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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!
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have u looked into amazon flex? my cousin does that and says its decent pay while u figure things out. just need a car
I hadn't heard of Amazon Flex before! Just looked it up and it seems like another good option for flexible work while studying. Thanks for the suggestion!
I'm glad to see you're finding some paths forward! For anyone else reading this thread in a similar situation, here's a quick summary of potential resources when your UI benefits are ending: 1. WorkSource Washington - job search assistance, training programs, rapid reemployment services 2. DSHS - emergency assistance, food benefits (SNAP), TANF, childcare subsidies 3. Community Action Agencies - emergency rent and utility assistance 4. Gig work options - delivery services, Amazon Flex, etc. for flexible income 5. Training Benefits Program - must apply before beginning training 6. Ask potential employers about stipends or advances during licensing/training periods Also, always verify your UI benefit end date in your ESD account. Sometimes the calculated end date is different from what you might expect, and occasionally people have remaining benefits they didn't realize were available.
This is super helpful info! Wish they would just tell ppl all this stuff when u first apply for benefits instead of everyone having to figure it out the hard way.
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when i had this problem i just kept calling over and over all day. took like 67 calls but i finally got thru around 2pm. its stupid but thats the only way sometimes
One last suggestion that sometimes works - try calling earlier in the week (Monday/Tuesday) rather than later. Call volumes tend to be highest Thursday/Friday. Also, the 2-3pm timeframe sometimes has slightly shorter wait times as lunch breaks are over and they're not yet in end-of-day processing. It's still difficult, but might give you a slight edge.
I'll try the Monday afternoon strategy next week. Between that, the secure message with better details, and maybe that Claimyr service someone mentioned, hopefully SOMETHING will work. I appreciate everyone's help!
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The ESD system is so BROKEN. I've been trying to fix my birthdate on my account for 2 MONTHS. Everytime I call I get transferred 3-4 times then disconnected. Their website says "simple account changes can be made online" but then there's NO OPTION to make these changes!!! Why can't they fix this garbage system?? Now I'm scared I'll have issues if I ever need unemployment again because my information is all wrong.
I feel your pain! ESD's system is stuck in the stone age. My husband changed his name too (took my last name) and it took him 5 calls to finally get someone who knew what to do. The trick is to call right when they open at 8am. Less wait time.
Just to follow up on my earlier comment - once you get through to someone, ask them to note in your file that you've legally changed your name. This is important because if you ever need to file for unemployment in the future, having mismatched names in their system can cause all sorts of delays in getting your claim processed. Make sure everything matches what's on your Social Security card.
That's exactly what I'm worried about! I don't need unemployment now, but I work in a seasonal industry and sometimes file during our slow months. I definitely don't want any delays if I need to file in the future. I'll make sure to specifically ask them to note the change in my file. Thank you!
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That's awesome! How did you manage to get through to them? I've been trying for days for my new claim.
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Just called ALL WorkSource offices in King County. Only Seattle Downtown and Auburn still have UI Ambassadors, and they only take appointments 2 days a week (Tuesday/Thursday). This system is deliberately designed to prevent us from getting help!!! Just sharing so people don't waste time driving around to offices that can't help.
Thanks for doing that research! Really helpful to know which locations actually have them.
my brother is an esd employee and he says theyre super understaffed right now. said their turnover is crazy bc the job is stressful and pay isn't good. said they lost like 60% of staff after the covid surge ended. doesn't excuse the terrible service but explains some of it i guess
Understaffed or not, they need a better system. I applied for benefits over a MONTH ago and still haven't received a single payment because of "adjudication" with no explanation of what that even means for my claim. My rent is due in 3 days and I have no income!
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I recommend calling on Wednesday or Thursday if possible. Monday and Tuesday call volumes are typically 30-40% higher, making it much harder to get through. Also, when you do connect with an agent, ask them to check for "pending issues" not just "questionnaires" - they're categorized differently in their system. And yes, definitely try the WorkSource office. While they're technically separate from ESD, many WorkSource specialists have been trained to help with unemployment issues specifically because of the high volume of cases. Some offices even have dedicated ESD liaisons on certain days of the week.
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To answer your question about them trying to get back money from your standby period - they shouldn't do that as long as you were eligible during that time. Your eligibility during standby was legitimate. It's only going forward from when you decided to retire that you become ineligible (since you're no longer able and available for work, which is a requirement for UI). Make sure when you respond to their letter that you clearly state the exact date you retired, so they know when to properly end your claim.
That's a huge relief. I'll make sure to be very specific about my retirement date when I respond to their letter. Thanks again for the helpful information!
I'm a former WorkSource specialist, and I can confirm what others have said. The specific letter you'll receive is called a "Request for Information" or sometimes a "Missed Appointment Inquiry." This document is specifically coded in their system to properly process claim closures due to retirement or other special circumstances. When you respond to this specific form, it routes directly to the appropriate department rather than going into the general message queue. If you want to be proactive, you could try visiting your local WorkSource office in person with documentation of your retirement decision, but honestly, waiting for the letter is usually faster.
Thank you for the insider information! I'll just wait for their letter as instructed. It's helpful to understand the "why" behind their seemingly illogical process.
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Have you tried sending a secure message through your eServices account? I know it sounds useless but I sent one about my adjudication issue (after calling for weeks) and surprisingly got a response in 3 days. The adjudicator said they needed additional information from me that wasn't mentioned anywhere else. Might be worth trying while you explore other options.
I've sent 5 secure messages over the past 3 weeks with zero response. That's part of why I'm so frustrated! But I'm glad it worked for you - maybe it depends on what type of issue you have or which adjudicator gets assigned to your case.
Here's what I've learned after dealing with ESD for years (unfortunately): 1. WorkSource can help with SOME unemployment issues but not adjudication - that's handled by specialized adjudicators. 2. Different WorkSource locations have different capabilities. Some have actual ESD staff on certain days, others don't. 3. For adjudication specifically, your best bet is to: - Make sure ALL documentation related to your dispute is uploaded to your eServices account - Reach an actual ESD agent by phone who can verify everything is properly attached - Ask them to add detailed notes to your file - Request an estimated timeframe for adjudication Adjudication is taking 4-6 weeks right now for many cases, but if you can reach an agent who confirms your documentation is complete, it sometimes speeds things up.
Thank you for this detailed breakdown. I think I need to focus on actually reaching an ESD agent by phone who can check my file. I'll try calling right when they open tomorrow and if that doesn't work, I might try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I've definitely uploaded all my paystubs and employment records already, but maybe something is missing or not properly attached.
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Yes, such a relief! And the agent told me I should receive payment for this week plus the one I missed during adjudication by next Tuesday. So glad I kept filing my weekly claims as everyone suggested!
Hunter Brighton
My cousin works for ESD (not saying that publicly lol) and she says they're SUPER backed up right now because of system updates and staff shortages. Like worse than usual. Not helpful for your immediate problem but might explain why even after winning your appeal it's taking forever. The system is basically held together with duct tape at this point.
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Grace Thomas
•This is 100% accurate. I have a contact there too, and they told me they're still dealing with the aftermath of those pandemic-era claims plus they had a major software update that caused huge backlogs. It's especially bad for claims that had appeals because those have to be manually processed.
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Marcus Williams
Update for everyone: I just checked the ESD website and they've posted a notice about implementation delays for appeal decisions. They're currently processing implementations from early October, so that explains the 7+ week wait for more recent decisions. Still worth contacting your representatives though!
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Jessica Suarez
•Thank you for this update! At least that confirms it's a system-wide issue and not just my claim being overlooked. I'm still going to try contacting my rep and senator though - can't afford to wait much longer.
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