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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!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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!
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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.
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If you're still having trouble reaching someone at Washington ESD about how your benefits might affect your school enrollment, you might want to check out claimyr.com. I used their service to actually get through to a real person at Washington ESD when I couldn't get through on my own. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helped me get the answers I needed about my specific situation.
Oh interesting, I hadn't heard of that service before. Did it actually work to get you through to Washington ESD?
Yeah, it saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals. I was able to talk to someone about my school enrollment and get everything straightened out with my claim.
I went through this exact situation two years ago when I was laid off from my job at Boeing and had to navigate both Washington ESD benefits and FAFSA applications. Here's what I learned: Yes, your unemployment benefits absolutely count as income on the FAFSA, but don't let that discourage you from applying for aid. The key things to remember are: 1) Get your 1099-G form from Washington ESD as soon as it's available (usually in January), 2) File your taxes early so you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on your FAFSA, and 3) Be completely honest about all income sources. I ended up qualifying for both federal and state aid even with my UI benefits reported. Also, once you start school, make sure to update Washington ESD about your class schedule - they have specific rules about students collecting benefits. The financial aid office at your school will be your best resource for navigating any complications. Don't give up on your education goals because of this temporary income situation!
This is incredibly detailed and helpful - thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through this with Boeing layoffs and Washington ESD. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about getting the 1099-G early and filing taxes ASAP so I can use that data retrieval tool. Quick question - when you updated Washington ESD about your class schedule, did they reduce your benefits or were you able to keep collecting while in school?
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Just wanted to share my experience since I'm doing something similar! I've been doing DoorDash for about 3 months while on unemployment, making around $200-250 per week. The key things I've learned: 1) Always report your GROSS earnings (including tips) for the week you worked, not when you got paid, 2) Keep screenshots of your weekly earnings summary from the DoorDash app - this has been a lifesaver during my recent phone interview with ESD, 3) Track your hours worked because you'll need to report those too. One thing that surprised me was that ESD actually asked me specific questions about my gig work during a routine eligibility review - they wanted to know if I was turning down delivery requests during typical business hours when I should be available for job interviews. Since I only work evenings and weekends, it wasn't an issue, but it's something to consider. The income reduction hasn't been as bad as I expected - I'm still getting about 75% of my full benefit amount. Just be super accurate with your reporting and you should be fine!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who's actually been through the process! I'm glad to know that doing gig work in the evenings/weekends is viewed more favorably by ESD. That makes total sense from an availability standpoint. I've been keeping screenshots of my DoorDash earnings but wasn't sure if they'd actually want to see them - sounds like it was smart to have them ready. One follow-up question: when they asked about turning down delivery requests, did they want specific details or was it more of a general availability check? I want to make sure I'm prepared if they call me for a similar review.
@Myles Regis Really appreciate you sharing your actual experience with the ESD review process! The fact that they specifically asked about turning down deliveries during business hours is eye-opening - I hadn t'thought about that aspect. I ve'been doing my DoorDash runs mostly between 5-7pm after finishing my daily job applications, so hopefully that timing works in my favor too. Your 75% benefit retention rate is way more encouraging than I expected - I was bracing for much steeper reductions. Quick question: during that eligibility review, did they ask you to submit the DoorDash screenshots right away, or did they give you time to gather the documentation? I want to make sure I m'prepared if they contact me for a similar review.
I've been doing exactly what you're doing - DoorDash for about 2 hours daily while on unemployment. Here's what I've learned after 6 weeks: definitely keep reporting everything including tips, but don't stress too much about the income reduction. With your $915 WBA, you can earn up to about $305 without any reduction at all. Even if you go slightly over some weeks, the reduction isn't dollar-for-dollar harsh like some people make it sound. One tip that's helped me a lot: I schedule my DoorDash hours for 5-7pm specifically so it doesn't interfere with potential job interviews or look like I'm unavailable during business hours. Also, I use a simple spreadsheet to track date, hours worked, gross earnings (including tips), and take a screenshot of my weekly earnings summary from the app every Sunday. This has made my weekly claim filing super straightforward. The mental health benefit of staying busy and having some routine is honestly worth the small reduction in benefits. Just stay consistent with your reporting and you'll be fine!
This is exactly the kind of practical advice I was looking for! The 5-7pm scheduling is brilliant - I hadn't thought about how the timing could affect how ESD views my availability for interviews. I'm definitely going to start being more strategic about when I dash. Your spreadsheet system sounds like a great way to stay organized too. I've been kind of haphazardly tracking things, but having a consistent weekly routine for documentation makes a lot of sense. Thanks for mentioning the mental health aspect too - that's honestly a big part of why I started doing this. Sitting at home all day was driving me crazy, and having those couple hours of activity really helps break up the monotony of job searching.
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UPDATE: Found the reopen option under Manage Claims! It was hidden in a submenu. Submitted the request and now it shows as 'pending review.' Hopefully this works without needing to call anyone. Thanks everyone for the help!
Great news! Make sure to keep checking your account for any additional requirements they might ask for.
Glad you found it! The Washington ESD website design definitely doesn't make it easy to find these options.
Congrats on finding the reopen option! Just a heads up - while your request is pending review, start gathering all your documentation (termination papers, any work you did between claims, etc.) in case they ask for additional verification. Also, once it's approved, you can usually start filing your weekly claims right away even if the first payment takes a bit longer to process. The key is not to let any weeks go unfiled once you're active again. Good luck!
This is really helpful advice! I didn't think about gathering documentation ahead of time. Better to be prepared than scrambling later if they request extra proof. Thanks for the tip about filing weekly claims right away once approved too - I would have probably waited for the first payment to go through.
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One more thing - remember that job search activities don't just mean applying for jobs. You can also count: 1. Attending WorkSource workshops (virtual or in-person) 2. Meeting with a career counselor 3. Posting your resume on job boards 4. Creating profiles on employer websites 5. Attending job fairs Makes it easier to get your 3 activities each week if you expand beyond just applications.
That's really helpful information! I'll definitely look into the WorkSource workshops especially. Are there any you recommend that are particularly useful?
I've done several WorkSource workshops and found the "Resume Writing in the Digital Age" and "Interview Skills" workshops really useful. They're offered virtually multiple times per week which makes scheduling easier. The "LinkedIn Optimization" workshop is great too if you're trying to build your online presence. You can register for them on the WorkSource website and they count as valid job search activities. Plus you actually learn useful stuff that helps with your job hunt!
Just wanted to add that if you're in manufacturing like me, there are industry-specific job search resources that count as activities too. The Manufacturing Industrial Council of Seattle has virtual networking events and job placement workshops that ESD accepts. Also, if your union has any job placement services or retraining programs, those activities count as well. I used these when my standby ended and it really helped diversify my weekly job search activities beyond just online applications.
Eva St. Cyr
I'm going through this exact same process right now - filed my initial claim last week and have been checking my account obsessively every day! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The one-week waiting period was news to me, and I definitely wasn't aware that job search activities needed to start immediately. I've been hesitating to start applying places thinking I should wait for my claim to be approved first, but clearly I need to get moving on that right away. It's also good to know that 2-3 weeks is a normal timeline even for straightforward cases - I was getting worried that something was wrong since it's been over a week with no payment yet. Going to double-check my direct deposit info and make sure I'm staying on top of those weekly claims. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences and timelines - this has been way more informative than the official Washington ESD resources!
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Benjamin Johnson
•You're definitely not alone in feeling anxious about checking your account constantly! I went through the same thing when I filed. One thing that really helped me was understanding that the system updates aren't always immediate - sometimes status changes happen overnight or during business hours, so checking multiple times a day doesn't necessarily give you new info. The job search requirement definitely catches people off guard since it's not super prominent when you're filing. I'd recommend getting started on WorkSourceWA right away and logging any networking, resume updates, or job applications you do. Even informal job search activities count, so don't feel like you need to be applying to 10 jobs a day immediately. The weekly claims are definitely your lifeline though - keep filing those religiously even if your main claim is still pending. Hang in there, the waiting period is tough but most people do get through it!
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Jackie Martinez
I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now - filed my initial claim last Tuesday and have been anxiously waiting to see when I'll actually receive money. It's such a relief to read through everyone's experiences and realize that the 2-3 week timeline is pretty normal, even for straightforward layoffs like mine. I had been getting really stressed thinking something was wrong since it's been over a week with no movement. The one-week waiting period definitely wasn't clearly explained when I filed, so I was confused about why I wouldn't get paid for that first week. I've been keeping up with my weekly claims and just started logging job search activities after reading this thread - wish I had known that needed to start immediately! Going to double-check my direct deposit information tonight and try to be more patient with the process. Thanks everyone for sharing your real timelines and experiences - this has been way more helpful than anything on the official Washington ESD website.
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Abigail Patel
•I totally understand that anxiety! I went through the same exact thing when I filed - constantly refreshing my account and wondering if I did something wrong. It's so frustrating that Washington ESD doesn't make the timeline clearer upfront. The one-week waiting period really should be explained more prominently during the application process. You're doing all the right things by keeping up with weekly claims and getting started on job search activities. I learned the hard way that staying consistent with those weekly filings is crucial, even when nothing seems to be happening with your main claim. The direct deposit double-check is smart too - I've heard too many stories about people having delays just because of outdated bank info. Try to hang in there, I know the waiting is nerve-wracking when you're counting on that income, but it sounds like you're on the right track!
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