Washington Unemployment

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Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.

Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.

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
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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 :)

Can I reapply for unemployment if I was denied by Washington ESD?

My unemployment claim got denied about 6 months ago because they said I quit voluntarily (which I disagree with - I was basically forced out due to unsafe working conditions). I didn't appeal at the time because I found another job pretty quickly. Now I'm laid off again and wondering if I can reapply for unemployment benefits or if that old denial will prevent me from getting approved this time? Has anyone been in a similar situation with Washington ESD?

Update us when you file! I'm curious to see how smooth the process is these days compared to the chaos from a couple years ago.

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Will do! Planning to file tomorrow morning. Hopefully it's much better now.

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Fingers crossed for you! The system has definitely improved from the pandemic craziness.

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Last thought - if your claim does get flagged for any reason and goes into adjudication, don't panic. It's pretty routine and usually just means they need to verify some information. Just respond quickly to any requests they send you.

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Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure to check my account and messages regularly.

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And if you can't get through by phone during adjudication, that's when services like Claimyr can really save you time and frustration.

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Washington ESD unemployment max benefit amount - what is the maximum weekly payment?

I'm trying to figure out what the maximum weekly unemployment benefit is in Washington state right now. I've been looking all over the Washington ESD website but can't find a clear answer about the max amount someone can get per week. My last job paid pretty well and I want to know if I'll hit the ceiling on benefits. Does anyone know what the current maximum is for 2025?

They add up ALL wages from ALL employers during your base period. Then they look at your highest earning quarter from that total to determine your weekly benefit amount.

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That's actually better than I thought. I had three part-time jobs last year so hopefully that adds up to a decent amount.

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Will Washington ESD know if I work another job while on unemployment?

I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 weeks now and just got offered some part-time work at a different company than where I was laid off from. I'm worried about messing up my claim - will Washington ESD automatically know if I start working this other job? I want to do everything legally but I'm confused about what I need to report and when. The job would only be maybe 15-20 hours a week so I'd still need unemployment to cover my bills.

one last tip - take screenshots of your weekly claim confirmations that show you reported the work income. if theres ever a question later you have proof you did everything right

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Great idea! I'll definitely do that. Better safe than sorry with Washington ESD.

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i learned this the hard way during an overpayment dispute. thankfully i had kept records and was able to prove i reported everything correctly

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For anyone still reading this thread - I had a similar question last month and ended up using Claimyr to speak with a Washington ESD representative. The agent confirmed everything people are saying here about reporting requirements and the partial earnings deduction. Really worth the peace of mind to get official confirmation directly from the source.

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That's exactly what I was thinking - getting it straight from Washington ESD would make me feel a lot more confident about doing this right.

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same, sometimes you just need to hear it from an actual washington esd person to feel comfortable proceeding

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Can I receive unemployment and disability at the same time in Washington?

I'm really confused about whether I can collect both unemployment benefits and disability payments simultaneously. I've been getting SSDI for a back injury but I'm still able to do some types of work, just not my previous job as a warehouse supervisor. My doctor cleared me for desk work or light duty positions. Can Washington ESD approve my UI claim while I'm receiving disability? The application asks about other income but I'm not sure if SSDI counts as disqualifying income or not.

Thanks for sharing all this info. It's encouraging to know that receiving both benefits is possible with the right documentation and approach.

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Agreed! This community has been incredibly helpful in understanding the process.

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One last thought - make sure you understand Washington ESD's appeal process in case your initial claim gets denied. It's better to know the steps ahead of time than scramble if you need them.

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Good point - I'll look into the appeal procedures just in case. Better to be prepared.

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Will my employer get mad if I file for Washington ESD unemployment benefits?

I'm thinking about filing for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD but I'm worried about how my employer will react. We've been having issues at work and I think I might get laid off soon, but I don't want to make things worse by filing if they find out. Do employers get notified when you file? Will they know it's me specifically? I don't want to burn bridges but I also need to protect myself financially. Has anyone had problems with their employer after filing?

btw if you do end up needing to call washington esd about your claim, try calling right when they open at 8am. or during lunch hours when its sometimes less busy. though honestly those claimyr folks mentioned earlier probably have better luck getting through than doing it yourself

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Thanks for the timing tips. I'll probably try calling myself first and see how it goes.

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yeah definitely try yourself first. but good to know there are options if you get stuck in phone hell

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One thing nobody mentioned - if you file and then get fired before your claim is processed, make sure to contact Washington ESD to update your separation reason. The circumstances of your unemployment can affect your eligibility.

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Good point. So I should keep them updated if anything changes with my employment status?

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Yes, always report changes. It's better to over-communicate than to have issues later when they review your claim.

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