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reminder that if you received unemployment benefits, you might also be eligible for the earned income tax credit or other credits that could reduce what you owe
I tried using that Claimyr service mentioned here and it actually worked really well. Got connected to someone at Washington ESD who helped me understand my 1099-G and even explained some other questions I had about my claim. Way better than the runaround I was getting calling directly.
Just want to add that if you're filing as a part-time worker, make sure to report ALL your employers during the base period. I initially forgot about a short-term job and it caused delays in processing my claim.
Bottom line: part-time workers can and do qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The system is there to help people who lose work, regardless of how many hours they were working.
Last piece of advice - read all the information Washington ESD sends you, whether it's mail, email, or messages in your online account. Missing important notices can cause problems with your benefits.
Oh and one more thing - if you end up with any complex issues or appeals, don't try to handle it alone. Washington ESD's rules are complicated and having someone who knows the system can make a huge difference.
The benefit amount is just one piece of the puzzle. You also need to think about how long you can collect benefits - usually 26 weeks but it depends on the unemployment rate and other factors.
just remember you have to be actively looking for work to keep collecting. the job search requirements are no joke and they do check up on people
Oliver Schulz
Also remember that even if severance reduces your benefits for a few weeks, you don't lose those potential benefit weeks - they just get pushed out to later in your benefit year. So you're not actually losing money, just delaying when you receive it.
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Natasha Kuznetsova
•Is that actually true? I thought if you don't use all your benefits within the benefit year, you just lose them.
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Oliver Schulz
•You're right about the benefit year limit, but severance delays don't count against that timeline the same way voluntary gaps in claiming do.
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AstroAdventurer
My advice is to file your unemployment claim as soon as you're laid off, even with the severance question marks. Washington ESD will sort out the payment details, but you don't want to delay starting the process. The sooner you file, the sooner they can begin reviewing your case.
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Andre Moreau
•That makes sense. I guess I was overthinking it trying to figure out all the details first.
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Javier Mendoza
•Exactly! File first, figure out the complicated stuff later. You can always provide additional information if they need it.
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