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Thanks for asking this question OP. I'm in a similar boat and was too embarrassed to ask. Really helpful thread!
This has been a great discussion. The key takeaway is that yes, your employer will know, but filing for benefits you qualify for is your legal right and most employers understand that. Don't let fear prevent you from getting financial assistance you've earned through your work history.
Also remember you can usually collect benefits for up to 26 weeks in Washington, but you need to keep filing those weekly claims and meeting all the requirements. Miss a week and you lose that week's benefits forever.
Washington state also has extended benefits sometimes during high unemployment periods, but I don't think those are available right now. The regular 26 weeks is what you can count on.
I had issues with my claim last year and spent weeks trying to get through to Washington ESD by phone. Finally tried Claimyr and got connected to an agent the same day. Definitely worth considering if you run into problems.
Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. I'll keep that in mind as a backup plan if I can't reach anyone directly.
Good luck with your claim! The initial anxiety is normal but most people get through the process fine. Just stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements.
Don't forget that even with part-time work you might still qualify for things like the job training programs through WorkSource if you want to learn new skills
Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about balancing part-time work with my unemployment claim now.
Logan Stewart
One last thought - if your back injury is work-related, you might also want to look into workers' compensation. That could be another source of income while you're waiting for disability to process.
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Logan Stewart
•Might still be worth checking into. Workers' comp can sometimes cover injuries that develop or worsen after you leave the job.
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Zadie Patel
•Definitely worth exploring. Workers' comp, unemployment, and SSDI all have different rules and timelines.
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Haley Bennett
Thanks everyone for all the advice. I think I'm going to try to get through to Washington ESD first to ask about putting my claim on standby, then talk to a disability lawyer about the SSDI application. I'll also look into the workers' comp angle. This is way more complicated than I thought it would be.
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Douglas Foster
•Good luck with everything. These situations are stressful but you're asking the right questions and getting good advice here.
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Declan Ramirez
•And remember to document everything! You'll thank yourself later if any issues come up.
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