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Remote work unemployment claims are processed the same way as any other claim. The only potential complication is if there's confusion about which state you should file in, but since you're a Washington resident that's not an issue for you.
I went through this exact situation last year - worked remotely for a New York company while living in Washington. Filed with Washington ESD without any issues. The key thing is that your employer should have been paying Washington unemployment insurance taxes since you're a resident here. When you file, they'll verify this automatically through their interstate system. Just make sure you have your employment documentation ready and be prepared to explain your remote work arrangement if they ask during the application process.
That's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing! Did you have any issues with the job search requirements since you were looking for remote positions? I'm wondering if I need to focus on local jobs or if remote applications nationwide count toward the weekly requirements.
Remote job applications definitely count toward your weekly search requirements! I applied to positions all over the country and Washington ESD had no issues with it. Just make sure to document each application properly in your job search log - include the company name, position title, date applied, and method of application. The fact that it's remote work actually gives you more opportunities to meet the search requirements since you're not limited to just local openings.
I'm experiencing this exact same issue and it's so stressful! Filed my claim about 3 weeks ago and have been stuck at $0 weekly benefit amount despite my claim showing "Active." Like everyone else here, I've tried calling Washington ESD dozens of times but either get busy signals or wait on hold for hours before getting disconnected. What's really frustrating is that there's no clear indication in my online account about what's causing the hold-up - everything looks normal except for that zero dollar amount. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful though. It seems like this is unfortunately a very common issue with the Washington ESD system, and the consensus is that you really need to speak with an actual agent to get it resolved. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that Lucas and others have recommended since traditional calling clearly isn't working. The success stories about simple fixes that take just minutes once you reach someone give me hope that my situation might be similarly straightforward. In the meantime, I'll keep filing my weekly claims as everyone suggests - don't want to lose those weeks once this gets sorted out. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and advice!
I'm going through the exact same thing Daniel! Three weeks is way too long to be stuck with this issue. What's really frustrating is how the Washington ESD system gives you no visibility into what's actually wrong - everything looks fine on our end but clearly something is blocking the payments behind the scenes. Based on all the success stories in this thread, it really does seem like Claimyr is the way to go since traditional calling is basically impossible. I'm also planning to try it because I can't keep waiting indefinitely for this to resolve itself. The fact that so many people here got their issues fixed in just minutes once they reached an agent is really encouraging - it suggests these are often simple system glitches rather than major problems with our claims. Definitely keep filing those weekly claims though, because you'll want all that back pay once they clear whatever's causing the hold-up!
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now and reading through everyone's experiences has been both reassuring and frustrating! Filed my initial claim about 2 weeks ago and my weekly benefit amount has been stuck at $0 even though my claim status shows "Active." I've tried calling Washington ESD probably 20+ times but keep getting busy signals or sitting on hold for hours before getting disconnected. What's really stressing me out is not knowing what's actually wrong - I've checked my correspondence, decisions, and payment history sections multiple times but don't see any pending issues or requests for additional information. Based on all the helpful advice here, it sounds like the Claimyr service might be my best option since traditional calling clearly isn't working for most people. The success stories about agents fixing these issues in just a few minutes once you can actually reach someone give me hope that this might be a simple system glitch rather than a major problem with my claim. I'm definitely going to keep filing my weekly claims as everyone recommends - don't want to lose those weeks once this gets resolved. Thanks Emma for starting this thread and to everyone else for sharing your experiences. It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in dealing with this confusing Washington ESD system!
I'm in almost the exact same situation as you Tristan! Filed about 10 days ago and also seeing that dreaded $0 despite an "Active" status. The lack of transparency in the Washington ESD system is really the worst part - you have no idea if it's a simple fix or a major issue. What I've gathered from reading through all these responses is that most of these cases are actually quick fixes once you can reach a human being, which is both encouraging and incredibly frustrating given how impossible it is to get through by phone. I'm also planning to try Claimyr since so many people here have had success with it. The key thing I'm taking away is to absolutely keep filing those weekly claims no matter what - seems like that's crucial for getting back pay once the issue is resolved. Hang in there, it sounds like we're both on the right track to getting this sorted out!
Bottom line: file your claim if you're eligible. Don't let worry about your former employer stop you from getting benefits you've earned through your work history. The system is designed to be fair to both sides.
You're all right. I'm going to file tomorrow morning. Thanks for all the encouragement and information!
Good luck! Remember that if you do need to reach Washington ESD for any reason, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier can really help with the phone situation.
I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. Yes, your employer will be notified, but honestly it turned out to be much less dramatic than I expected. I was terrified my former manager would make things difficult, but Washington ESD handled everything professionally. The key thing is to be truthful in your application and keep any documentation about your termination. Even if your employer does respond to the notification, it doesn't automatically mean they'll contest your claim. Most of the time they just acknowledge receipt and that's it. Don't let fear keep you from filing - you've paid into this system and deserve the support while you're looking for new work.
Bottom line - yes Walmart will probably contest your claim, but that doesn't mean you won't win. Washington ESD sees through their standard objections all the time. Focus on documenting your case rather than worrying about their response. File now and build your evidence for adjudication.
I went through this exact situation with Walmart last year - they absolutely will contest your claim, but don't let that discourage you from filing. I was terminated for what they called "policy violations" but it was clearly retaliation for reporting safety issues to management. The adjudication process took about 7 weeks, but I ultimately won my case because I had solid documentation. Make sure you keep copies of all your safety complaint emails, any responses from management, and try to get witness statements from coworkers who can verify the timeline of events. Washington ESD adjudicators are experienced with these types of cases and can usually spot legitimate retaliation claims. File your claim today - every day you wait is money lost, regardless of whether they contest it or not.
This is super helpful to hear from someone who went through the same situation! 7 weeks sounds rough but knowing you won in the end gives me hope. I'm definitely filing today - you're right that waiting just costs money. Did you have any trouble getting your coworkers to provide witness statements? I'm worried some of them might be scared to get involved since they still work there.
Yes, getting witness statements was tricky - some coworkers were definitely nervous about getting involved. What worked for me was approaching people I trusted and explaining that they could provide statements without their names being directly shared with Walmart during the initial process. A few were willing to write brief statements about what they witnessed regarding the safety issues and the timing of my termination. Even if you can only get one or two people to help, it's worth it. Also, focus on the strongest documentation you have - those safety complaint emails you mentioned are probably your best evidence. The key is showing the pattern of retaliation, not necessarily having a ton of witnesses.
Yara Nassar
I've been in a similar situation and can share some peace of mind. I'm a freelance consultant who travels frequently and have been filing my Washington unemployment claims from various locations without any issues. The key thing to remember is that Washington ESD cares about your work availability and job search compliance, not your physical location when clicking "submit." I've filed from Oregon, California, and even from a coffee shop in Montana - never had a single problem. Just make sure you're honest about being available for work opportunities in Washington and keep doing your required job search activities. The location permission your browser asks for is standard web functionality, not some tracking system. Don't overthink it!
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Dmitry Ivanov
•Thank you so much for sharing your real-world experience! As someone who's new to filing unemployment claims, I've been really stressed about every little detail. Hearing that you've successfully filed from multiple states without any problems is incredibly reassuring. I travel for job interviews and networking events, so knowing that Washington ESD focuses on availability rather than filing location takes a huge weight off my shoulders. Your advice about staying honest and keeping up with job search requirements is spot on - that's what really matters.
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Darren Brooks
•This is so helpful! I've been overthinking this whole location thing way too much. Hearing from someone who actually travels and files regularly without issues gives me confidence. I think I was getting caught up in all the technical aspects when really it's just about being honest and available for work. Thanks for sharing your experience - it really puts things into perspective for those of us new to this process!
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Victoria Stark
As someone who's new to the unemployment system, I really appreciate all the detailed responses here! I've been overthinking this location tracking issue way too much. It sounds like the consensus is that Washington ESD cares about work availability and honest reporting, not where you physically click submit. I travel occasionally for job interviews and family visits, so it's reassuring to know that temporary travel while filing claims shouldn't be a problem as long as I'm truthful about my availability and keep up with my job search requirements. The technical explanation about browser permissions being standard functionality rather than tracking also makes a lot of sense. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is incredibly helpful for navigating all these unemployment questions!
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