Washington Unemployment
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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
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 :)
Do you pay taxes on unemployment checks from Washington ESD?
Just realized I might need to plan for taxes on my unemployment benefits. I've been getting weekly payments from Washington ESD for about 2 months now and it just hit me - are these taxable? I know some government benefits aren't taxed but I'm not sure about unemployment. Should I be setting money aside or can I have taxes withheld? Really don't want to get hit with a big tax bill next year.
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How to close my Washington ESD unemployment claim - found new job
I just accepted a full-time position that starts Monday and I need to close my unemployment claim with Washington ESD. I've been receiving UI benefits for about 6 weeks now. Do I just stop filing my weekly claims or is there something specific I need to do to officially close it? I don't want to accidentally keep getting payments or mess up my record for the future. The last thing I want is an overpayment notice later on.
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One more thing - if your new employer offers benefits, make sure you understand when they start. You don't want a gap in health insurance coverage.
Good point! My benefits start day one fortunately, but that's definitely something to check.
Yeah I had a 30-day waiting period for benefits at my new job. Had to get COBRA to bridge the gap.
For anyone else reading this thread - remember that if you're doing any freelance or gig work while on UI, you need to report that income too on your weekly claims.
What about like DoorDash or Uber? Do you have to report that?
Yes, any income needs to be reported, including gig work. Washington ESD considers it self-employment.
How long does unemployment take to process in Washington ESD?
Filed my initial unemployment claim with Washington ESD about 10 days ago and still haven't heard anything back. My account just shows 'pending' status and I'm starting to get worried about how long this is going to take. I lost my job at a manufacturing company and really need to know when I can expect my first payment. Does anyone know the typical processing time for new UI claims right now?
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If anyone needs to reach Washington ESD urgently, I had success with Claimyr too. They got me through to an agent who was able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim. Worth trying if you're stuck.
How much does that service cost?
I'd rather not discuss pricing here, but it was worth it for the peace of mind. Check their website for details.
How long do you have to be employed to collect unemployment benefits in Washington?
I just started a new job 3 months ago and I'm worried about layoffs coming up. My supervisor mentioned that our department might be restructured early next year. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm trying to understand if I would even qualify since I haven't been working very long. How long do you have to be employed to collect unemployment benefits through Washington ESD? I worked part-time for about 6 months before this job, but there was a gap of like 2 months between jobs. Would that count toward my work history or does it have to be continuous employment?
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One last thing - if you do file a claim and then find work quickly, make sure you report your return to work immediately. Don't keep certifying for benefits once you're employed again, even if it's just part-time work that pays less than your benefits.
What happens if you accidentally certify after starting work?
Washington ESD will eventually catch it through wage reporting and you'll have to pay back any overpayment. It's considered fraud if you do it intentionally, so always better to report changes right away.
Hopefully you won't need any of this information and your job will be secure! But it's smart to understand your options just in case. Good luck with everything!
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more prepared now if something does happen with my job.
This thread was really informative. I learned stuff I didn't know even though I've filed for unemployment before.
Can I apply for unemployment in Washington ESD a different way besides online?
I've been trying to file my initial unemployment claim on the Washington ESD website for over a week now but keep running into technical issues. The site crashes every time I get to the work history section and I lose all my progress. I've tried different browsers and devices but same problem. Is there another way to apply for unemployment benefits besides going through the online portal? I really need to get this claim filed ASAP since I was laid off two weeks ago.
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Great to hear you got it working! For anyone else having similar issues, all these tips are solid. The Washington ESD system definitely has its quirks but it's usually just a matter of trying at the right time with the right setup.
Yeah this thread was really helpful. Bookmarking it in case I run into problems with my claim later.
This whole thread is a perfect example of why Washington ESD needs to invest in better technology. Shouldn't be this hard to file for benefits you're entitled to.
Completely agree. The system works but it's definitely not user-friendly. Hopefully they'll upgrade it soon.
Don't hold your breath. Government technology upgrades move at a snail's pace.
Amina Bah
This whole thread has been really helpful. I had no idea about most of this tax stuff when I filed for unemployment. Really wish Washington ESD was more upfront about the tax implications.
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Oliver Becker
Agreed! It should be part of the initial application process or at least highlighted somewhere obvious.
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Natasha Petrova
Final thought - if you're doing your own taxes, make sure whatever software you use can handle unemployment income properly. Some of the free basic versions don't include all the forms you might need.
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Andre Lefebvre
AuthorThanks for all the advice everyone! I feel much more prepared to handle the tax side of unemployment benefits now.
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