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I would also suggest keeping detailed records of all your unemployment payments and child support deductions. It helps if you ever need to dispute anything or apply for a modification later.
One last tip - if you do get a job offer while collecting unemployment, make sure to factor in the child support garnishment when deciding if the job pays enough to make it worth taking. Sometimes a low-paying job isn't much better than unemployment after child support is taken out.
When I needed clarification on how benefit charges work for my business, I ended up using Claimyr to reach a Washington ESD specialist. They explained the whole experience rating calculation and how to project future costs. Worth checking out if you need detailed info.
Don't let your former employer make you feel bad about filing. The unemployment system exists exactly for situations like yours. They paid into it knowing that laid-off employees would file claims - that's how insurance works.
Bottom line - employers are definitely affected by unemployment claims through their tax rates, but that's how the system is supposed to work. Don't let fear of employer retaliation stop you from filing if you're eligible.
One last tip - if you do end up in adjudication because of an employer contest, try to get through to Washington ESD early in the process. The longer you wait, the longer it takes to resolve. I learned this the hard way.
This is exactly why services like Claimyr exist. When you can't get through on the regular phone lines, you need another way to reach them. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ to see how it works.
DeShawn Washington
For anyone new to this like OP, the key things to remember: file between Sunday and Saturday for the previous week, report any work you did even if it was just a few hours, and keep track of your job search activities. Don't overthink it.
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Lydia Santiago
•This is really helpful, thank you everyone for all the advice!
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Mei-Ling Chen
•Yeah this thread covered all the basics pretty well
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Sofía Rodríguez
One more thing - if you ever have issues with your weekly claim or questions about your specific situation, calling Washington ESD is usually the best bet. Though like others mentioned, getting through can be tough without help.
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Aiden O'Connor
•The phone lines are definitely the worst part of dealing with unemployment
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Lydia Santiago
•Hopefully I won't need to call but good to know about the phone options if I do
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