


Ask the community...
Make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed. Missing those weekly filings can mess up your benefits later.
The whole experience of losing a minimum wage job and filing for unemployment can be really stressful, especially if it's your first time. Don't be afraid to ask questions and advocate for yourself if something doesn't seem right with your claim.
one more tip - if you're using the car for job searching, keep track of your mileage. you can deduct job search expenses on your taxes even while on unemployment
One more thing to consider - if you do transition to unemployment, make sure you understand the work search requirements with your medical restrictions. You might need to register with WorkSourceWA and they can help with job placement accommodations.
My advice? Talk to both your disability insurance company AND Washington ESD before making any moves. Get everything in writing so you have documentation of what you were told. That way if there are any questions later, you have proof you tried to do things correctly.
And if you can't get through to Washington ESD on the phone, that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier might be worth trying. I've heard good things about it from other people in similar situations.
One more tip - if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, try using Claimyr. I mentioned it earlier but it really does help cut through the phone queue nightmare. Made the whole process way less stressful for me.
Bottom line - don't let anyone tell you that you can only get unemployment if you're fired. That's completely wrong and you could be missing out on benefits you deserve. Hours reduction definitely qualifies in most cases.
Norman Fraser
One more tip - set up direct deposit if you haven't already. The debit card option has fees and the checks take forever to arrive in the mail.
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Mary Bates
•I did set up direct deposit during the application process, so that should be good to go.
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Kendrick Webb
•Smart move, direct deposit is definitely the way to go.
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Hattie Carson
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much more confident about the process now. Going to make sure I file my weekly claim this Sunday and watch for the payment early next week.
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Lim Wong
•And remember, if you run into any issues getting help from Washington ESD, services like Claimyr are there as a backup option.
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Mary Bates
•Will definitely keep that in mind, thanks again everyone!
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