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 :)
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Join the conversation
The biggest thing is just being thorough and honest. I know it's tempting to rush through it but taking your time on the initial application can save you weeks of headaches later.
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more confident about filling this out now.
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Real talk - the Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible. If you need to talk to someone, plan to spend hours trying to get through. The automated system hangs up on you constantly when call volume is high. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier? Yeah, I ended up using it too when I had an issue with my identity verification. Actually got connected to a real person instead of wasting my whole day redialing.
It's legitimately awful. The online system handles most basic stuff, but if you need actual help from a human it's a nightmare. Try the online help first, but if you need to call, be prepared for frustration.
I had better luck calling right when they open at 8am. Still took 45 minutes on hold but at least I didn't get hung up on.
Bottom line for the OP: Unemployment benefits are weekly payments to help you financially while you're unemployed or underemployed through no fault of your own. In Washington, you apply online, file weekly claims, conduct job searches, and can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks. With reduced hours you'll likely qualify for partial benefits. The system has its frustrations but it's designed to help people in exactly your situation.
This whole thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to apply this week. Thanks everyone for taking the time to explain everything!
You're welcome! Don't hesitate to ask more questions as you go through the process. This community is usually pretty good about helping each other navigate the Washington ESD system.
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Bottom line - exemptions are there to help people in specific situations, but you need to understand the rules and make sure you're following them. Don't assume an exemption means you can ignore all requirements. Each exemption has its own set of rules you need to follow.
That's a great summary. I feel much more informed about exemptions now. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge!
This has been a really helpful discussion. Glad we could help clarify the exemption system.
One last thing - if you're not sure about your exemption status, don't wait until there's a problem. It's better to get clarification early than try to fix issues later. The Washington ESD system is complicated enough without adding confusion about exemptions.
Which is exactly why services like Claimyr are so valuable. Getting expert help navigating these complex systems can save you a lot of headaches down the road.
yeah I wish I had known about all these exemptions when I first filed. would have saved me a lot of stress
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One last tip - if you have direct deposit set up, benefits usually show up Wednesday mornings. If you're getting a debit card, it takes longer to arrive by mail.
Definitely going with direct deposit then. I need the money as soon as possible.
Smart choice. The debit card thing is a pain and there are fees involved too.
Good luck with your application! The process seems overwhelming at first but once you get through the initial filing, the weekly claims become routine. You've got this!
Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about tackling this now.
We've all been there. Don't hesitate to ask if you run into problems - this community is pretty helpful with unemployment questions.
Reginald Blackwell
Don't forget that your base period for calculating benefits is based on the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file your claim. Since you've been working part-time for 8 months, you should have enough earnings in your base period to qualify for benefits.
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Aria Khan
•This is confusing - can you explain the base period thing more simply?
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Reginald Blackwell
•Sure! If you file your claim in January 2025, your base period would be January 2024 through December 2024. Washington ESD looks at your earnings during that time to determine your benefit amount.
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Everett Tutum
Another thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to report your gross earnings (before taxes) when you file your weekly claims. Don't report your take-home pay - report the full amount you earned before any deductions.
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Sunny Wang
•Good catch! I made that mistake on my first weekly claim and had to call to correct it.
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Hugh Intensity
•Yeah, and make sure you report earnings for the week you actually worked, not the week you got paid. The timing can be tricky if your payroll is delayed.
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