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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One thing people don't realize is that the timing of when claims are filed can affect which rate year they impact. If someone files a claim right at the end of the year, it might not show up in your experience rating until the following year's calculation.
That's something I never would have thought of. So the timing of layoffs could strategically affect rates?
Not really strategically since you can't control when someone files, but yeah the timing can shift which rate period gets impacted.
For what it's worth, Washington state generally has lower UI tax rates compared to many other states. The system is designed to be fair - companies that use the system more pay more, companies that don't use it pay less.
That's reassuring to know we're not getting gouged compared to other states!
The rates seem fair in theory but the phone system for getting help is absolutely broken. Thank god for services like Claimyr that can actually get you through to someone when you need answers.
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Bottom line - file as soon as possible but don't panic if it's been a few weeks. You have time, just don't keep putting it off.
Perfect summary. I'm filing today and will stop worrying about the two weeks I missed.
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Last thing about Claimyr - they also help if you run into issues after you apply. Like if your claim gets stuck in adjudication or you need to appeal something. Having that backup support really helps with the stress of dealing with Washington ESD.
That's good to know. I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into problems.
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If you have any issues with the Washington ESD website or need to speak with someone about your claim, I had good luck with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Saved me hours of trying to get through on the phone.
I'll keep that in mind if I run into any problems. Hopefully the online filing process goes smoothly.
Javier Cruz
If anyone needs help getting through to Washington ESD to ask about contractor eligibility, I highly recommend trying Claimyr. I was able to speak with an agent who walked me through the exact criteria they use. Made the whole process much clearer than trying to figure it out from their website.
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Amara Eze
•Thanks for the recommendation. I think I'm going to try that before deciding whether to file a claim.
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Emma Thompson
Bottom line: if you were truly an independent contractor, you probably won't qualify. But if you think you were misclassified as a contractor when you should have been an employee, it's worth filing a claim. The adjudication process will determine which category you fall into.
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Amara Eze
•That makes sense. I guess I need to really think about whether my work relationship was more like an employee or contractor.
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Emma Thompson
•Exactly. Be honest about the relationship and let Washington ESD make the determination. They're the experts on this stuff.
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