "File Weekly Claim" button appearing sounds like the key indicator I should watch for. Did you get your first payment pretty quickly after filing your first weekly claim?
Yes, once I filed my first weekly claim on Sunday, I got the payment deposited into my account the following Wednesday. Washington ESD is usually pretty quick with direct deposit - just make sure you have that set up! The key is being consistent with filing every single week. I almost missed my second week because I thought I could skip it since I hadn't heard back about a job interview, but thankfully someone on here warned me that you can't miss any weeks or you lose those benefits permanently.
I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim about a week ago and have been anxiously checking my account multiple times a day! This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding what to look for. Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like the key indicators are: 1) seeing your weekly benefit amount appear in the claim summary, 2) being able to file weekly claims, and 3) getting that official determination letter in the mail. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're already dealing with unemployment, but it's reassuring to know that most straightforward claims get approved within 2-3 weeks. I'm going to stop obsessively checking my account and just be patient - though I'll definitely keep an eye out for that "File Weekly Claim" button to appear!
You're absolutely right about those key indicators! I'm actually in the same boat as you - filed my claim about 8 days ago and have been refreshing my account way too much. Reading through this whole thread has really helped calm my nerves though. It sounds like as long as we don't see any red flags or adjudication notices, we should be fine. The hardest part is definitely just waiting it out when you're already stressed about being unemployed. Good luck with your claim - hopefully we both see those weekly benefit amounts show up soon!
Arjun Kurti
@profile8 - There are different teams handling different types of appeals, but they all fall under the broader Appeals Implementation Unit. The routing happens internally based on the appeal decision code. That's why it's important to reference your specific appeal decision number when contacting ESD - it helps get your inquiry to the right specialized team. @profile4 - Glad to hear your account updated! That's pretty close to the typical timeframe. For anyone else reading this thread in the future, the 10-15 business day window seems to be fairly standard for appeal implementations in 2025.
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AaliyahAli
•Thanks everyone for all your help and advice! The payments have now all processed and I received the full backpay amount for the 13 weeks I was waiting. Such a huge relief after months of stress. For anyone else going through this - just keep filing those weekly claims and be patient (though I know that's easier said than done when you're desperate for funds).
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Liam McGuire
Congratulations on winning your appeal! I went through something similar last year and the waiting after getting the decision letter is honestly almost as stressful as waiting for the appeal itself. From what I've seen in this community, 2-3 weeks seems to be the norm for ESD to update everything in their system after an appeal win. The secure message approach that others mentioned here is definitely worth trying - I had good luck with that when I was in your shoes. Just make sure to keep filing those weekly claims religiously because once it all processes, you'll get every penny you're owed. Hang in there, you're so close to the finish line!
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