


Ask the community...
This whole thread is making me grateful I have a decent boss lol. OP I hope whatever you decide works out for you. Sounds like a really stressful situation.
final thought - dont let them push you out without documenting everything. even if you think its minor stuff write it down. dates times witnesses everything. you never know what might be important later
Don't stress too much about it - if you've been working consistently for a year at 35 hours a week, you almost certainly qualify. The bigger challenge is usually dealing with the ESD bureaucracy once you file!
One last tip - when you do file (if you need to), make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and information about your employers for the past 18 months. Having everything ready makes the process much smoother.
If anyone needs help getting through to Washington ESD customer service, I second the Claimyr recommendation. Used it last week when I had a question about my claim status and it saved so much time. Check out claimyr.com if you're tired of busy signals.
One more thing - if you ever move to another state, your Washington wage history and contributions can usually be transferred or combined with your new state's system. The states share this information for benefit calculations.
To summarize for anyone reading this later: Yes, Washington state employees pay 0.4% of wages into unemployment insurance, up to the annual wage base. This gives you eligibility for benefits if you lose your job through no fault of your own. It's insurance you're paying for, not a government handout.
Kolton Murphy
Just want to add that the tax rates vary significantly between states. Washington's rates are generally competitive with other states, and the benefits are pretty decent compared to some places that cap weekly benefits really low.
0 coins
Evelyn Rivera
•What are the current maximum weekly benefits in Washington? I haven't checked recently.
0 coins
Kolton Murphy
•I think it's around $900+ per week maximum now, depending on your previous earnings. Much better than states that cap it at $300-400.
0 coins
Julia Hall
Used Claimyr yesterday and finally got through to Washington ESD after weeks of trying. The agent explained that my employer's account was flagged for some reason and that's why my claim was stuck. Got it resolved in one phone call thanks to actually reaching someone.
0 coins
Lucas Turner
•Seems like a lot of people here have had success with that service.
0 coins
Julia Hall
•Yeah, worth every penny to avoid the frustration of calling Washington ESD directly. Their phone system is just overwhelmed.
0 coins