Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the ESD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the ESD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Join the conversation
Been through this process twice now and the waiting never gets easier. But once you get that first payment, the relief is incredible. Hang in there!
Thanks everyone for all the advice and support. This thread has been really helpful!
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If you're really struggling financially during the waiting week, look into local food banks and emergency assistance programs. Some communities have resources specifically for people waiting for unemployment benefits to kick in.
That's really helpful advice, I hadn't thought about looking into emergency assistance
211 is a good resource to call for local assistance programs
Bottom line: Yes, Washington state still requires a waiting week for unemployment benefits in 2023. File as soon as possible after job loss, complete all weekly requirements including during the waiting week, and be prepared for at least 2-3 weeks before receiving your first payment.
Perfect summary, thank you! This thread has been super helpful
Agree, lots of good info here about the waiting week requirement
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If you have problems with certification that you can't resolve online, calling Washington ESD is your best bet. Though like someone mentioned earlier, their phone system is frustrating. I've heard good things about that Claimyr service for getting through to them faster.
I'm going to bookmark that Claimyr site just in case I run into problems.
Smart idea. Better to have it ready than spend hours on hold when you're stressed about a certification issue.
One more tip: Print or screenshot your certification confirmation each week. It's proof you submitted it on time if there's ever a question about your claim.
Great advice! I'll start doing that from my first certification.
It's saved me from having to prove I certified on time more than once. Always good to have documentation.
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Also keep in mind that if you work part-time while collecting, that can extend how long your benefits last since you're not collecting the full amount each week. It's called partial unemployment and it can stretch out your 26 weeks over a longer period.
Yes, as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount plus $5. Washington ESD has specific rules about reporting part-time earnings.
Just make sure you report any work income on your weekly claims. They're strict about that and failure to report can cause big problems.
The short answer is 6 months maximum for regular Washington unemployment benefits. But start your job search immediately and don't count on getting the full 26 weeks. Things can change and it's better to be prepared.
Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses. This has been really helpful in understanding what to expect.
Good luck with your job search! The Washington job market isn't too bad right now in most sectors.
Logan Chiang
The whole system seems designed to confuse people. I wish Washington ESD would just put out clearer guidance about gig work and unemployment benefits.
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Isla Fischer
•Agreed! Their website has some information but it's scattered across different pages and not very clear for gig workers specifically.
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Miles Hammonds
•At least forums like this help people figure it out. Better than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone.
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Ruby Blake
Bottom line: you can absolutely drive for Uber while collecting unemployment benefits. Just report all earnings honestly, keep good records, and continue your job search activities. Thousands of people do this successfully.
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Kennedy Morrison
•Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about moving forward with driving for Uber now.
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Micah Franklin
•Good luck with the gig work! Hope you find a great full-time job soon too.
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