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Look into disaster relief programs too if you're in an area that had any natural disasters recently. Sometimes there are special unemployment extensions or other assistance available that people don't know about.
Remember that exhausting your benefits doesn't mean you failed. The job market is tough right now and 26 weeks sometimes just isn't enough through no fault of your own.
One last tip - when you file, have all your employer information ready including dates of employment and reason for separation. The more accurate information you provide upfront, the smoother the process goes. Mistakes or missing info can cause delays.
And remember, if you get stuck or confused during any part of the process, services like Claimyr can help you get through to Washington ESD agents who can walk you through your specific situation. Sometimes talking to a real person makes all the difference in understanding what's happening with your claim.
Worth mentioning that even if you don't qualify for regular unemployment, there might be other programs available depending on your situation. Washington has extended benefits during high unemployment periods and other assistance programs.
One last tip - when you do file (if needed), be completely honest about everything. Washington ESD will verify your information with employers anyway, and any discrepancies can cause major delays or disqualification.
The Washington ESD website has a benefit calculator but honestly talking to an actual person helps clarify things if your situation is complicated. I had multiple jobs during my base period and needed someone to explain how they combined the wages.
That's exactly my situation - I had 2 different jobs during the base period. Might be worth calling to get it explained properly.
Definitely recommend using Claimyr if you need to actually talk to someone. Made the whole process much clearer for me when I had questions about my calculation.
Filed 3 weeks ago and still waiting for my monetary determination. The waiting is the worst part because you can't plan anything without knowing what you'll get. Hope your process goes smoother than mine has been.
Arnav Bengali
If anyone's still worried about this, I used that Claimyr service mentioned earlier and got connected to a Washington ESD agent who explained my exact situation. Much better than guessing or stressing about it. The peace of mind was worth it.
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Taylor To
•I think I'm going to try that. This thread helped a lot but I'd still like to talk to an actual agent about my specific circumstances.
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Sayid Hassan
Summary for anyone who finds this thread later: Working while collecting unemployment is legal as long as you report ALL earnings and work hours when you file your weekly claim. Not reporting is fraud and illegal, but the work itself is fine and even encouraged by Washington ESD.
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Rachel Tao
•Perfect summary. Wish I had seen something this clear when I was confused about this same issue.
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Taylor To
•Thank you everyone for all the helpful information. I feel so much better about this whole situation now.
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