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The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator tool but honestly it never worked right for me. Always gave me error messages when I tried to use it. Probably easier to just do the math yourself with that 3.85% formula someone mentioned earlier.
Yeah their website tools are pretty hit or miss. I've had better luck just calling when I need specific information, though getting through can be a challenge.
That's when services like Claimyr come in handy. I used them twice when I couldn't get through on my own and it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of guessing.
Don't forget you'll also need to do work search activities to keep getting benefits. I think it's 3 job contacts per week minimum, and you have to keep a log of your activities.
Online applications definitely count! You just need to keep track of the employer name, date, position applied for, and method of contact. Pretty straightforward.
Just remember that your benefit amount is based on your past wages, not your current expenses. So if you were living paycheck to paycheck before getting laid off, unemployment probably won't be enough to maintain your lifestyle.
One final tip - keep detailed records of your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD can audit your claim at any time and ask for proof of your work search efforts. Better to be prepared than scramble later.
Good point. I'll start keeping track of all my applications and interviews. Is there a specific format they want?
The whole process seemed overwhelming at first but once I got my first payment and saw the exact amount, it all made sense. The Washington ESD portal shows a good breakdown of how they calculated your weekly benefit amount so you can verify it's correct.
I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times to ask about benefit amounts before filing and could never get through. Finally just filed online and the system calculated everything automatically. Probably saved myself hours of frustration trying to reach someone by phone.
Yeah the phone system is brutal. I know some people have had luck with that Claimyr service others mentioned for actually reaching agents when you really need to talk to someone.
One last tip - keep copies of everything you submit to Washington ESD. Their system sometimes loses documents and you'll want backup copies if they ask for something again.
Adrian Connor
For what it's worth, I filed my unemployment claim about 6 hours after getting laid off and everything went smoothly. The online system asks you for your last day of work, so they know exactly when your employment ended. No need to overthink the timing.
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Brandon Parker
•Perfect! Sounds like there's really no downside to filing right away. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!
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Aisha Jackson
•Glad we could help! Good luck with your claim and hope you find something new soon.
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Ryder Everingham
Last thing I'll add - when you do file, make sure you understand the weekly claim requirements. You'll need to file every week even during that waiting week, and you'll need to report any work or income. Don't skip weeks thinking you'll start later.
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Brandon Parker
•Good point! I'll make sure to keep up with the weekly claims even if I'm not getting paid yet.
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Lilly Curtis
•Yeah missing weekly claims can really mess up your benefits. Better to file them all and not need them than to skip and cause problems later.
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