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Good luck with your application! Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you should qualify without any issues. The 8 months of full-time work at a decent salary should easily meet Washington's requirements.
Just to wrap up for anyone else reading this thread - the key requirements in Washington are: wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period, at least 680 hours of work OR wages equal to 1.25 times your highest quarter earnings, and you must be unemployed through no fault of your own. Most people who worked full-time for 6+ months will qualify.
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.
One more thing - if you're thinking about taking any part-time work while on unemployment, make sure you understand how it affects your benefits. You can still work part-time but they reduce your weekly benefit based on what you earn.
thanks everyone for all the info. this thread has been super helpful for understanding what to expect. definitely going to file this week
For anyone still confused about timing - the waiting week payment is triggered after you've been paid for 3 consecutive weeks of regular UI benefits AND you've continued to file your weekly claims. If you miss filing a week or get disqualified for any reason, it can delay the waiting week payment.
The whole waiting week concept is just another way for them to hold onto our money longer. It's frustrating but at least we do eventually get it back.
Sophia Clark
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.
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Amelia Martinez
•Thanks for sharing your experience. It's reassuring to hear from someone who's been in a similar situation.
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Sophia Clark
•No problem! The system isn't perfect but it's there to help when you need it. Just make sure to report your earnings accurately each week and you should be fine.
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Katherine Harris
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.
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Amelia Martinez
•I'm hoping I won't need that but it's good to know it's an option if things get complicated.
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Katherine Harris
•Hopefully your claim will be straightforward! But if you do run into issues, don't waste months trying to get through on your own like I did.
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