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One last thing - if you're denied for any reason, you can appeal! Don't just accept a denial. You have 30 days to file an appeal and most people don't even try. Sometimes Washington ESD makes mistakes.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to file my claim tonight and hopefully everything goes smoothly. This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding the process.
One last tip - if you have questions about your partial claim that you can't get answered online, try the live chat feature on the Washington ESD website. It's not always available but sometimes easier than calling.
The whole process seems overwhelming but it's really not that bad once you get into the routine. File your weekly claim, report your wages accurately, keep looking for full-time work. That's basically it.
For what it's worth, I've been tracking my benefit payments and the $638 weekly amount has been consistent since I started my claim in June. No automatic increases or adjustments. The only way to get more is to qualify for and file a completely new claim after the rates increase.
Bottom line: unemployment benefit rates go up every January 1st, but only for new claims filed after that date. If you're on an existing claim, your weekly amount stays the same until you file a new claim. Whether you qualify for a new claim depends on your recent work history and wages. Hope that helps clear things up!
Agreed, and if you need specific information about your claim, don't hesitate to contact Washington ESD directly or use services like Claimyr to get through to an agent.
Deposits can be delayed for various reasons - bank processing, Washington ESD system maintenance, verification reviews, or even high volume periods. Usually nothing to worry about if your claim shows approved.
StarSurfer
For anyone else reading this thread who's having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I used it again last week when I had questions about my job search requirements and got through within a few hours. Much better than the endless busy signals.
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Aisha Mahmood
I'm definitely going to try that if I run into issues. The phone system is just impossible otherwise.
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