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Been collecting unemployment for 12 weeks now and honestly the weekly certification process becomes routine pretty quickly. The hardest part was getting my initial claim approved and figuring out my benefit amount. Once that's sorted, it's pretty straightforward.
Pro tip: if you have questions about your benefit calculation that you can't figure out from the website, definitely try that Claimyr service. I was skeptical at first but they actually got me connected to someone at Washington ESD who could explain exactly how they calculated my weekly benefit rate. Saved me weeks of confusion.
I tried using Claimyr when I couldn't reach Washington ESD after filing my claim online. Honestly wasn't sure if it would work but it got me connected to an agent in like 20 minutes. Way better than the 3+ hours I spent trying to call on my own the day before.
Just to wrap this up - yes you can definitely file online and it's the easiest way to do it. Have your documents ready, take your time with the questions, and save that confirmation number. Good luck OP!
One thing to keep in mind - if you're getting severance pay or vacation payout from your previous employer, that might affect when your unemployment benefits start. Washington ESD considers some types of separation pay as wages which could delay your claim.
Just filed my claim last week and qualified for the maximum $999 weekly benefit. The whole process was actually pretty straightforward online, though I'm still waiting for my first payment. Make sure you have all your employment history ready when you file - dates, wages, reason for separation, etc.
That's encouraging! How long did the initial filing take you? And did you run into any issues with the online system?
For what it's worth, $52k annually should put you close to the higher end of benefit amounts in Washington. You'll probably qualify for $600-700 per week depending on how your earnings were distributed across quarters.
Make sure to set up your online account at https://secure.esd.wa.gov right away. You'll need it for filing weekly claims and checking your benefit status. The site can be glitchy sometimes but it's the main way to manage your claim.
Caden Turner
The golden rule is file the same day or next business day at the latest. Washington ESD doesn't pay you for time before you filed, even if you were unemployed during that time.
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Marcelle Drum
•Got it, I'm convinced! Filing today for sure.
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Caden Turner
•Smart choice! Good luck with everything and don't forget about those weekly claims once your initial claim is approved.
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McKenzie Shade
Last thing - make sure you have your direct deposit info ready when you apply. It speeds up getting your payments once everything is approved. And seriously, don't wait!
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Marcelle Drum
•Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. Going to start my application right now.
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