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Make sure you understand the waiting week too. You don't get paid for your first week of unemployment in Washington. So even if you qualify for benefits, your first payment won't come until week 2.
Last tip - set up direct deposit if you can. Paper checks take forever and sometimes get lost in the mail. Direct deposit hits your account within 1-2 business days of processing.
Definitely will do that. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This thread answered way more questions than the Washington ESD website.
Glad we could help! And remember, if you run into issues getting through to Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to sort things out.
Pro tip: when Washington ESD calls you for the separation interview, answer the phone! They usually only try a few times before making a decision based on available information. If you miss the call, call back immediately.
Final update from me: Got approved! Washington ESD determined that performance issues without willful misconduct don't disqualify you from benefits. Took exactly 3 weeks from filing to approval. Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice.
Make sure your unemployment benefits aren't set to expire soon. Lenders want to see that you'll have income for the duration of the loan.
One last tip - if you get approved, set up automatic payments from your checking account. It shows the lender you're responsible and you might even get a small interest rate discount.
The whole Washington ESD system needs an overhaul. It's 2025 and we're still dealing with account numbers that nobody can find?? Come on!
UPDATE: Found it! It was in my spam folder in an email from Washington ESD from when I first applied. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!
Perfect! And remember that Claimyr option if you ever need to reach an agent quickly in the future.
Fidel Carson
The benefit amount is only part of it - you also have to think about how it affects your taxes. Unemployment benefits are taxable income at federal and state level. I learned that the hard way when I got a huge tax bill after being on unemployment for most of 2024.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Can you have them withhold taxes from each payment?
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Fidel Carson
•Yes, you can elect to have 10% federal tax withheld when you file your weekly claim. I wish I had done that from the beginning.
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Isaiah Sanders
My advice is to apply as soon as you lose your job and don't wait. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start collecting. And if you run into issues with Washington ESD (which unfortunately happens a lot), don't be afraid to use resources like Claimyr to actually get through to an agent who can help you.
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Xan Dae
•good luck! the process isnt too bad if everything goes smoothly
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Fiona Gallagher
•Hope your claim goes through quickly. Some people get approved right away, others get stuck in adjudication for weeks.
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