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One thing to keep in mind is that Washington ESD will verify your earnings with your employers, so make sure everything you report is accurate. They'll catch discrepancies and that can delay your claim or even result in an overpayment later.
Based on what you've described, it sounds like you should qualify. Laid off from your most recent job, sufficient earnings, and you're available for work. The earlier job quit probably won't matter since it wasn't your most recent separation. I'd say go ahead and apply!
Good luck! Remember you can always call Washington ESD if you have questions during the process, though the wait times can be long.
Or try that Claimyr service if you need to actually talk to someone quickly. Seriously saved me so much time and frustration.
Been there! Filed in September and my weekly benefit amount ended up being $487. The calculation was pretty straightforward once I got my determination letter - they used my Q2 wages of $12,662 divided by 26 weeks. Just had to be patient and wait for the paperwork.
make sure you keep track of all your job search activities from day one. washington esd can audit you anytime and if you don't have proper documentation they can make you pay back everything. happened to my neighbor last year
If you do end up needing to contact Washington ESD about this, I had success using that Claimyr service when I was dealing with a complex eligibility issue. It saved me a lot of time and frustration trying to get through on the phone.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll keep that in mind if I need to speak with someone at ESD about my specific situation.
UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. I decided to document everything and file a formal complaint with HR first. If that doesn't resolve things, at least I'll have a paper trail showing I tried to address the issues through proper channels. Will keep you posted on how it goes.
The amount you get also depends on how many weeks you're eligible for. Higher earners might get more money per week but fewer total weeks of benefits.
Bottom line: expect roughly half your weekly wage up to $999/week, paid weekly after you file your weekly claim. File ASAP after losing your job because there's a waiting week and you want to get the process started.
And remember, if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD, don't hesitate to use tools like Claimyr to get through their phone system.
Quinn Herbert
Bottom line - you can collect for up to 26 weeks as long as you meet all requirements, file weekly claims on time, and don't exhaust your maximum benefit amount early. Use the time wisely to find new employment.
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Jabari-Jo
•thanks everyone, this thread has been super helpful in understanding how it all works
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Salim Nasir
Good luck with your job search! The unemployment benefits are there to help bridge the gap but 26 weeks isn't forever. Stay positive and keep applying - something will come through.
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Jabari-Jo
•appreciate the encouragement, definitely staying optimistic and using this time to find something better
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