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I've been working part-time for 3 months while on unemployment and it's been working out well. Just make sure you keep good records of your hours and earnings in case Washington ESD ever asks for documentation.
File immediately and then start your job search right away too. Washington has work search requirements and they can ask for your job search log at any time. Better to start tracking from day one.
Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect on your initial application. You can always provide additional information later if they need it. The important thing is getting your claim date established.
Bottom line - there really aren't any significant downsides to filing. You paid into the system, you're entitled to benefits if you qualify. Just make sure you follow all the rules and keep good documentation.
Just want to echo what others said about Claimyr - if you run into any issues with your claim that require talking to someone at Washington ESD, that service is a lifesaver. The regular phone system is basically unusable.
For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD for questions about their specific situation, I found claimyr.com super helpful. They have a service that helps you actually reach agents instead of getting the endless busy signals. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone about your claim.
Talia Klein
One more thing - make sure you understand the difference between your monetary determination and your eligibility determination. The wage requirements are just for the monetary part.
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James Maki
•What's the difference between those two things?
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Talia Klein
•Monetary determination is about whether you earned enough wages to qualify financially. Eligibility determination is about whether you're eligible based on how you lost your job, whether you're able and available to work, etc.
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Maxwell St. Laurent
Bottom line: $3,500 total wages in your base period with at least $2,625 in your highest quarter. If you made $8,000 total, you should be fine as long as it wasn't all concentrated in one quarter.
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James Maki
•Thanks everyone for all the help! I think I have a much better understanding now. I'm going to check my wage history online and then file my claim.
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Jasmine Hancock
•Good luck! Feel free to come back if you run into any issues during the application process.
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