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If anyone needs to verify protest deadlines or check claim status, I've found the Claimyr service gets you through to Washington ESD much faster than calling directly. Their callback system is brilliant - no more spending hours on hold.
Bottom line - if your employer missed the 10-day deadline and you were legitimately laid off due to lack of work, you should be fine. Washington ESD protects workers from employer retaliation through these time limits.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about my situation now. Sounds like my employer probably missed their chance to contest.
For anyone still struggling to get information about their claim, I ended up using that Claimyr service and it was honestly a lifesaver. Finally got to speak with an actual person who could explain what was happening with my claim.
Bottom line: expect 2-4 weeks for your first payment if everything goes smoothly, longer if there are complications. Keep filing those weekly claims and don't panic if it takes a little longer than expected. The system is slow but it usually works eventually.
Don't stress too much about having every single detail perfect. You can make corrections later if needed. The important thing is to file as soon as possible because benefits are only paid from the date you file, not from when you became unemployed.
Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much more prepared now. Going to gather all my documents this weekend and file on Monday. Appreciate the detailed responses.
I think the confusion comes from some of the federal programs during COVID that had different rules. Regular state unemployment benefits have always been available multiple times as long as you meet eligibility.
Bottom line - no limit on how many times you can collect unemployment in Washington. Just need to meet the eligibility requirements each time. Your friend was definitely wrong about the lifetime limit thing.
Ana Rusula
I had a similar situation with my retail job - they kept cutting hours but wouldn't lay anyone off completely. Partial unemployment benefits really helped bridge the gap while I found a better job. The whole process took about 3 weeks from filing to receiving my first payment.
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Mason Lopez
•3 weeks seems reasonable. Did you have any issues with your employer contesting the claim?
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Ana Rusula
•No, they didn't contest it. I think they knew they had cut everyone's hours and couldn't really argue against it. Having documentation of the schedule changes definitely helped.
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Fidel Carson
Double-check that you meet the monetary requirements before spending too much time on the application. If you don't have enough earnings in your base period, you'll just get denied and have to wait to reapply later.
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Fidel Carson
•The Washington ESD website has some calculators and information about base period requirements. You can also call them, though like others mentioned, getting through can be challenging.
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Honorah King
•Or use Claimyr to get through to an agent who can check your earnings history and tell you if you qualify before you file. That way you're not wasting time on an application that will get denied.
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