Washington Unemployment

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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.

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.

IT WORKS!! Not a scam!

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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Ask the community...

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  • DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
  • DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)

Victoria Scott

Washington ESD unemployment benefits if you're fired - what are my options?

Got terminated from my warehouse job last week and wondering if I can still file for unemployment with Washington ESD. My supervisor said it was due to 'performance issues' but I feel like they were looking for reasons to let me go. I've been working there for 8 months and never had any formal write-ups. Can you still get UI benefits if you're fired? What does Washington ESD consider when they review these cases?

The whole unemployment system feels designed to discourage people from filing. But if you paid into it through your taxes, you have every right to collect when you qualify.

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Absolutely. It's insurance that you and your employer paid for. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about using it.

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Exactly my point. The stigma around unemployment benefits is ridiculous when it's literally insurance you paid for.

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Hope this all works out for you OP. Being fired is stressful enough without having to worry about navigating the unemployment system too.

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Thanks everyone for all the advice. Feeling much more confident about filing now. Will update this thread once I hear back from Washington ESD.

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Please do update us. Your situation will probably help others in similar circumstances.

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Jeremiah Brown

When do I claim unemployment in Washington state - timing questions

I'm getting laid off next Friday and trying to figure out the timing for filing my unemployment claim with Washington ESD. Do I wait until after my last day of work to apply, or can I file before then? Also confused about when to start doing the weekly claims - is that right after I file the initial application or do I wait for approval? My employer said something about a waiting week but I'm not sure what that means. Any guidance would be appreciated since I've never had to deal with this before.

If you run into any problems during the process, definitely try that Claimyr service. I had an issue with my claim getting stuck and couldn't reach anyone at ESD for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an agent who resolved it in one call.

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Good to know there's a backup option if I can't get through the normal way. Hopefully I won't need it but it's nice to know it exists.

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The most important thing is to start the process as soon as possible after your employment ends. Don't wait thinking you might find another job quickly - you can always stop filing weekly claims if you get hired, but you can't go back and claim benefits for weeks you didn't file.

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That makes sense. Better to file and not need it than need it and not have filed. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!

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Hunter Brighton

Are unemployment benefits considered earned income for Washington ESD claims?

I'm trying to figure out if unemployment benefits count as earned income when I'm filling out other forms. I'm getting UI from Washington ESD right now and need to know how to report this on my tax forms and other applications. Some places ask for 'earned income' and I'm not sure if my weekly unemployment payments qualify. Does anyone know the official classification?

perfect timing on this thread - i literally just finished my taxes and was second-guessing how i reported my UI benefits. sounds like i did it right by putting them in the unearned income section instead of with my wages

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Yep, sounds like you did it correctly! UI benefits go on line 7 of Form 1040, not with wages and salaries.

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perfect, thanks for confirming that!

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this whole discussion has been really educational. i never realized there were so many different ways income gets classified and why it matters. definitely going to be more careful about how i fill out forms going forward

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Same here! I feel much more confident about handling these kinds of questions now.

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That's great to hear. Understanding these basics can save you a lot of headaches with taxes and benefit applications.

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Javier Torres

Do employers have to pay Washington ESD unemployment if they fire you - confused about eligibility

I got fired from my retail job last week for being late too many times (my car kept breaking down). My manager said I wouldn't be eligible for unemployment because I was terminated for cause. But my friend said that's not always true and employers still have to pay into unemployment insurance regardless. I'm really confused about how this works in Washington state. Does Washington ESD automatically approve claims when you're fired, or does it depend on the reason? I need to know if I should even bother filing a claim.

If you need to contact Washington ESD during your claim process and run into phone issues, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned. Made a huge difference when I needed to speak with someone about my claim status.

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Appreciate the tip. Hopefully I won't need it but good to know it exists.

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Final thought: Document everything related to your termination - save any texts or emails about your car problems, any responses from your employer, your termination paperwork, etc. This documentation can be valuable if your claim goes to appeal.

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Smart advice. I do have some text messages I sent my manager about my car breaking down.

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Those texts could be really helpful evidence that you were communicating about the issues and not just skipping work randomly.

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Amina Diallo

How long do you have to work at a job to receive unemployment in Washington state?

I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. I've been at my current job for about 8 months but before that I had some gaps in employment. Does anyone know the minimum work requirements? I heard something about needing to work a certain number of hours or earn a specific amount but I can't find clear info on the Washington ESD website.

Also worth mentioning that if you have questions about your specific situation, sometimes the best way to get answers is through the Claimyr service mentioned earlier. I used it when I was confused about some adjudication issues and finally got the clarity I needed from an actual Washington ESD representative.

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Is there a cost for using Claimyr?

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There is a fee but honestly it was worth it to avoid spending days trying to get through on my own. Check out their site at claimyr.com for details.

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The whole process can seem overwhelming at first but once you understand the basic requirements it's not too bad. Most people who worked steady jobs for several months will qualify for something.

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Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more confident about applying now.

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You're welcome! Feel free to post here if you run into any issues during the application process.

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