Are you an unemployed worker in Washington? If so, you'll want to learn how to file for Washington extended unemployment benefits. This page will outline the steps you'll need to take to receive extended unemployment benefits in Washington. The process is fairly simple, but it's important that you fully understand the program guidelines before beginning. Complete regulations for receiving unemployment compensation in Washington is available on the Washington State Employment Security Department website.http://www.esd.wa.gov/index.php

An extension of the EUC program was signed into law on July 22, 2010. Claims are being accepted through November 30, 2010. Workers who have already received the maximum available compensation will not qualify for additional benefits under this extension.http://www.c-dh.net/articles/2010/07/27/top_stories/05benefitsextd.txt Claimants who are eligible for additional EUC will be notified by the Washington State Employment Security Department.http://www.esd.wa.gov/uibenefits/whatsnew/index.php

The extended unemployment benefits are available due to the Worker Assistance Act of 2009. This act was signed into law by President Obama on November 6, 2009 and it offers federal funding for all fifty states to extend the current EUC program by another 14 weeks.http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/fact-sheet-worker-homeownership-and-business-assistance-act-2009 States with unusually high unemployment rate, such as Washington, also received funding for an additional 6 weeks of benefits.

There are three steps you'll need to take to apply for EUC benefits in Washington. First, you need to examine your eligibility for the EUC program. Then, you'll gather the information you will need for your claim. Finally, you'll file a claim for EUC benefits.

Before you can apply for extended unemployment benefits, the first thing you'll want to do is make sure that you qualify to receive them. The most important requirement is that you have already exhausted all of the unemployment compensation that is available to you. If you are currently receiving either initial unemployment benefits or a different tier of EUC, you will have to wait until these expire before applying.http://www.esd.wa.gov/uibenefits/fileweekly/extension/emergency-unemployment-compensation.php

You will also have to maintain eligibility for initial unemployment compensation in order to receive extended benefits. This includes the following:http://www.esd.wa.gov/uibenefits/apply/eligibility/am-i-eligible.php

1. You must be physically able to perform full time work
2. You must be available to accept full time work - This includes making any arrangements for childcare or transportation
3. You must be actively searching for suitable work
4. You must have earned wages in the state of Washington
5. You must have at least 680 hours of covered employment in your base year
6. You must have a valid reason for your job separation - If you were laid off due to lack of work, you will generally qualify for benefits. But, if you were fired or if you chose to quit for reasons of your own, a determination about your benefit eligibility will be made after contacting you and your previous employer.

The next step to filing your claim for EUC benefits is to collect the information you'll use to complete your application. This will essentially be the same documentation you used to file your initial benefit claim, but you'll need to update anything that has changed since that time.

You'll need the following:https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/uia/icintro/intropage.aspx?lang=en-us

1. Your Social Security number
2. Your United States Alien Registration ID number, if you are not a U.S. citizen
3. If you have served actively in the military since January 1, 2008, you'll need a copy of your Form DD-214
4. If you have worked for the federal government since January 1, 2008, you'll need a copy of your Form SF-8 or Form SF-50
5. The business names, addresses and phone numbers of all of the employers you've had since January 1, 2008
6. The exact dates of your employment at each job
7. The amount of gross income you received from each job
8. If you are a member of a union, you'll need the name and number of your local union hall
9. The exact reason for your separation from each job

When reporting the above information, be sure to do so accurately and honestly. If you fail to disclose anything that could affect your benefit eligibility, you could be guilty of fraud.http://www.esd.wa.gov/uibenefits/communication/fraud/report-fraud.php

Now you are ready to fill out your application for extended unemployment benefits! While online filing is available for initial compensation claims, EUC applications cannot be completed via the Employment Security Department website. If you are eligible to receive EUC, you should receive an application for extended benefits in the mail. But, if you do not receive one of these applications and you feel that you qualify for the program, you should call the EUC Unit or pick up a paper copy of the application from your local WorkSource office.http://www.esd.wa.gov/uibenefits/fileweekly/extension/emergency-unemployment-compensation.php

Use the information you collected in step 2 to complete the EUC application and then mail it to the address given on the form. If you are already receiving EUC and you are ready to move on to another tier, you will not need to complete an application. You will automatically be moved to each subsequent tier as you exhaust your current one.

After you file your application to begin receiving EUC and are approved for benefits, you'll need to continue filing the weekly claims just as you did when receiving initial unemployment compensation. You can do this online using the weekly claims line web page or by calling the weekly claim line on the telephone.https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/cc/iblWeb7-0/ http://www.esd.wa.gov/newsandinformation/aboutesd/esdinfo/contact-us-unemployed-workers.php

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Please contact a law professional before using the information presented here.