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Bottom line - if you're making $4,200/month consistently, you'll probably get close to $850-900/week in unemployment benefits. That's assuming no gaps in your work history and you meet all the other requirements.
For anyone still worried about the phone option - seriously don't bother trying to call Washington ESD unless you absolutely have to. The online application is way more efficient and you don't have to deal with busy signals.
Yeah I'm definitely going with the online application after reading all these responses. Thanks everyone!
And if you do need to call later for any reason, remember that claimyr.com option. Game changer for actually reaching someone.
One last thing - after you apply online, you should get an email confirmation pretty quickly. If you don't see it within a few hours, check your spam folder before you panic and think the application didn't go through.
This whole conversation has been super helpful. I'm dealing with a similar situation and was scared to even try filing. Nice to know there are people who actually got through the system successfully.
For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD by phone, seriously check out that Claimyr service I mentioned. I know I sound like a broken record but it actually works when you need to talk to someone there about your claim status or ask questions about adjudication.
Noah Irving
The bottom line is that Washington's unemployment system is based on wages, not hours. As long as you earned enough money during your base period and your hour reduction was involuntary, you should qualify for benefits. Don't let the complexity scare you away from applying.
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Michael Green
•Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I feel much more confident about applying now.
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Noah Irving
•Good luck! The system can be frustrating but once you get through the initial application it gets easier.
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Vanessa Chang
One last tip - when you file your weekly claims, make sure you report those 10 hours you're still working accurately. Partial unemployment can actually be better than full unemployment in some cases since you're still earning some money.
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Michael Green
•Good point, I'll make sure to report everything correctly. Don't want any issues down the road.
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Vanessa Chang
•Exactly. Honest reporting from the start saves you from overpayment headaches later.
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