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Filed my claim 3 months ago after making $4500/month. My weekly benefit is $587. Not enough to maintain my lifestyle but keeps me afloat while job hunting. The key is having realistic expectations.
Bottom line - unemployment is designed to replace about 50% of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum. It's temporary assistance, not full salary replacement. Budget accordingly and don't expect it to last forever.
The key thing to remember is that once your benefit year ends (52 weeks from when you filed), you'd need to establish a new claim if you're still unemployed. But you'd need new qualifying wages to do that, which means you'd need to have worked and earned enough after your original claim to qualify again.
So if I don't find work within the benefit year, I might not be able to file a new claim? That's concerning.
I had success using Claimyr when I needed to speak with someone at Washington ESD about extending my claim due to a training program. The regular phone lines were impossible but their service got me through right away. Sometimes you need professional help navigating the system efficiently.
It sounds like several people have had good experiences with that service. I might need to consider it if I run into complications with my claim.
i'm on week 23 right now and starting to panic about what happens next. job market is brutal in my field (hospitality). anyone know if there are any programs to help with the transition when benefits end?
WorkSource has some programs for people nearing the end of their benefits. Also look into job training programs - some offer stipends while you're learning new skills.
Something to keep in mind - if you work and earn wages during a week, it might not count as one of your 26 weeks if you earn over a certain amount. Washington has partial benefit payments, so you could potentially stretch your benefits longer if you find part-time work.
How does that calculation work? I might have a chance at some freelance work but don't want to mess up my benefits.
Thanks for posting this question OP. I didn't even realize business owners could potentially qualify for unemployment. This thread has been really educational.
Final word of advice - if you do this, don't try to restart paying yourself wages while on unemployment without reporting it properly. Washington ESD will find out and you could face overpayment issues.
Aria Park
My claim got flagged for some reason and I couldn't get through to Washington ESD for weeks. Finally used Claimyr and got connected to an agent who cleared everything up in 10 minutes. Wish I'd known about it sooner.
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Aria Park
•It's legit. They don't ask for any personal info, just your phone number so they can call you back when they get through to Washington ESD.
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Noah Ali
•I might have to try that. I've been calling for days and getting nowhere.
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Chloe Boulanger
Bottom line: unless there's a problem with your claim, your employer probably won't hear from Washington ESD after the initial verification. The system is set up to be as hands-off as possible for routine claims.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Thanks everyone for all the info! I feel much better about this whole process now.
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Liam Mendez
•No problem! This forum has been really helpful for me too when I was figuring all this stuff out.
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