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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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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Been doing seasonal work for 10 years. The biggest mistake I see people make is waiting too long to file. Start your claim the first week you're unemployed, even if you think you might get called back. You can always stop claiming if you return to work early.
So I should file as soon as my current seasonal job ends? Even if the employer says they might have some winter work?
Yes, file immediately. If they call you back, just report the work on your weekly claim. Better to have the claim open than scramble later.
Thanks everyone for all this helpful info! I had no idea seasonal workers could get unemployment benefits. I'm definitely going to file when my landscaping season ends next month. It sounds like the key is having good documentation from employers and being prepared for the job search requirements. I'll make sure to get a proper separation notice that says "lack of work" and start gathering my pay stubs now. Really appreciate all the practical advice about filing immediately and not waiting around - I would have made that mistake for sure!
Welcome to the seasonal worker club! Just wanted to add one more tip - when you're doing your job search activities, don't forget about temp agencies that specialize in seasonal/outdoor work. They often have connections with multiple employers and can count as legitimate job contacts. Also, if you run into any issues with Washington ESD not understanding your seasonal situation, don't give up. Sometimes it takes a few calls to get someone who really knows the seasonal worker rules. Good luck with your claim!
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This is exactly why the system is so frustrating. Simple cases sitting in queues for weeks while people can't get through to get them resolved.
That's really encouraging to hear! I've been stuck in adjudication limbo for over a month too and getting nowhere with the phone system. Definitely going to check out Claimyr - sounds like it's worth trying if it actually gets results. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I had a similar situation last year - needed to get to the office but work schedule made it impossible. Ended up taking a half day off only to find out they couldn't help with my specific issue anyway. The staff was nice but basically said "you need to call the main number" which is exactly what I was trying to avoid. Save yourself the trip and the time off work - for adjudication issues you really are stuck with the phone system or online options.
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I just went through this same process a couple months ago after taking a temporary construction job. The reopen is definitely way less stressful than it sounds! One thing that helped me was having all my documents ready beforehand - like proof of when the job ended and my updated resume for job search activities. Washington ESD's online reopen form walks you through everything step by step, and they even have a progress bar so you know how much is left. The hardest part was honestly just remembering my login info since I hadn't used the site in a few weeks! Make sure you have your Social Security number and the dates you worked handy when you start the process.
Thanks for the detailed breakdown! Having all the documents ready beforehand sounds like a smart move. I'll make sure to gather everything - proof the part-time job ended, updated contact info, and get my login credentials sorted out before I start. The step-by-step process with a progress bar actually sounds pretty user-friendly compared to some other government sites I've dealt with. Appreciate you mentioning the specific things to have handy like SSN and work dates - that'll save me time scrambling around looking for info halfway through the process.
I actually just helped my roommate through this exact situation last week! The Washington ESD reopen process is really common when you take temporary work - they basically pause your claim when you stop filing for more than 2-3 weeks to prevent accidental overpayments. When you reopen, you're not losing any of your original eligibility or benefit amount, they just need to verify you're unemployed again and ready to look for work. The online form asks pretty straightforward questions about why you stopped filing and your current work status. My roommate's got approved in 3 days and she was able to file her weekly claim right after. Just make sure you're honest about the dates you worked and don't try to claim benefits for those weeks. Also have your job search activities ready to go since they'll expect you to start meeting those requirements again once you're reactivated.
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Just wanted to add my experience from going through PFML approval last month! I was also super confused about the weekly claims thing at first - it's so different from regular unemployment. My application took exactly 16 days to get approved, and like others mentioned, I didn't need to file any weekly claims during the waiting period. The most important thing I learned was to keep checking both your email AND the PFML portal daily, because sometimes status updates appear in the portal before you get an email notification. Also, if you do end up calling 833-717-2273, try to have all your documents ready to reference - they might ask about specific dates or employer information on the spot. The wait is definitely nerve-wracking when you're dealing with a new baby and need that income, but try not to stress too much if it's only been 2 weeks. That seems pretty normal based on what I'm seeing here. Once you do get approved, the backpay process was actually really smooth for me - got direct deposit within about 5 business days of approval.
@Mateo Hernandez This is so helpful! I love that you mentioned checking the portal daily in addition to email - that s'a great tip I hadn t'thought of. Having all documents ready when calling is smart too, especially since it sounds like getting through to someone is already challenging enough without having to call back because you re'missing information. Sixteen days seems to be right in that normal range everyone s'been mentioning. It s'really reassuring to hear that the backpay process was smooth once you got approved - that direct deposit timeline of 5 business days is actually pretty reasonable for a government system! Thanks for sharing such detailed and practical advice. This whole thread has been a lifesaver for understanding how PFML actually works versus what I was expecting based on regular unemployment benefits.
I went through PFML approval back in December and wanted to share a few additional tips that might help! First, if you're getting anxious about the wait time, try to remember that 2 weeks is still pretty early in the process - I've seen approvals anywhere from 8 days to over a month. Second, when you do call 833-717-2273, if you get disconnected or can't get through, don't give up! I had to call 4 different days before getting through, but it was worth it because they were able to tell me exactly what was holding up my application (needed a clearer photo of my driver's license). Third, make sure you're not confusing PFML payments with short-term disability if your employer offers that - they're completely separate and you might be eligible for both. Finally, once you do get approved, keep all your documentation because you'll need some of it if you decide to extend your leave later. The whole process is definitely more complicated than it should be, but you're on the right track by asking questions here rather than just waiting and wondering!
Kai Santiago
This is reassuring. I think I've been overthinking every little change. Will give it a few more days before I panic. Thanks again everyone!
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Paolo Longo
I'm new to this whole unemployment process and reading through everyone's experiences here is both helpful and nerve-wracking! I just filed my initial claim yesterday and I'm already checking the website obsessively. Sounds like I need to manage my expectations about how often updates happen. Quick question - when you all say "weekly claims," is that something separate from the initial application? I want to make sure I don't miss any required steps while I'm waiting for my claim to be processed.
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Ravi Sharma
•Yes, weekly claims are separate from your initial application! After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file a weekly claim every week to certify that you're still eligible for benefits. You'll answer questions about whether you worked, looked for work, were available for work, etc. You can't get paid until you file these weekly claims, even if your initial claim is approved. The first weekly claim usually becomes available the Sunday after you file your initial application. Don't worry about being obsessive about checking - we've all been there! Just make sure you don't miss filing your weekly claims on time.
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Victoria Stark
•Welcome to the unemployment maze! @Ravi Sharma covered the weekly claims perfectly - that's exactly right. One thing I'll add is that you should set up your eServices account online if you haven't already, as that's where you'll file your weekly claims. The system will usually send you a reminder text or email when it's time to file each week. Don't stress too much about the status changes in your first few weeks - your claim will likely bounce around between different statuses while they verify your employment history and wages. The important thing is to keep filing those weekly claims on time even while your initial claim is still processing, otherwise you could miss out on benefits for those weeks.
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