Don't give up hope! I was in your exact situation about 8 months ago. Here's what saved me: I immediately enrolled in a medical coding certification program through my local community college that was approved for Worker Retraining benefits. Not only did I get to continue receiving unemployment payments while training, but the program was completely free except for textbooks (about $200 total). The certification took 6 months and I found a remote job within 2 weeks of completing it. The key is acting fast - you need to get enrolled and get your Training Benefits approved BEFORE your regular UI runs out. Contact both WorkSource and your community college's financial aid office this week. They can walk you through which programs qualify and help you apply for everything at once. Even if you're not sure what field you want to train in, they have career counselors who can help match your skills to in-demand jobs in your area. Also, while you're getting that sorted out, definitely apply for SNAP benefits now. The application process can take a few weeks and you'll want that safety net in place. You've got this!

I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago! Here's what worked for me: First, definitely keep filing your weekly claims even after exhaustion - this is crucial. Second, contact WorkSource immediately about Training Benefits. I got approved for a cybersecurity bootcamp that was fully funded through Worker Retraining, and it extended my unemployment for the entire 9-month program. The trick is to start the application process NOW, not after your benefits run out. I visited my local WorkSource office in person (way more effective than calling) and they helped me apply for both the training program and Training Benefits on the same day. Within 3 weeks I was enrolled and my unemployment continued seamlessly. Also check if Extended Benefits are currently triggered in WA - the state unemployment rate has to hit certain thresholds, so availability changes. But even if EB isn't available, the training route can be a game-changer. Don't wait - get to WorkSource this week!

Wow, I didn't know the course could potentially count as a job search activity! That's really helpful. I'll definitely keep detailed documentation of everything. Thanks for the tip!

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively! From what I've learned, you should be totally fine taking that medical billing course as long as it's part-time and flexible like you described. The 10-15 hours per week sounds perfect. A few things that might help: - When you answer the weekly claim question about school/training, be honest and say yes, but you can usually add notes explaining it's part-time and doesn't interfere with work availability - Keep records of your course schedule and how it doesn't conflict with potential work hours - Medical billing is definitely a growing field, so this could really help your job prospects! I'm actually considering a similar online certification myself. Have you looked into whether completing the course might open up remote work opportunities? That could expand your job search even more. Good luck with both the course and your job search!

One final note - make sure to download and save all your ESD documents before your benefit year ends. This includes your monetary determination, all weekly claim confirmations, and any determination letters. If you need to reference anything for future assistance programs or tax purposes, these won't be easily accessible once your benefit year closes out.

I'm in a similar situation - exhausted my regular UI benefits in February and have been scrambling ever since. One thing that helped me was contacting 211 (dial 2-1-1 from any phone). They have a comprehensive database of local assistance programs that you might not find otherwise, including emergency rent assistance, food banks, and utility help. They can also connect you with local nonprofits that specifically help unemployed workers. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you're signed up for job alerts on Indeed, LinkedIn, and the state job board (careers.wa.gov). Set up alerts for keywords like "administrative assistant," "office coordinator," and "patient services" to cast a wider net beyond just "healthcare admin" roles. Sometimes similar skills transfer to other industries better than we think. The waiting and uncertainty is absolutely brutal, but don't give up. I ended up finding something through a temp agency that turned into permanent work - might be worth registering with a few staffing agencies as a bridge while you keep looking for your ideal position.

One last thought - if you're really worried about it, you could always voluntarily stop claiming benefits now and just budget to get by until your start date. Better safe than sorry if you're concerned about eligibility.

I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. Had a 4-week gap between accepting an offer and starting work. The key thing is being completely transparent on your weekly claims - there's usually a specific question about future employment that you need to answer honestly. I continued receiving benefits during the waiting period without any issues. Just make sure you're still genuinely available for other immediate work if something better came along (even though you probably wouldn't take it). Washington ESD seems pretty reasonable about these situations as long as you're upfront about everything. The fact that your new employer set the start date, not you, also works in your favor.

Last piece of advice - set up direct deposit when you file your claim. Paper checks take forever and can get lost in the mail. Direct deposit is much faster and more reliable.

Just wanted to add - if you're worried about the job search requirements, don't let that delay your filing! You can start with simple things like updating your resume, browsing job boards, or reaching out to former colleagues. Even attending virtual job fairs or career workshops counts toward your weekly search activities. The important thing is to document everything you do. I found that once I got into a routine, meeting the 3 weekly contacts was actually pretty easy and helped keep me motivated during my job search.