Washington Unemployment

Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.

Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.



Fox KTVUABC 7CBSSan Francisco Chronicle

Using Claimyr will:

  • Connect you to a human agent at the ESD
  • Skip the long phone menu
  • Call the correct department
  • Redial until on hold
  • Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
  • Give you free callbacks if the ESD drops your call

If I could give 10 stars I would

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!

Really made a difference

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!

Read all of our Trustpilot reviews


Ask the community...

  • DO post questions about your issues.
  • DO answer questions and support each other.
  • DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
  • DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)

Alice Pierce

Washington ESD unemployment benefits after firing employee - employer questions

I own a small business in Washington and had to terminate an employee last week for performance issues (consistently missing deadlines, not following procedures). Now they're filing for unemployment benefits and I'm getting notices from Washington ESD. Do I have to pay into their unemployment claim? I documented everything but I'm not sure how this process works from the employer side. What are my options here?

One more thing - make sure you understand your rights in the appeals process if it comes to that. You can present evidence and have witnesses testify at unemployment hearings.

0 coins

Good to know. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but it's nice to know I have options.

0 coins

The hearing process is actually pretty straightforward and less intimidating than it sounds. Focus on facts and documentation if you end up there.

0 coins

Bottom line: respond to Washington ESD promptly, provide all requested documentation, and don't take it personally if they approve benefits. The system errs on the side of helping unemployed workers.

0 coins

That makes sense from a policy perspective, even if it's frustrating as an employer. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

0 coins

You're welcome! This is all part of running a business. Just make sure to learn from it and improve your processes.

0 coins

Emma Morales

Do you get paid for unemployment waiting week in Washington ESD?

I just filed my first unemployment claim with Washington ESD last week and I'm confused about the waiting week. My friend told me there's a week where you don't get paid but I can't find clear info on this. Do I still need to file my weekly claim for that week even though I won't get paid? And does Washington state still have a waiting week or did they get rid of it? I'm really stressed about money right now and need to know what to expect.

Just to add one more confirmation - filed my claim in January 2025 and got paid for week 1. No waiting week in Washington state. Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims on schedule!

0 coins

Perfect timing on this info since I'm filing for January too. Thanks for the recent confirmation!

0 coins

No problem! It's always nerve-wracking filing for the first time so I wanted to share my recent experience.

0 coins

Bottom line for OP: Washington eliminated waiting week in 2020, you'll get paid for week 1 if eligible, still need to file your weekly claim, and if you can't get through to Washington ESD by phone there are services like Claimyr that can help you connect with an agent.

0 coins

This is exactly the summary I needed! Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses. I feel much less stressed about this now.

0 coins

Glad this thread helped! Unemployment can be really confusing especially when you're already stressed about money.

0 coins

Miguel Diaz

Can I get unemployment if I quit to take care of a family member in Washington?

My mom was diagnosed with dementia last month and I had to quit my job at the hospital to become her full-time caregiver. I've been working there for 6 years but they couldn't accommodate my schedule anymore. I heard there might be exceptions for family caregiving situations but I'm not sure if Washington ESD will approve my claim. Has anyone successfully gotten unemployment after quitting for family care reasons? I really need the income while I figure out long-term care options.

The whole system is designed to make it hard for people in genuine need. But don't give up - if you have a legitimate reason for quitting, keep pushing through the process.

0 coins

Thank you for the encouragement. It's overwhelming but I know I made the right choice for my family.

0 coins

Absolutely. Caring for family is exactly the kind of situation these exceptions are designed for. Stay persistent with the process.

0 coins

Last thing - make sure you understand the appeals process in case your initial claim gets denied. Many people don't realize they can appeal and just give up.

0 coins

You have 30 days from the date of the determination letter to file an appeal. Don't wait if you get denied - appeal immediately.

0 coins

Got it, I'll mark that on my calendar. Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice!

0 coins

Ethan Anderson

How can I claim unemployment benefits through Washington ESD?

Lost my job last week and I'm completely lost on how to start claiming unemployment. I've never had to do this before and honestly don't even know where to begin with Washington ESD. Do I need to go somewhere in person or can I do everything online? What kind of paperwork or information do I need to have ready? Any help would be really appreciated because I'm starting to panic about paying my bills next month.

Good luck with everything! The first time is always scary but you've got this. Just take it step by step and don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it.

0 coins

Thank you so much everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about getting started now.

0 coins

We've all been there, happy to help!

0 coins

Also remember that if you find part-time work while collecting unemployment, you can still get partial benefits as long as you report the income. Don't assume you have to stop your claim completely.

0 coins

That's good to know! I wasn't sure how that worked.

0 coins

Yeah, they just reduce your benefit amount based on what you earned. Better than nothing!

0 coins

Amy Fleming

How long do u have to work at a job to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

hey everyone, just wondering about the work requirements for getting unemployment in washington state. like if i quit my job or get fired how long do i need to have worked there to qualify for benefits? my friend said something about needing to work a certain amount of time but wasn't sure if it was like 6 months or a year or what. also does it matter if you worked part time vs full time? any help would be great thanks

The whole process can be overwhelming but don't let it discourage you from applying if you think you might qualify. The worst they can do is say no, and then you can appeal if you disagree with their decision.

0 coins

This is good advice. I almost didn't apply because I wasn't sure if I qualified, but it turned out I did. Better to try than to assume you won't qualify.

0 coins

thanks everyone for all the help! i think i have a better understanding now

0 coins

If you do decide to apply, make sure you file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There can be delays in processing, and you want to establish your claim date as early as possible since benefits typically aren't retroactive beyond when you first file.

0 coins

got it, thanks for the reminder about filing quickly

0 coins

And if you run into issues with your claim or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, that Claimyr service really does work. I used it last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication.

0 coins

Prev1...10241025102610271028...2231Next