Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the ESD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the ESD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
This is such a comprehensive thread with great advice! I'm a newcomer here but have been dealing with Washington ESD for my own claim recently. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your former employer has ever had to deal with a workers' compensation claim, their ESD account number would also be on any correspondence from L&I (Labor & Industries) since the two agencies sometimes cross-reference employer information. It's a long shot, but worth checking if they have any old workers' comp paperwork lying around. Also, as someone who's currently navigating the ESD system myself, I really appreciate seeing how helpful this community is in sharing practical solutions to these bureaucratic challenges!
Welcome to the community! That's a really good point about L&I correspondence - I hadn't thought about that connection. Since workers' comp and unemployment insurance are both state labor programs, it makes sense that they'd reference each other's account numbers in their paperwork. Even if a business hasn't had recent workers' comp claims, they might have old registration documents from when they first set up their coverage that could have the ESD info. It's great to have another perspective from someone actively dealing with the ESD system right now - this whole process can feel overwhelming when you're trying to navigate it for the first time!
As someone who's been through the ESD system recently myself, I wanted to add another potential resource that might help your former employer. If they've ever had to respond to any unemployment claims from former employees (not just yours), those response forms they filled out would have their employer account number printed right on them. Many small businesses keep these in a file since they're official correspondence about personnel matters. It's worth having them check any employment-related paperwork they might have saved from the past few years. Also, echoing what others have said about taking care of your own claim - don't let helping them delay getting your own benefits sorted out. The system can be frustrating, but your financial situation matters too!
Join the conversation
I'm going through this nightmare right now too! Got flagged for "able and available" for the last week of February. What's driving me crazy is that I was literally sitting by my phone every day hoping someone would call for an interview, and now they want me to PROVE I was ready to work? Based on what everyone's saying here, I'm putting together a statement that covers: - Exact hours I was available (I'm doing 6 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week) - Transportation details (my 2018 Honda Accord with valid license and insurance) - No medical issues, no travel, no other commitments - Reference to my work search log showing I applied to 8 jobs that week The thing that really gets me is how they make it sound like you did something wrong when really they're just doing random audits. I've been unemployed for 3 months and have applied to over 100 jobs - if that doesn't show I'm "available" I don't know what does! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences. At least now I know this is normal ESD bureaucracy and not just them picking on me specifically. Going to submit my documentation tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed.
I feel your frustration! Going through the same thing and it's so stressful when you're already dealing with unemployment. Your statement sounds really comprehensive - mentioning those 8 job applications for that specific week is smart since it directly shows you were actively available and seeking work during the exact period they're questioning. One thing I learned from reading everyone's responses is to be super specific about dates. Since they're asking about the last week of February, maybe include the exact dates (like "February 22-28, 2025") in your statement so they know you're addressing their specific timeframe. It really does seem like random audits based on what everyone's sharing. Hang in there - sounds like most people get approved once they submit the detailed documentation!
I just went through this exact situation two months ago and totally understand your frustration! The "able and available" review is actually pretty routine - they randomly audit claims to ensure compliance with federal requirements. Here's what worked for me: I wrote a detailed statement covering the specific weeks they questioned, including: - My exact availability hours (I put 7 AM to 8 PM, Monday-Saturday) - Transportation details (reliable vehicle with valid license) - Confirmation I had no medical restrictions, wasn't traveling, no school conflicts - Referenced my work search activities during those specific weeks The key is being very specific about the time period they're questioning. Don't just say "I was available" - give them concrete details about HOW you were available. I submitted it through the eServices portal under "Upload Document" and selected "Able and Available Issue." Got approved within 8 business days without needing to call. Your job search log showing 5 applications per week is actually great supporting evidence - make sure to reference that in your statement since it demonstrates you were actively seeking work during the questioned period. Hang in there, this usually resolves pretty quickly once you submit the documentation!
This is really helpful, thank you! I'm definitely going to reference my job search log in my statement since it shows I was actively looking during those exact weeks. Quick question - when you say you put "7 AM to 8 PM, Monday-Saturday," did you specifically avoid saying Sunday or was there a reason? I've been putting 7 days a week in my draft but wondering if being available literally every single day might seem unrealistic to them? Also, did you mention anything about being willing to work different shifts or just stick to those specific hours?
Good question about the hours! I said Monday-Saturday because that's honestly what felt realistic for my situation - I had some Sunday family commitments. But if you're truly available 7 days, definitely say that! The key is being honest about YOUR actual availability. As for shifts, I kept it simple and just stated those hours, but you could definitely add something like "available for any shift within these hours" or "flexible with scheduling" if that's true for you. The more specific and honest you can be about your real availability, the better. They're not looking for you to be a robot available 24/7 - they just want to confirm nothing was preventing you from accepting work if it was offered.
Join the conversation
I've been working seasonal jobs at a Christmas tree farm and summer farmers markets for the past two years, and I can confirm that Washington ESD absolutely allows seasonal workers to collect unemployment benefits! The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of my employment dates and wages. When I first filed, I was worried they'd deny me because the work is predictably seasonal, but the ESD representative I spoke to (through claimyr.com actually - saved me hours of phone calls) explained that seasonal unemployment is different from voluntary unemployment. As long as you're laid off due to lack of work and not because you chose to quit, you're eligible. My advice is to file immediately when your season ends, be completely honest about your work pattern, and don't let employers discourage you from applying. You pay into the unemployment system through your wages, so you've earned the right to use it during your off-season periods. The peace of mind during those gap months is worth the effort of filing and maintaining your weekly claims.
This is such great advice about keeping detailed records! I'm just starting out with seasonal work and hadn't thought about documenting everything so carefully. Your point about seasonal unemployment being different from voluntary unemployment is really important - I think a lot of people get confused about that distinction. It's encouraging to hear from someone who's successfully navigated the system for multiple seasons. I'm definitely going to start keeping better records of my employment dates and wages from day one. Thanks for sharing your experience with both the tree farm and farmers market work - it shows that even shorter seasonal gigs can qualify for benefits as long as you meet the earnings requirements!
I've been working seasonal construction for the past 6 years - road crews in summer, snow plowing in winter - and I can definitely confirm that seasonal workers are eligible for unemployment benefits in Washington! The trick is understanding that there's often a gap between seasons where you're legitimately unemployed. I typically have 2-3 weeks between my road crew ending and snow plow contracts starting, plus another gap in spring. Washington ESD has always approved my claims during these transition periods. The key things that helped me: 1) Keep all your pay stubs and employment contracts showing the seasonal nature of the work, 2) File immediately when you're laid off - don't wait, 3) Be prepared to explain your work pattern if they have questions, and 4) Stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements. I usually look for other seasonal positions or temp work during the gaps. One year I actually picked up some holiday retail work during my winter gap which worked out great. Don't let anyone tell you seasonal workers don't deserve unemployment - you pay into the system and have every right to use it when you need it!
This is incredibly helpful information about seasonal construction work! I never realized that those short gaps between seasons would qualify for unemployment benefits - I always thought you needed to be unemployed for longer periods. Your point about having contracts that show the seasonal nature of the work is really smart. I'm curious about the holiday retail work you mentioned picking up - did that affect your unemployment benefits at all, or were you able to work part-time while still collecting? Also, your advice about not waiting to file is something I'll definitely remember. I've been hesitant to apply thinking the gaps were too short to matter, but it sounds like every period of legitimate unemployment counts. Thanks for breaking down the practical steps so clearly!
Join the conversation
FINAL EDIT: Mea culpa! I had forgotten I received benefits in 2010-2012. Please ignore this post. Sorry! I just wanted to update everyone. After digging deeper into my records as someone suggested, I realized those 1099-Gs ARE actually from 2010-2012 when I received benefits during the recession. I completely forgot about that period! My recent 1099-Gs should be available separately, I just didn't look in the right place. Sorry for the confusion and thanks everyone for your help.
No worries! This happens more often than you'd think. Make sure you check under the tax documents section specifically for the more recent years. ESD should have your 2022 1099-G posted there, though sometimes they're late uploading them. Glad you got it sorted out!
This is actually a great example of why it's so important to keep organized records of all unemployment periods! I've been through the ESD system multiple times over the years and it can definitely be confusing when you have claims from different time periods. For anyone else reading this - always check the "Tax Documents" section separately from your general account overview, and remember that 1099-Gs can take a while to show up for recent benefit years. ESD's interface isn't the most intuitive for finding older vs. newer documents.
Angelica Smith
Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit using a specific formula based on your highest earning quarter in the base period. They take that quarterly amount, divide by 26, and that becomes your weekly benefit rate. Pretty straightforward once you understand the base period concept.
0 coins
Jasmine Quinn
•Thanks everyone for all the explanations! This thread really helped me understand how my benefits were calculated.
0 coins
Angelica Smith
•Glad it helped! The base period is really the key to understanding the whole calculation.
0 coins
Caden Turner
I went through the same confusion when I first started receiving benefits! What helped me was understanding that Washington ESD doesn't actually show you a "rate" percentage anywhere - your weekly benefit amount IS your rate. If you're getting $487/week, that's your unemployment insurance rate. The calculation behind it uses your base period wages (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed), but the end result - that $487 - is what people mean when they talk about your "rate." Hope that clears things up!
0 coins