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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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One more thing to consider: if you're working part-time while in training, make sure it doesn't interfere with your approved training schedule. ESD can revoke Training Benefits if they determine your work schedule conflicts with your ability to complete the approved training program. So if your classes are during the day, try to find evening/weekend work, or vice versa.
That's a good point - fortunately the job is evenings and my classes are daytime, so there shouldn't be a conflict. I'll make sure to mention that if ESD has questions about my availability for training.
I'm glad you're getting good advice here. To summarize the key points: 1. Yes, you can work part-time while receiving Training Benefits 2. Report all earnings accurately on your weekly claims 3. Your benefits will be reduced based on earnings, but you remain in the program 4. Weeks where you earn too much (resulting in $0 benefit) still count against your total 5. Ensure work doesn't conflict with your training schedule 6. Keep up with attendance verification With proper planning, many people successfully combine part-time work with Training Benefits. Good luck with your IT certification program!
Thank you for this perfect summary! I feel much more confident now about accepting the job while continuing with my training program. Really appreciate everyone's help!
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Remember - the central issue in your case is whether you had "good cause" to leave. In Washington, a substantial reduction in hours can qualify as good cause if it creates significant financial hardship. Make sure to explicitly tell the judge: "I had good cause to leave because my employer reduced my hours to the point I couldn't pay my bills, effectively forcing me out." Also, Washington considers "constructive discharge" (when an employer makes conditions so intolerable that a reasonable person would feel forced to quit) to be good cause. Focus your evidence on proving these specific legal standards.
Thank you! I'll definitely use that exact phrasing about "good cause" and "constructive discharge." Does it matter that I didn't specifically say those words when I quit? I basically just told my manager I couldn't survive on the hours they were giving me and they said "that's all we can offer."
No, you don't need to have used those exact legal terms when you quit. What matters is that the circumstances of your separation meet the legal definition, not what words you used at the time. Your statement that you "couldn't survive on the hours" is actually perfect evidence that the reduction created financial hardship, which supports your good cause argument. Bring documentation of your bills/expenses if possible to show the impact of the reduced hours on your ability to meet basic needs.
One last important tip: during the hearing, you'll have a chance to cross-examine your former employer. Prepare specific questions that help your case, such as: 1. "Why were my hours reduced from 38 to 12?" 2. "Was I informed this reduction would be permanent?" 3. "Were other employees' hours reduced similarly?" 4. "What was my work performance like before the reduction?" These questions can help establish that the reduction wasn't due to misconduct and was targeted specifically at you, supporting your constructive discharge claim.
This is gold! I hadn't even thought about preparing questions for them. I know for a fact that I was the only one who had such a dramatic cut in hours. And I had received a positive performance review just two months before they started reducing my hours. Should I bring that review as evidence too?
Absolutely bring that positive performance review! That's excellent evidence that contradicts any claim they might make about performance issues. It shows the reduction wasn't justified based on your work quality. Also, if you have any documentation showing you were the only one with reduced hours, bring that too. This helps establish that you were being singled out, which strengthens your constructive discharge argument substantially.
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Listen carefully: overpayments happen for specific reasons. In my 12 years working with unemployment cases, the most common are: 1. Misreported work/earnings during weekly claims 2. Incorrect separation reason (quit vs. layoff) 3. Unreported return to work 4. Job refusal not reported 5. Incorrect base year wages You can prevent most issues by printing out EVERY weekly claim confirmation and keeping detailed records of ANY work (even 1 hour), job applications, and communications with ESD. ESD cannot legally issue an overpayment notice after 3 years unless they prove fraud, so your worry about 2027 is excessive. But better safe than sorry - document EVERYTHING.
Thanks for this detailed list! I didn't know about the 3-year limit - that's somewhat reassuring. I've been reporting everything accurately but haven't been keeping copies of my weekly claim confirmations. Starting today I'll screenshot everything. Better late than never!
my cousin works at esd and he says they're doing way more audits now bc of all the fraud during covid. they're checking old claims from years ago. the system flags anything weird automatically
This is actually true. ESD has significantly increased their audit frequencies since 2024. While they've always had the ability to review claims, they now have additional automated tools that flag potential issues. However, if you've been honest and accurate in your reporting, you shouldn't worry excessively. Just keep good records as a precaution.
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If you need to contact ESD about your claim status but can't get through on the phones (which is super common), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation last month - approved but payments stuck in pending for over a week. I tried calling for days with no luck, then used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an ESD agent in about 20 minutes. There's a video demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 The agent was able to see there was a small flag on my account that was holding up payment that I couldn't see on my end. Got it resolved immediately.
Is that service legit? Seems sketchy to use a third party when dealing with unemployment... no offense just being cautious
Totally get the caution. It's just a call-back service that helps you skip the hold queue. They don't access your account or anything. But yeah, try the regular ESD line first if you have the patience!
did u get paid yet? curious if it went thru ok
Yes! Just wanted to update everyone - the payment switched from pending to paid yesterday and I just checked my bank account and the money is there! Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance.
Great news! The first payment is always the most stressful. It should be smoother sailing from here as long as you keep up with your weekly claims and job search activities.
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UPDATE: I tried both suggestions! Used Claimyr yesterday morning and actually got through to someone at ESD. The agent said my payments were being held because of a "quarterly review flag" that automatically happens in their system. She cleared it while I was on the phone and said my back payments should process in 48-72 hours. I also contacted my state rep's office as a backup. Thank you all for the help!! Will update again when/if the money actually shows up.
Great news! The quarterly review flag is extremely common and affects many claimants. Unfortunately, ESD doesn't notify people when this happens - the payments just stop with no explanation. Make sure to keep filing your weekly claims while waiting for payment to process.
Unfortunately, quarterly reviews are standard for all unemployment claims, so you might experience the same issue at the start of April (beginning of Q2 2025). The good news is that now you know what's happening and how to address it. I recommend calling ESD proactively in the last week of March to see if they can prevent the hold from occurring again. Also, because you've contacted them about this issue already, there should be notes in your file that might help avoid the same problem.
FINAL UPDATE: The money finally arrived today! All 8 weeks of backpay hit my account this morning. I can't thank you all enough for the advice - especially about Claimyr and contacting my representative. I'll definitely be proactive about the next quarterly review.
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Yes, if you find part-time work, you would report those earnings on your weekly claim. Depending on how much you earn, your benefit may be reduced or eliminated for that week. If you earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive a partial payment. If you find full-time work, you would simply stop filing weekly claims.\n\nThis is actually ideal - ESD wants claimants to find work, even temporary positions. Just make sure to accurately report all hours and earnings to avoid overpayments.
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Make sure you're doing QUALIFYING job search activities too! Not all activities count toward your 3 required each week. For example, just looking at job postings online without applying doesn't count. Here are activities that DO count: - Submitting job applications - Having job interviews - Going to WorkSource workshops - Meeting with a career counselor - Taking skills assessments - Creating accounts on job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn - Attending job fairs ESD is doing more audits in 2025, so keep detailed records of everything!
Oh wow, I didn't realize they were doing more audits this year. I'll definitely keep better records. Does anyone know if they accept screenshots of online applications as proof?
Yes, screenshots are good evidence for your records. I recommend keeping a spreadsheet with dates, company names, position titles, application methods, and any confirmation numbers or contact information. ESD may request your job search log at any time, and you'll have 48 hours to provide it. Better to be over-prepared!
can you tell me where u even find the login page? i bookmarked it before but lost all my bookmarks when my computer crashed last week
The main login page is at secure.esd.wa.gov/home, but you'll need to go through SecureAccess Washington (SAW) at secureaccess.wa.gov first. From there, you can select the Employment Security Department services.
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My two cents - adjudication is totally frustrating but keep filing every week like clockwork. Document EVERYTHING. Take screenshots of your submitted claims, save confirmation numbers, and keep a log of all your calls (date, time, who you spoke with). I had a 10-week adjudication last year and this documentation saved me when there was a dispute about whether I'd been filing properly.
Update: I took several pieces of advice from this thread. I contacted WorkSource about hardship escalation, and I also was able to get through to an ESD agent (finally!) who told me my adjudication was due to a discrepancy in reported hours from my last employer. They actually expedited my case due to financial hardship, and this morning I received ALL my back payments! So relieved. For anyone else stuck in adjudication - be persistent, keep detailed records, and specifically mention financial hardship when you do get through to someone. Thank you all for your help!
That's excellent news! I'm so glad you got it resolved. This is really helpful information for others in similar situations. The hardship escalation doesn't always work, but it's absolutely worth trying. Congratulations on getting your backpay!
congrats!! nothing better than seeing that money finally show up!
Oliver Weber
I just got through to an ESD agent using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. The agent was actually really helpful and explained that my case has been assigned to an adjudicator but they're currently working through a backlog. She added a note about my financial hardship and said while she couldn't promise anything, cases with documented hardships do sometimes get prioritized. She also confirmed all my documents were received correctly, which is a relief. Now it's just more waiting, but at least I know nothing is missing on my end.
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CosmicVoyager
•That's great you got some clarity! Knowing everything is in order on your end is half the battle. Hope they process it quickly for you!
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FireflyDreams
•Good to hear you got through and that your documents are all in order. The hardship note might help expedite things. In the meantime, don't forget to look into temporary assistance programs while you wait - many counties have emergency rental assistance programs that can help bridge the gap.
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keegan ohern
I talked to esd they said from when it file it could take up to 8 weeks and you can fast track it if you have a notice of eviction or utilities tur off
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