


Ask the community...
Update: I used Claimyr yesterday and was able to get through to an ESD agent in about 15 minutes. Changed my withholding to 10% federal and also asked about making a lump sum payment for taxes on benefits I've already received. The agent was really helpful and explained all my options.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. I'm definitely going to get my withholding changed and start setting aside money for taxes. Better to be prepared than get hit with a surprise bill!
update: just got my determination letter!! approved for $394 per week. so relieved. thanks everyone for the help and advice
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel a lot better knowing what to expect. Will keep checking my account and filing weekly claims while I wait. Hopefully my letter comes soon too!
If you end up needing to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your specific pregnancy situation, I've heard good things about that Claimyr service too. They helped my sister get through when she was having issues with her claim.
File TODAY. The Washington ESD website says you should file during your first week of unemployment. Don't overthink it - just get the process started. You can always answer questions later if they come up during processing.
Just to add - make sure you're filing in Washington state if that's where you worked. I almost filed in the wrong state when I moved right before getting laid off and that would have been a huge mess to untangle.
Thais Soares
For what it's worth, I've seen way more performance-based claims get approved than denied. Washington state seems to err on the side of supporting workers who genuinely tried to do their job but it just wasn't a good fit.
0 coins
Beatrice Marshall
•That's really encouraging to hear. I definitely tried my best at that job, it just wasn't the right match.
0 coins
Thais Soares
•Exactly! That's the kind of situation unemployment insurance is designed for.
0 coins
Nalani Liu
One last tip: if you do end up needing to talk to Washington ESD during the process and can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr service people mentioned earlier actually works. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much time and stress when I needed to clarify something about my adjudication.
0 coins
Beatrice Marshall
•I'll keep that in mind if I run into phone issues. Thanks for the recommendation!
0 coins
Axel Bourke
•Yeah, their phone system is notoriously difficult. Any tool that helps get through is worth considering.
0 coins