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Honestly the hardest part isn't knowing when to certify - it's keeping up with the job search requirements week after week. Make sure you're staying on top of that because they can audit your claim at any time and ask for proof of your job search activities.
If anyone else is struggling to get through to Washington ESD for certification questions, definitely try Claimyr. I was stuck in phone hell for days trying to ask about my claim status and they got me connected in minutes. Really takes the stress out of dealing with the bureaucracy.
Don't forget about taxes! Your unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return. I learned this the hard way last year.
Last piece of advice - be 100% honest on your application. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers and if they find any discrepancies it can result in benefit fraud charges. Not worth the risk to lie about anything.
Hope everything works out for you! The unemployment system is frustrating but most people do eventually get their benefits. Just stay on top of your weekly claims and be persistent if you run into problems.
One last thing - if you disagree with any decision Washington ESD makes about your claim, you have the right to appeal. Don't just accept it if you think they made a mistake. The appeal deadline is usually 30 days from the date of the decision.
Another resource that helped me was using Claimyr when I couldn't reach Washington ESD directly. Their service helped me get through the phone queue and talk to an actual agent when my claim had issues. Check out their demo video to see how it works.
Yeah I've heard good things about Claimyr from other people too. Sometimes you just need that extra help getting through to ESD.
Liam O'Donnell
Just remember you only get benefits for 26 weeks normally, so don't treat it like a permanent solution. Use the time to actively job search and maybe upgrade your skills.
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Amara Nwosu
•Can you extend benefits if you can't find work in 26 weeks?
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Liam O'Donnell
•There are sometimes extended benefit programs during high unemployment periods, but don't count on it. Better to assume 26 weeks is all you get.
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AstroExplorer
The whole process seems overwhelming but this thread has been super helpful. Going to file my claim tomorrow and see what my weekly benefit amount ends up being.
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Javier Morales
•Same here! Thanks everyone for all the detailed explanations. Makes me feel much more confident about filing.
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Emma Anderson
•Good luck to both of you! Remember to file your weekly claims on time and keep up with the job search requirements. The system works if you follow the rules.
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