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If I could give 10 stars I would
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!
Really made a difference
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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- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
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Try contactng your state rep!!!! That's what finally worked for me after 3 months of getting nowhere with ESD directly. Their office has special contacts at ESD and can expedite things. It's literally their job to help constituents with state agency problems.
That's a great idea I hadn't considered! I'll look up who my representative is. Did you email or call their office?
QUICK UPDATE!! I tried calling that collections number that someone mentioned above (866-697-4831) and got through right away!! The agent confirmed it was a system error and I don't actually owe anything!! She said they're getting tons of calls about these notices that went out by mistake. Such a relief!!
THANK YOU for confirming this worked!! I'm calling that number first thing tomorrow morning. Crossing my fingers I get the same result!!
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also just a heads up that when u file with L&I they might ask for bank statements to prove u tried to cash the check and it didnt work
One more important thing - Washington state law provides for double damages in some wage theft cases. When you file with L&I, they can assess a penalty against the employer. So you might eventually get more than just your unpaid wages. Also, regarding your unemployment claim - when you do your weekly claims, there's a section for comments. Always note there that you have a pending wage claim with L&I for your final paycheck. This creates a record that you've been transparent about the situation.
Double damages would be amazing given the stress this is causing. I've already had to contact my landlord about a late payment. I'll definitely add comments to my weekly claims about the wage complaint - that's really helpful advice.
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Just wanted to add - check if there's an adjudication issue. Look in your notices section for anything about 'fact finding' or 'adjudication' - sometimes these can be easy to miss if you're not looking for them specifically. Adjudication can halt your payments even after approval.
Thank you, I double checked and don't see anything about adjudication. I'll definitely mention this when I call them though - maybe there's some kind of issue that isn't showing up in my account?
UPDATE: I finally got through to ESD this morning! Turns out there was an identity verification issue that was never communicated to me. The agent was super helpful and processed the verification while I was on the phone. She said my payments should start processing within 3 business days and I'll get all the backpay for the weeks I've been claiming. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.
Great news! Glad you got it sorted out. Thanks for updating the thread - this will help others who find themselves in the same situation. ESD really needs to improve their communication!
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Based on your responses, it sounds like you're still having a hard time reaching ESD to get your specific questions answered. Their phone lines are notoriously busy, especially at the start of the month. If you're still unclear about any job search requirements, I'd recommend: 1. Visit the WorkSource center in person if possible - they can guide you through everything 2. Check the ESD handbook PDF on their website - search for "job search requirements" 3. Use the contact form in your eServices account And yes, an Excel spreadsheet works perfectly for tracking your job search activities. Just include all the details mentioned in previous responses.
Thanks for those suggestions! I'll download the handbook and check out the WorkSource center. One last question - if I apply for 5 jobs in one week, can I save 2 of those applications to count for the next week, or do I need to do 3 new ones each week?
Each job search activity must be done during the week you're claiming benefits. You can't carry over extra activities to the next week. So if you apply to 5 jobs this week, you'd report 3 of them for this week's claim, but the other 2 wouldn't count for next week - you'd need 3 new activities for that week. This is one of those details that trips people up, so I'm glad you asked! Keep doing 3 new activities each week you claim benefits.
Got it! That makes sense. I'll make sure to space out my applications so I have 3 each week. Thanks for all the help everyone - I feel so much more confident about the process now!
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Another tip - if you're uploading documents, make sure the file names are descriptive and include your claim ID. Something like "ClaimID_12345_Layoff_Letter.pdf" instead of just "scan1.pdf". My friend works in a similar government department (not ESD) and says this helps tremendously when they're sorting through thousands of uploaded files.
This is excellent advice! The ESD document processing system sorts uploads both by claim number associations and by filename. Using descriptive filenames with your claim ID absolutely helps ensure your documents get routed correctly and processed faster.
one question - did you keep filing your weekly claims during the whole adjudication process? i've been filing every week but since nothing is getting paid i'm wondering if i should even bother?
You absolutely MUST continue filing weekly claims even while in adjudication. If you stop filing, your claim will be considered abandoned and you'll lose benefits for those weeks permanently. Even if it feels pointless, keep filing consistently every week. When your adjudication is resolved, you'll receive all back payments for properly filed weeks.
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Hey, just wanted to say I was in this EXACT situation back in January. Got laid off from main job, kept my weekend job, then found new work after 7 weeks. ESD paid me for all 5 weeks I claimed, but it took almost 2 months after I started my new job. They backdated everything correctly. Just make sure all your weekly claims are filed properly!
Thanks for sharing your experience! That makes me feel better. I did file all my weekly claims on time and reported my part-time earnings accurately, so hopefully it'll work out similar to yours.
Quick update on timelines - based on current ESD processing times in 2025, claims with employer response delays are typically resolved within 8-12 weeks from the initial filing date. So you're nearing the typical resolution window. Once your claim is processed, payment is usually issued within 48-72 hours to your chosen payment method (direct deposit or debit card). One other tip: if you call ESD, have your part-time employer's EIN (Employer Identification Number) handy. This helps the agent look up exactly where the delay is occurring in the system.
This is super helpful information. I'm at week 7 now, so hopefully that means I'm getting close to resolution based on that 8-12 week timeline. I'll try to find my employer's EIN before I call.
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ESD typically wants to see at least two forms of ID, and one of them usually needs to be a government-issued photo ID (like your driver's license). The second can be a Social Security card, birth certificate, passport, or sometimes utility bills showing your name and address.\n\nSince you've already provided your license and birth certificate, those might be sufficient. However, if you want to be sure, you could upload a W-2, tax return, or pay stub that shows your SSN. That might be faster than waiting for a replacement Social Security card.
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Just wondering has anyone had issues with the standby status thing when getting severance? my friend said she got denied standby bcuz she was getting severance and had to do the job search stuff right away
That's correct. Standby status (where you're exempt from job search requirements because you expect to return to your employer) generally doesn't apply when receiving severance because severance typically indicates a permanent separation from the employer. The person receiving severance would need to conduct job search activities even during the weeks covered by severance pay.
Thanks everyone for the incredibly helpful advice! Just to update - I went ahead and filed my initial claim today. The ESD website actually had a specific section for reporting upcoming severance pay, so that was easier than expected. I reported that I'll be receiving the lump sum next week representing 8 weeks of pay. I've also started my job search log since I need to report activities each week even during the severance period. The ESD agent I spoke with (finally got through!) confirmed that once the 8-week severance allocation ends, my regular benefits should start automatically as long as I keep filing my weekly claims. Really appreciate all the help navigating this!
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I hate to say it, but ESD rarely reverses overpayment decisions. I fought one for 6 months, went through two hearings, and still had to pay everything back. The judges at OAH seem to always side with ESD. It's honestly rigged against us.
That hasn't been my experience. I've represented clients in OAH hearings where we successfully overturned ESD decisions. The key is being extremely prepared with documentation and understanding exactly which regulation ESD is using to claim the overpayment. The judges follow the law - you just need to show ESD misapplied it in your case.
Update: I finally got through to someone at ESD! Turns out they're saying that because I did some gig work during weeks 3-6 of my claim, my combined income exceeded their threshold, which made me ineligible for standby for those specific weeks. The agent explained I needed to submit proof that my employer still had me on standby despite the extra income. I'm gathering emails from my boss now and will be requesting a formal hearing. Thanks everyone for the advice!
nice! how did u actually get through to them? i need to call about my claim too
Honestly, I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. I was skeptical but desperate after weeks of trying. Got connected to an agent in about 30 minutes. Expensive but worth it just to finally understand what's happening with my claim.
Omar Fawaz
WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T take money from your 401k while on unemployment!!! My cousin did this and ESD came after him for FRAUD and he had to pay back ALL his benefits!!! They watch everything!!
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Emma Wilson
•I understand your concern, but there's likely more to your cousin's story. Taking a 401k withdrawal itself isn't fraud, but perhaps he didn't report something correctly or there were other issues with his claim. ESD doesn't automatically consider a 401k withdrawal to be disqualifying - it depends on the type of distribution and how it's reported. There's a specific distinction between periodic pension payments (which can reduce benefits) and one-time withdrawals (which typically don't).
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Javier Mendoza
Thanks everyone for all the great advice! After considering all your suggestions, I think I'm going to: 1. Try to reach ESD directly using that Claimyr service to get official clarification 2. Look into a 401k loan instead of a withdrawal to avoid the tax penalties 3. Check out some of the hardship assistance programs mentioned Really appreciate all the help - this has given me a much clearer picture of my options!
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