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Bottom line: Unemployment Insurance (UI) = the official name for unemployment benefits in Washington. File your initial claim online, then do weekly claims to get paid. Keep looking for work and document your job search. That's basically the whole program in a nutshell.
glad this thread helped clear things up for you! the terminology definitely trips people up at first but once you realize UI just means unemployment benefits it all clicks. good luck with your claim!
Don't forget to check if your state has any additional unemployment programs beyond the federal ones. Some states have their own supplemental programs for self-employed workers.
When I had questions about potential disqualification, I used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD directly. Way better than trying to figure it out from their website or waiting on hold forever. The agent was able to look at my specific situation and give me clear guidance.
Bottom line - don't assume you're disqualified without applying. Washington ESD looks at each case individually, and what disqualifies one person might not disqualify another even in similar situations.
Final thought - if you run into any snags with the Paid Family Leave application process and need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through. Sometimes these programs have their own quirks and talking to an actual person makes all the difference.
Lena Schultz
Make sure to set up your SecureAccess Washington account ahead of time if you don't have one. That's what you use to log into the unemployment system and it can take a day or two to get verified.
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Edward McBride
•Good tip! I'll do that right away so I'm ready to file when I need to.
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Gemma Andrews
Bottom line - with your work history you should qualify for a decent benefit amount. File as soon as you're eligible, keep good records of your job search, and don't hesitate to ask for help if you get stuck. The system works but it's not always user-friendly.
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Edward McBride
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel much more prepared now to navigate the unemployment system.
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Darcy Moore
•You're welcome! Feel free to post back here if you run into any issues during the process.
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