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Last thing - keep all your documents organized. Pay stubs, termination letter, any correspondence from Washington ESD. You never know when you might need them.
One more thing - make sure you have a reliable way to receive mail and check your email regularly. Washington ESD sends important notices and you have deadlines to respond to some of them. Missing a deadline can mess up your benefits.
Last bit of advice - if you get denied for any reason, don't give up! You have the right to appeal and many denials get overturned. I had to appeal my initial denial and ended up getting approved after a phone hearing. Sometimes the first reviewer just makes a mistake.
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I feel much more confident about starting the application process now.
Good luck! And remember, if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through, that Claimyr service is there as a backup option.
The maximum weekly benefit amount goes up slightly each year based on the state's average weekly wage. For 2025 it's $999/week, but you'd need to have been making around $130k/year to qualify for the maximum.
If anyone's still confused about the calculation, there's a benefit calculator on the ESD website that can give you an estimate. Not 100% accurate but gives you a ballpark figure.
One thing to watch out for - if your unemployment claim gets denied initially, don't panic. A lot of these dual benefit situations get flagged automatically and require manual review. Just be prepared to provide documentation about your work history and disability status.
Bottom line - you have every right to apply for unemployment if you lost your job through no fault of your own. Being on disability doesn't automatically disqualify you, especially since you were already working. Just make sure you can honestly say you're able and available for work within your limitations.
Darcy Moore
honestly just run. any employer who doesnt know basic payroll tax rules is going to cause you headaches. not worth the stress
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Abby Marshall
•I'm really starting to lean that way. Better to find a legitimate employer than deal with potential problems later.
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Marilyn Dixon
Final thought on this - you could also contact Washington state Department of Revenue if you suspect the employer isn't properly registered or paying required taxes. They take tax evasion seriously and it protects other potential employees too.
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Abby Marshall
•That's a good point. If they're doing this to me, they're probably doing it to other people too. Thanks everyone for all the advice, this has been really helpful in understanding the situation.
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