Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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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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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.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
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.
An incredibly helpful service
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!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
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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!
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The worst thing that can happen is Washington ESD denies your claim if they determine you don't qualify, but based on what you've described with the hour reduction, you should be fine. The employer side really isn't something you need to worry about.
That makes me feel a lot better. I think I was just nervous because I've never dealt with unemployment before.
Totally understandable! The first time is always nerve-wracking but the process is pretty straightforward.
I went through this exact same worry when I had to file after my hours got cut at a retail job. Turns out my manager actually expected it and said it was totally normal - they even helped me gather the paperwork I needed. The whole process was way less dramatic than I thought it would be. Your employer has been paying into the unemployment insurance system specifically for situations like this, so don't feel guilty about using it when you need it!
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My brother got an overpayment notice but he just ignored it and nothing happened. Is that bad advice? Im confused about why some people have to fight for years and others just never hear about it again???
Ignoring an overpayment notice is DEFINITELY bad advice! ESD can and will garnish wages, tax refunds, and even bank accounts eventually. They may not act immediately, but these debts don't just disappear. The state has a long memory when it comes to money they believe they're owed. Your brother should address this before it escalates to collections or legal action.
i remember standing in line at the food bank last year cuz of my overpayment took all my money and some lady told me she got hers forgiven but i didnt believe her. guess its really possible huh
It absolutely is possible! It's not easy or quick, but don't give up. The financial hardship angle is important - if you can document that paying back would cause significant hardship (like needing food assistance), that strengthens your case for forgiveness. Are you still dealing with your overpayment now?
Yes, it's definitely possible! I've been following overpayment cases in this community for a while and there are more success stories than you might think. The key is understanding that ESD often makes mistakes, especially with pandemic-era claims. If you're still dealing with your overpayment, consider reaching out to the Unemployment Law Project for free legal help, or at minimum file a waiver request if you haven't already. Don't let them intimidate you into just accepting the debt - you have rights and options.
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To clarify for everyone: These refunds are part of ESD's implementation of the blanket waiver program that was authorized during COVID. ESD is still processing these even in 2025 due to the massive backlog. Regarding taxes: 1. If you deducted the original repayment on your taxes as an itemized deduction → You likely need to report the refund as income (tax benefit rule) 2. If you used the standard deduction → You generally DON'T need to report the refund as income 3. If your itemized deductions that year didn't actually reduce your tax liability → You might not need to report it as income ESD should have included Publication 525 information with your refund check. It specifically addresses the tax implications of benefit repayments and subsequent refunds. If you're unsure, consult a tax professional with your specific situation.
Thank you SO much for this detailed explanation! You're right, there was an insert with the check that mentioned Publication 525, but I didn't realize what it was. I'll go back and look at it more carefully now.
wait so are they doing this automatically for everyone or do we need to apply somewhere? i paid back like $5k in 2021 and nobody told me anything about waivers
They're processing them automatically, but they're going through cases very slowly. The blanket waivers were approved for non-fraud overpayments during the pandemic period, but ESD's implementation has been extremely inconsistent. If you repaid an overpayment from the COVID period (roughly March 2020 through September 2021), it's worth calling ESD to check if your case qualifies for the waiver program. Be prepared for a long wait though - their phone lines are still overwhelmed.
@NebulaNomad I was in a similar situation - paid back about $3,800 in late 2021 and heard nothing for years. What finally worked for me was submitting a waiver request through their online portal AND calling to follow up. The key thing I learned is that even though they say it's "automatic," many cases seem to get stuck in their system and need manual review. When you call, ask specifically about "blanket overpayment waivers for non-fraud COVID claims" - use those exact words. It seems to help the agents find the right department faster. Also keep records of when you call and who you speak with. The whole process is frustrating but don't give up!
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UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that my payment did end up going to my old account after about 3 business days (normal timing). I've decided to keep both accounts open until I'm no longer on unemployment just to avoid any future headaches. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!
Smart move keeping both accounts open! Glad it worked out without too much delay.
Glad to hear it worked out smoothly! This is such useful info for others who might make the same mistake. The fact that it went to your old account on normal timing confirms what others said about ESD's payment system being separate from their account management system. Keeping both accounts open is definitely the smart play - I've seen too many horror stories about payments getting stuck in limbo when people close accounts too quickly while on unemployment.
Monique Byrd
Congrats on the status change! That's really encouraging to hear. I'm dealing with a similar situation - my claim has been pending for about 10 days now and I was starting to worry. This whole thread has been super helpful in understanding what to expect. It's reassuring to know that 2-3 weeks is pretty normal, especially with multiple employers like you mentioned. I'll keep doing my weekly claims and try to be patient. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated!
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Clay blendedgen
This thread is so helpful! I'm in week 3 of pending status and was getting really stressed about it. Seeing Isabella's update that her claim moved to processing gives me hope. I've been doing everything right - filing weekly claims, keeping up with job searches, checking both eServices and email regularly. It's just nerve-wracking when you're watching your bank account drain while waiting. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it really helps to know what's normal vs. when to start taking action. I'll give it another week before exploring options like calling or using services like Claimyr that Diego mentioned.
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Jade Lopez
•Hang in there! Week 3 is right at that threshold where it's still normal but understandably stressful. You're doing everything right by keeping up with your weekly claims and job searches. I went through the same anxiety watching my savings disappear while waiting. If it helps at all, I've noticed that claims that make it to week 3 without any requests for additional info tend to process soon after - it's like they just needed that extra time for verification. Definitely keep that Claimyr option in your back pocket though, especially if you hit the 4-week mark. The peace of mind alone might be worth it!
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