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Washington Unemployment

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Henry Delgado

Can u file for unemployment if u get fired - Washington ESD eligibility questions

So I just got terminated from my job yesterday and I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD? My supervisor said it was for performance issues but honestly I think they just wanted to get rid of me. I've been working there for almost 2 years and never had any write-ups or anything official. Do I still qualify for UI benefits even though I got fired? I really need the income while I look for something else.

Quick question - if I file and then find a new job before my claim is processed, do I need to do anything special or just stop filing weekly claims?

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You should report the new job on your weekly claim filing. If you're working full time, you won't be eligible for that week's benefits, but you can always reopen your claim if the job doesn't work out.

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Got it, thanks for clarifying that.

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Thanks everyone for all the advice! I'm definitely going to file my claim tonight. Feeling much more confident about my chances now. Will update if I hear anything back from Washington ESD.

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Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims every week even while you're waiting for the adjudication decision.

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You've got this! Just be patient with the process and don't hesitate to follow up if it takes too long.

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Elijah Brown

I owe Washington ESD unemployment money - can I still collect benefits?

Got hit with an overpayment notice from Washington ESD saying I owe $2,800 from a previous claim last year. They're saying I didn't report some temp work correctly. Now I'm unemployed again and need to file a new claim. Can I still collect unemployment benefits while I owe them money? Will they just take it out of my new payments? Really stressed about this because I need the income to pay rent.

Thanks again everyone. Filed my new claim this morning and got confirmation. Now just need to tackle the overpayment issue. Will try calling early tomorrow morning first, then consider the Claimyr option if that doesn't work.

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Keep us updated on how it goes. Always good to know what's working for getting through to Washington ESD.

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Congrats on getting the claim filed. That's the most important step done.

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This whole thread is exactly why I love this forum. Real people helping each other navigate the Washington ESD maze. Way better than trying to figure this stuff out from their website.

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Absolutely. The official Washington ESD info is so confusing and generic.

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Agreed. Real experiences from people who've been through it are invaluable.

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Ana Erdoğan

Can you apply for unemployment if your hours are reduced in Washington ESD?

My manager just told me they're cutting my hours from 40 to 20 per week starting next month due to slow business. I'm wondering if I can apply for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD for the reduced hours? I've never filed for UI before and don't know if partial unemployment is a thing. Still keeping my job but losing half my income is going to be really tough. Anyone know how this works with Washington ESD?

Last thing I'll mention - if your hours get restored to full-time, make sure to stop filing immediately. Washington ESD will come after you for overpayment if you keep claiming benefits while working full-time.

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Good to know. I definitely don't want to deal with an overpayment situation down the road.

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Yeah those overpayment notices are no joke. They want their money back with interest if you mess up.

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Hope this all works out for you! Partial unemployment benefits really helped me get through a tough period when my hours were cut. The system isn't perfect but it does provide some financial relief when you need it most.

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Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about filing now.

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You're welcome! Don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues with your claim.

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Sophia Carson

What do u need to qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

hey everyone, just got laid off from my retail job last week and wondering what do u need to qualify for unemployment here in washington? i worked there for about 8 months but before that i was part time at another place for like 6 months. do i have enough work history? also do they check if you got fired vs laid off? my manager said it was due to budget cuts but im worried they might say something different to Washington ESD. anyone know the basic requirements?

don't forget about the waiting week - there used to be a one week waiting period before you could collect benefits but i think they got rid of that during covid

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Correct, Washington eliminated the waiting week in 2020 and it hasn't been reinstated. You can receive benefits for your first week of unemployment if you're otherwise eligible.

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good luck with your claim! just be patient because it can take a few weeks to get approved even if everything goes smoothly

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thank you! hopefully it won't take too long

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Brian Downey

How long does it take to get a response from Washington ESD unemployment office?

I've been trying to get answers about my claim for weeks now. Filed my initial claim back in January and it's been stuck in adjudication ever since. I've sent messages through my eServices account, left voicemails, and even tried the live chat but nothing. My weekly claims are all pending and I'm starting to panic about rent. Does anyone know how long Washington ESD typically takes to respond to inquiries? I'm wondering if I should just keep waiting or if something is wrong with my case.

The reality is that Washington ESD is swamped and response times are unpredictable. Some people get callbacks in days, others wait months. There's no rhyme or reason to it. If you absolutely need to speak with someone urgently, you might want to consider using a service like Claimyr to bypass the normal queue.

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Thanks for the honest assessment. I think I'm going to look into that Claimyr service since several people have mentioned it.

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good call. sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands when the system isn't working

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UPDATE: I ended up using Claimyr after seeing it recommended here multiple times. Got connected to a Washington ESD rep within 30 minutes and they were able to resolve my adjudication issue on the spot. Wish I had known about this service weeks ago!

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They needed additional documentation about my job separation that I had already uploaded. The rep was able to see it and process it immediately.

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similar thing happened to me. sometimes the documents get stuck in the system and need manual processing

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