Call ESD

Washington Unemployment

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  • 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
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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 :)

Sara Hellquiem

How long does unemployment determination take from Washington ESD?

I filed my unemployment claim 2 weeks ago and it's still showing 'pending determination' in my account. I know they have to review my separation from work but I'm getting nervous about how long this is taking. My last day was January 3rd and I applied right away. Does anyone know what the typical timeframe is for Washington ESD to make a determination? I've never been through this process before and bills are starting to pile up.

Liv Park

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Final thought - that claimyr service I mentioned earlier has a video demo that shows exactly how it works. Might be worth watching even if you don't use it, just so you know what options you have if the waiting gets too stressful.

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I'll check out the demo. Thanks for all the help everyone. This thread has been way more helpful than anything I found on the Washington ESD website.

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Hope everything works out for you! The waiting is definitely the hardest part but most people do get approved if they were legitimately laid off. Keep us posted on how it goes!

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Will do! Thanks again for the Claimyr recommendation. I'm feeling a lot better about the whole process now.

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GalacticGuru

Washington ESD unemployment compensation taxable - need tax advice

Just got my 1099-G form from Washington ESD and realized I might owe taxes on my unemployment benefits from last year. I collected about $18,000 in UI payments after getting laid off from my warehouse job in March. Nobody told me this was taxable income when I filed my claim! I didn't have any taxes withheld either. How much am I going to owe? Should I have been setting money aside for taxes this whole time?

PSA for anyone reading this thread - if you're currently collecting unemployment, log into your Washington ESD account and set up tax withholding NOW. Don't make the same mistake we all did!

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GalacticGuru

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Absolutely agree. This thread should be required reading for new unemployment claimants.

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Javier Torres

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Definitely wish I'd seen this advice 8 months ago when I started my claim.

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Emma Davis

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Update on my earlier comment about Claimyr - I used them again yesterday to get through to Washington ESD about updating my tax withholding preferences. Super quick process and the agent was really helpful explaining how it works. Worth checking out if you need to make changes to your claim.

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GalacticGuru

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I might give them a try. Still have some questions about my claim that I haven't been able to get answered.

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Emma Davis

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Yeah their system makes it so much easier than trying to get through the regular phone lines. The video demo really shows how simple it is.

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Yuki Ito

How long do I have to be working to get Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

I've been at my current job for about 8 months now and I'm worried I might get laid off soon due to company restructuring. I'm trying to figure out if I've worked long enough to qualify for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. Does anyone know what the minimum work requirement is? I've heard different things from coworkers - some say 6 months, others say you need a full year. I'm really stressed about this because I need to know if I'll have any income if I lose my job.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This thread has been really informative for understanding Washington ESD requirements.

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Yuki Ito

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Agreed! I feel much more confident about my situation now. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain things.

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Dylan Mitchell

How to explain unemployment gap to potential employers - Washington ESD claim advice needed

I've been on unemployment for about 8 months now through Washington ESD and I'm finally getting some interviews lined up. The problem is I'm not sure how to explain this gap when employers ask about it. I know I need to be honest but I'm worried it makes me look bad. Should I mention that I was collecting UI benefits? How do other people handle this when job searching? I've been doing my weekly claims and meeting all the job search requirements but now I'm stressed about how this looks on applications.

Omar Zaki

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Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more confident about handling this question now. Going to practice my explanation and focus on the positive aspects of how I've spent my time job searching.

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You'll do great! Just remember that unemployment is temporary and you're actively working to change your situation.

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Hope you land something soon! Keep us posted on how the interviews go.

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This thread was really helpful for me too. I'm about to start interviewing after 6 months on unemployment and was worried about the same thing. Nice to know I'm not alone in this situation.

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Glad it helped! Good luck with your job search too.

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Diego Flores

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There are definitely more of us dealing with this than you'd think. Job market has been tough.

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Amina Toure

When do Washington ESD unemployment benefits start after filing claim?

I submitted my initial unemployment claim with Washington ESD last Tuesday and I'm wondering when I can expect to receive my first payment. My account shows the claim was processed but I haven't seen any money yet. Do benefits start immediately or is there a waiting period? I've been out of work for two weeks now and really need to know when I can expect some income.

Carmen Flores

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For what it's worth, I've found calling Washington ESD first thing Monday morning around 8:05 AM gives you the best chance of getting through. Still takes persistence though.

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Amina Toure

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Thanks for the tip! I've been trying at random times without much strategy.

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Andre Dubois

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Mondays are definitely better than Fridays. But honestly, services like Claimyr are worth it if you need to get through quickly.

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CyberSamurai

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Just want to add that if you worked in multiple states, your claim might take longer to process because they have to coordinate between state agencies. Something to keep in mind.

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Amina Toure

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I only worked in Washington so hopefully that won't be an issue for me.

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CyberSamurai

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You should be fine then. In-state claims are much more straightforward.

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