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my claim finally got approved after 8 weeks of waiting. the backpay was nice but the stress of not knowing when it would happen was horrible. the system definitely breaks down when unemployment spikes
Bottom line: high unemployment = overwhelmed Washington ESD = longer waits for everyone. Until they fix the underlying capacity issues, this pattern will keep repeating every economic downturn.
One more tip - when you're filling out your weekly claims, be super accurate about reporting any wages. Even small mistakes can cause issues and delays.
For what it's worth, I've been tracking my payments in a spreadsheet and Tuesday is 100% consistent for when Washington ESD processes them. Bank deposit timing varies but the processing is always Tuesday unless there's a holiday.
One more thing to keep in mind - if you're new to unemployment, your first payment might take longer than the normal schedule because they sometimes do additional verification for new claims.
if anyone is still following this thread - i found that calling washington esd right at 8am when they open gives you the best chance of getting through. but even then it can take multiple tries
8am calling worked for me too but honestly claimyr was easier than setting alarms and speed dialing
Bottom line - with your salary level you should qualify for a decent weekly benefit, probably in the $400-500 range depending on your exact quarterly breakdown. The system is confusing but it works once you get through the initial hurdles.
Nia Wilson
The monetary determination letter is really important - that's what tells you exactly how much you'll get per week and for how long. Keep that document safe!
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Natasha Petrova
•I'll make sure to save all the paperwork. Thanks for the heads up about that specific document.
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Mateo Sanchez
•Yeah and if you disagree with your monetary determination you can appeal within 30 days. Don't sleep on that deadline.
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Aisha Mahmood
One more thing - even if you're eligible you still need to keep filing your weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. It's easy to forget but super important.
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Natasha Petrova
•Got it. So it's not just file once and then automatic payments, you have to keep reporting every week.
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Aisha Mahmood
•Exactly! And you need to report any work or income during each week, even if it's just a few hours.
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