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For what it's worth, even when Extended Benefits were available during high unemployment, they were only 13-20 additional weeks. It's not like you get unlimited extensions.
Thanks everyone for all the info. This thread has been more helpful than anything I've found on the Washington ESD website.
Bottom line: if you made decent money in Washington, you'll probably get decent unemployment benefits. Just be prepared for the bureaucracy and long wait times when you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.
Exactly this. The benefits themselves are fair but dealing with their office is a nightmare. That Claimyr thing really helped me avoid the phone hell when I needed answers.
One more thing to remember - you have to file your weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits, even if there are no changes to report. Miss a week and you don't get paid for that week.
One more thing to consider - if you're married and file jointly, your spouse's income might push you into a higher tax bracket. The 10% withholding might not be enough in that case.
PSA: Don't forget that if you received unemployment in 2024, you need to report it even if you find a job before tax season. The IRS gets a copy of your 1099-G from Washington ESD so they'll know if you don't report it.
One more thing - if your employer offers you your job back or offers you other work, you generally have to accept it or risk losing your unemployment benefits. There are some exceptions but be careful about turning down work.
There are rules about 'suitable work' but it gets complicated. If that happens, definitely try to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation.
This is where having a way to actually reach Washington ESD becomes crucial. Good thing services like Claimyr exist to help get through to them.
The whole system seems designed to make people give up honestly. But stick with it, you earned these benefits by working and paying into the system.
Keisha Taylor
If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD with questions, I've heard good things about Claimyr. My sister used them when she had issues with her partial unemployment calculations and they got her connected to an agent who walked her through everything.
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Zoe Dimitriou
•Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. Sounds like it might be worth trying if I run into problems.
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StardustSeeker
The partial unemployment program is actually one of the better parts of the Washington ESD system. It encourages work instead of discouraging it. Just be honest about your earnings and you should be fine.
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Zoe Dimitriou
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about starting this job now.
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QuantumQuest
•Glad we could help! Come back if you have more questions once you start working.
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