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If you end up needing to call Washington ESD for any reason and can't get through the normal way, I had success with Claimyr too. It's worth checking out their site at claimyr.com if you run into phone issues. Sometimes you really need to talk to an actual person and their regular phone system is just impossible.
Multiple people have mentioned Claimyr now so it must work pretty well. I'll keep that in mind if I need to call them. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!
Good luck with your claim! The 26 weeks should give you enough time to find something decent if you stay active in your job search. Don't get discouraged if the first few weeks are slow - sometimes it takes time for the right opportunity to come up.
The hardest part about unemployment isn't the filing process, it's actually getting through to someone at Washington ESD when you have questions. I probably spent 40+ hours on hold before finding claimyr. Now I can actually get answers when I need them.
How much does that claimyr thing cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to a government agency.
UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. Filed my regular UI claim yesterday and it was much easier than I expected. Now just waiting for the determination letter to see if I'm approved.
For what it's worth, I think Washington's unemployment benefits are pretty decent compared to other states. The maximum is almost $1000 a week which is way higher than a lot of places.
This conversation has been really eye-opening. I never connected prison labor to unemployment issues before, but it makes complete sense economically.
Thanks everyone for the discussion and advice. I'm going to keep documenting my job search for Washington ESD and look into those reentry programs. Hopefully the job market improves as more people become aware of these issues.
And remember Claimyr is there if you need to reach Washington ESD quickly about any issues with your claim.
Ashley Adams
And file as soon as possible - there's a waiting week before benefits start so don't delay!
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Libby Hassan
Pro tip: create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account before you need it. That way you can file your claim immediately when you become unemployed instead of dealing with account setup when you're already stressed.
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Hunter Hampton
•Good advice! I made that mistake and it delayed my filing by several days while I sorted out the account verification.
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Sofia Peña
•Also keep your Social Security card and driver's license handy when filing. They need to verify your identity and it's faster if you have everything ready.
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