Pay nothing until a live ESD agent is on the phone with you.
Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
$0 upfront. We only hold your card.
No live agent, no charge.
$19.99 is charged only once a live ESD agent is on the phone with you.
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
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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If you want to double-check anything about your Washington ESD claim history, that Claimyr thing really does work. I was skeptical at first but it got me through to an agent when I needed to verify my benefit dates for a mortgage application.
Good to know it works for other documentation needs too. I'll keep that in mind if I need anything official from Washington ESD.
Yeah I tried it too after seeing it mentioned here. Way better than spending hours on hold.
Bottom line - you're fine. UI benefits won't affect your citizenship application at all. Just be honest about your employment history and you're good to go. Good luck with your application!
Thank you so much! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I feel so much better about moving forward with my citizenship application.
Glad we could help put your mind at ease. The citizenship process is stressful enough without worrying about things that aren't actually problems.
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Just to add one more confirmation - I work for a nonprofit that helps people with benefits applications and we always categorize unemployment as unearned income. It's consistent across pretty much every program and form we deal with.
Thank you! It's great to have multiple professional confirmations.
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One last thing - make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. You'll need dates of employment, wages, and reason for separation for each job in your base period.
Should I gather all that before I start the application?
Yes, it'll make the process much smoother. Have your W-2s, pay stubs, and employment records handy when you file online.
Good luck to everyone dealing with unemployment right now. It's stressful but the benefits can really help bridge the gap while you're looking for new work.
Thanks! Feeling much better about the whole process after reading all these responses.
That's what this community is for - helping each other navigate these systems. Hope your claim goes smoothly!
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For what it's worth, I know several people who successfully collected unemployment while receiving severance. It's not automatic disqualification, just requires some extra documentation and patience with the process.
Thanks for the encouragement. I was starting to think it was hopeless.
Not hopeless at all! Just be prepared for some back and forth with Washington ESD to get everything sorted out.
Final tip: keep detailed records of all your communications with Washington ESD about the severance issue. If you end up needing to appeal, having documentation of what you were told will be crucial.
Smart move. Organization is key when dealing with any government agency.
I second this. Having good records saved me during my appeal process last year.
Victoria Stark
One more thing - if you have any vacation pay or severance coming, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers that earnings even if you're not working, so be honest about it on your application.
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Victoria Stark
•No, file right away but report the vacation pay when you do your weekly claims. They'll just delay your benefits until after the vacation pay period ends.
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Benjamin Kim
•This is why it's so important to be upfront about everything. If they find out later you didn't report something, they'll make you pay back everything plus penalties.
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Samantha Howard
The whole process stressed me out too but it's really not that bad once you get started. Washington ESD's website is actually pretty user-friendly compared to some other state systems I've heard about. Just take it one step at a time.
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Ella Lewis
•Thanks everyone, this has been super helpful. I feel a lot less anxious about filing now that I know what to expect.
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