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For anyone still having trouble getting through to Washington ESD about payment questions, I had success with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Worth trying if you need to talk to an actual person about your specific situation.
Thanks, I might try that if I run into any issues with my payments. Good to know there's an option that actually works.
Same here, used Claimyr when I had payment issues last month. Much better than spending hours on hold for nothing.
Bottom line seems to be: file your weekly claim by Sunday, expect payment Wednesday in most cases, but Thursday is possible depending on your bank and claim type. And if there are problems, check your online account first before trying to call.
Also heads up - if you worked in multiple states recently, you might need to file an interstate claim. This can complicate things and take longer to process. Washington ESD will help determine which state you should file in based on where you worked and earned wages.
Remember that your waiting week is built into the system now - you won't get paid for your first eligible week. This used to be separate but they changed it a few years ago. So don't panic if your first payment seems delayed.
Restaurant work can be unpredictable but unemployment is designed to help with exactly these situations. I worked in food service for years and filed for partial benefits several times when hours got cut. It definitely helped bridge the gap until business picked up again.
If you end up having trouble with your claim or need to speak to someone at Washington ESD, I'd suggest trying that Claimyr service mentioned earlier. I was skeptical at first but when I was stuck in adjudication hell for over a month, they helped me get through to an agent who cleared up the issue in one phone call. Sometimes it's worth paying for help when the regular system isn't working.
Thanks everyone for all this info. I was completely clueless about unemployment taxes and now I feel like I have a handle on what to expect. Going to set up that 10% withholding first thing tomorrow morning.
Just wanted to add that if anyone needs help reaching Washington ESD to set up tax withholding or get tax documents, that Claimyr thing really does work. I was skeptical at first but it beats sitting on hold for hours. Worth checking out their demo at least.
Giovanni Martello
For what it's worth, the waiting week isn't unique to Washington. Most states have it, though some did eliminate it permanently after COVID. We're not the only ones dealing with this frustration.
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Savannah Weiner
•That doesn't make it any less frustrating when you're the one trying to pay rent with no income!
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Giovanni Martello
•Oh absolutely, I'm not defending it at all. Just pointing out it's a widespread policy issue, not just Washington being difficult.
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Levi Parker
The most important thing is to keep filing your weekly claims even during the waiting week. I know someone who stopped filing because they thought there was no point if they weren't getting paid, and it messed up their whole claim.
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Libby Hassan
•Yes! This is crucial. Missing even one weekly claim can disqualify you from benefits entirely, even if it's during the unpaid waiting week.
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Daniel Rivera
•Good to know. I'll make sure to keep filing every week no matter what. This whole system is confusing but I can't afford to make mistakes.
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