Extended Benefits (EB)
On May 14, 2009, Governor Gregoire signed Substitute Senate Bill 5963 which expands EB eligibility to many who were not previously eligible. We began mailing applications to these people in mid-May and started making payments in mid-June. We are processing the applications in order as they were received so please be patient with us. Once your application is processed, we will pay you for the weeks you have claimed and are eligible.Eligibility
What are Extended Benefits (EB)?Extended benefits (EB) are additional benefits that are available during periods of high unemployment in the state.
These benefits are different than the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits currently available. If you have not applied for EUC benefits, you must do so before receiving EB. Learn more about EUC benefits.
When does the current EB program start?
The week ending February 21, 2009 is the first week we can pay Extended Benefits.
Do I qualify for EB?
You are potentially eligible for EB if:
- Your last claim was in Washington; and
- You are not eligible for a regular claim in any state (including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia) or Canada; and
- Your benefit year (the one year period beginning with the week you filed your initial application for benefits) falls within the EB period. This means your benefit year ends on or after February 21, 2009; and
- You are not eligible for any other claim with this or any other state.
*Substitute Senate Bill 5963 expands the eligibility of EB to many who do not meet the benefit year ending requirement. If your benefit year ended February 14, 2009 or before and you had a balance of Emergency Unemployment Compensation for the week ending 2/21/2009 or later, you may be eligible for EB. We began mailing information and applications to those affected by this law change around May 15.
Application
How do I apply for EB?We will mail you a paper application before you qualify for EB. If you do not receive an application by the time your EUC benefits run out, you can get one from your local WorkSource office after February 25, 2009, or call the EUC/EB Unit at 1-877-558-8509.
Return your completed EB application to:
ESD
Attn: EUC/EB Unit
P.O. Box 9046
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
You cannot apply for EB using the Internet. We cannot accept faxed applications at this time.
NOTE: Your application may be returned if it is incomplete. This may delay the processing of your application and payments to you.
When do I apply for EB?
You can apply once we send you an application. If you do not receive an application by the time your EUC benefits run out, you can get one from your local WorkSource office or call the EUC/EB Unit at 1-877-558-8509.
We cannot set up your EB benefits until you run out of your regular and EUC benefits or your benefit year ends.
I have a Washington claim but live in another state. Do I qualify for EB?
If the state where you live is not in an EB period, you are eligible for only two weeks of extended benefits.
Filing your weekly claims
After I’m approved, how and when do I file my weekly claims for EB?Filing EB weekly claims is the same as for regular benefits: use the Internet or call the weekly claims line.
Benefits
How quickly do I get a check?If you qualify, we will start paying your benefits as soon as your application is approved. Continue to file your weekly claims while you are waiting to hear if you qualify. If you do qualify, we will pay you for the weeks you claim.
How much will I get each week on EB?
Your weekly EB amount is the same as your regular weekly benefit amount. Until the week ending May 2, 2009, the maximum benefits payable for EB is the lesser of:
- 13 times your average weekly benefit amount; or
- 50 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable.
Not everyone qualifies for 13 weeks of EB. 50 percent of your regular benefits payable may result in less than 13 weeks of EB.
Beginning with the week ending May 9, 2009, Washington has triggered into a “high” EB period because of our unemployment rate. The maximum benefits payable for high EB is the lesser of:
- 20 times your average weekly benefit amount; or
- 80 percent of the maximum regular benefits payable.
We cannot pay the additional weeks of high EB before the week ending May 9, 2009, even if you ran out of your EB before the week.
We will send you a “Statement of Wages and Hours” after we set up your EB. It will tell you how much you are potentially eligible to receive on EB.
If your EB was set-up for weeks prior to May 9, 2009, we will send you a second Statement of Wages and Hours when we add the additional weeks to your claim. The new statement will show the total EB you are eligible to receive. You will have to deduct what we have already paid you to know how much EB you have remaining.
I applied for EB and received a Statement of Wages and Hours in the mail saying I am not eligible. Why don’t I qualify? And if I disagree, what can I do?
You may receive a Statement of Wages and Hours saying you are not eligible for various reasons. The reasons may include:
- Your benefit year (the one year period beginning with the week you filed your initial application for benefits) ended before the EB period started; or
- You ran out of Emergency Unemployment Compensation before you claimed the week ending February 21, 2009 or later; or
- The total wages on your original claim are less than 40 times your Weekly Benefit Amount; or
- The total wages on your original claim are less than one and one half times your high quarter base year earnings; or
- You qualify for a regular unemployment claim in Washington or another state; or
- Your last claim was not a Washington claim.
You can file an appeal if you disagree. An appeal is a written disagreement with our decision. Send your written appeal to:
EUC/EB Unit
P.O. Box 9046
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
The appeal hearing is scheduled by the Office of Administrative Hearings, a separate agency. See Your Right to Appeal for more information.
How long can I get EB?
You will receive EB until:
- Your EB benefits run out; or
- The EB program ends in Washington state.
NOTE: If you live in another state, you may only receive two weeks of EB.
The program ending is based on the unemployment rate in Washington compared with prior years. The program lasts a minimum of 13 weeks. Once we “trigger” off, we must remain off for a minimum of 13 weeks.
The federal Department of Labor will notify Washington when the EB period ends. Once the EB period ends, we cannot pay anymore EB, even if you still have an EB balance available. We will send you a letter explaining the reason EB is ending, the date it ends, and the last payable week of EB.
Job-Search Requirements
What are the job-search requirements while I am receiving EB?Job-search requirements on EB are more stringent than regular benefits. You must make at least four job-search contacts per week seeking suitable work and record your contacts on your Job-Search Log. You may be called into a local WorkSource office to have your job search verified.
NOTE: In-person job-search activities at WorkSource do not count as your four job-search contacts. You must make four job-search contacts each week to qualify for EB.
Each week, you must record your job-[search contacts. If you claim by phone, you must leave a voice recording of your contacts each week. You will have two minutes to leave the recording, so have your job-search logs with you when you claim. If you claim online, you must type in your contacts each week.
NOTE: If you fail to meet the job search requirements, we will deny EB beginning with the week you failed to meet the job-search requirement and until you work in at least four weeks and earn four times your weekly benefit amount.
NOTE: If you are making satisfactory progress in Commissioner Approved Training (CAT) or Training Benefits (TB), you do not have to meet the job-search requirements.
If I am sick, on vacation, or do not look for work for a week or longer, what should I do?
If you claim a week of EB in which you do not meet the more stringent job-search requirements, we will deny EB for that week and until you work in at least four weeks and earn four times your weekly benefit amount.
If you choose not to claim a week because you did not meet the job-search requirements, you must call your telecenter during the first week you want to claim again and reopen your claim.
What is suitable work while receiving EB?
Suitable work on EB is defined in state and federal law as any work that you are capable of doing that pays at least the minimum wage ($8.55/hr in Washington and $6.55 federally effective 01/01/09) where you live (minimum wage may be different if you live in another state) or the equivalent of your unemployment weekly benefit amount, whichever is more.
You do not have to accept work if the job is vacant due to a labor dispute, the working conditions are less favorable than similar work in your labor market, or you are required to join or resign from a union.
If you fail to accept suitable work while claiming EB, we will deny EB beginning with the week of the refusal and until you work in at least four weeks and earn four times your weekly benefit amount. We could also deny you under the law for refusing work while drawing any type of benefits. This denial lasts for seven weeks and until you return to work and earn seven times your weekly benefit amount.
I am on standby with my employer. Do I have to look for other work to receive EB?
There is no standby on EB. Claimants on EB must make a job search.
I get my jobs through my union. Do I have to look for other work to receive EB?
Yes. If you normally get your jobs through your union you are still required to look for other suitable work that will not jeopardize your union status. We notified your union of this requirement.Your union counts as one job contact — you must make at least three other job search contacts in any week you claim EB and record your contacts on your Job Search Log.
If you are a long shore worker who normally works for the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), you also must make at least three other job search contacts in any week you claim EB and record your contacts on your Job Search Log.
Miscellaneous
I am receiving Training Benefits. Should I apply for EB?Yes, but not until your Training Benefits run out. You must receive your Training Benefits before receiving EB.
Can I continue to receive my Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) during an EB period?
No. We must pay EB before TRA. We will mail an application packet to you if it appears you may qualify for EB. We will review your application and make a decision about the status of your payments.
What happens if EB ends and I still have money available?
The federal Department of Labor will notify Washington when the EB period must end. Once the EB period ends, we cannot pay anymore EB, even if you still have an EB balance available. We will send you a letter explaining the reason EB is ending, the date it ends, and the last payable week of EB.
Am I eligible for EB if I had a denial on my claim while receiving regular or EUC benefits?
If you had a prior denial on your claim for benefits, the denial remains in effect until you meet the requalification requirements.
I’m an employer. How does EB affect my experience rating and benefit charges?
You may be responsible for some or all of the benefit charges only if you are a reimbursable employer. You may call the Experience Rating unit at 360-902-9670. If you are not a reimbursable employer, you will not be responsible for any benefit charges.
