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Washington Unemployment

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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 :)

Zoe Papadakis

Can you file for unemployment as a student in Washington?

I'm a college student at UW and I just lost my part-time job at a restaurant. I've been working there for almost 2 years, about 25 hours a week. My friend said I might not be eligible for unemployment because I'm a student but I really need the income to pay for rent and food. Does anyone know if Washington ESD allows students to collect unemployment benefits? I'm taking 12 credits this semester if that matters.

Thanks for posting this question! I'm in the exact same situation and was too nervous to apply thinking I wouldn't qualify. Definitely going to file my claim this week.

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Glad this thread was helpful! I'm feeling much more confident about applying now too.

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If either of you need help reaching Washington ESD with specific questions, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned. Made a huge difference for me.

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One last tip - keep good records of everything. Save copies of your application, weekly claims, any correspondence with Washington ESD, and your job search log. Having documentation makes everything easier if questions come up later.

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Good advice! I'm already pretty organized with my financial stuff so I'll make sure to keep track of everything unemployment-related too.

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Smart approach. It's much easier to stay organized from the start than to try to recreate records later if there's an issue.

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Kolton Murphy

Can I collect Washington ESD unemployment if my paycheck bounces?

My employer's paycheck bounced last week and now they're saying they can't pay us for another two weeks while they sort out their bank issues. I'm technically still employed but I haven't been paid in over a week. Can I file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD in this situation? I need to pay rent and buy groceries but I don't know if this counts as being unemployed or not.

Quick question - if your employer eventually pays you the back wages, do you have to pay back the unemployment benefits?

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Yes, you would need to report any back pay to Washington ESD. Depending on the timing and amounts, you might need to repay some benefits. Always report changes in your situation.

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Good question. I'll make sure to report it if my employer ever catches up on the missed payments.

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Thanks for sharing your experience OP. This is exactly the kind of real-world situation that the unemployment system should handle smoothly, but it's clearly not as straightforward as it should be.

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Yeah, it definitely wasn't straightforward. Without help from people here and that Claimyr service, I would have been stuck.

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The system really needs to be more user-friendly. People shouldn't need special services just to talk to a government agency.

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William Rivera

How long after being let go can you file for unemployment benefits in Washington?

Got laid off from my warehouse job yesterday and wondering when I should file my unemployment claim. I've heard different things about timing - some people say file right away, others say wait a week? I'm really confused about the whole process and don't want to mess anything up. This is my first time dealing with unemployment benefits in Washington state. Does anyone know the actual rules about when you can file after losing your job?

Glad you got your answer OP. For anyone else reading this thread later - the key takeaway is DON'T WAIT. File your unemployment claim immediately after job loss in Washington state. There's no benefit to waiting and you'll only lose money.

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Exactly! Message received loud and clear. Filing now!

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This should be pinned somewhere - such useful info for people in this situation.

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Update us on how it goes OP! Always good to hear success stories to help the next person who finds this thread.

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Will do! Just submitted my claim online. The process was actually pretty straightforward. Thanks again everyone!

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Awesome! Glad it worked out smoothly for you.

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Zane Hernandez

How to contact Washington ESD unemployment - phone keeps hanging up

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for over a week about my unemployment claim that's been stuck in adjudication. Every time I call the main number, I either get a busy signal or it hangs up after 2-3 minutes on hold. I've tried calling first thing in the morning, during lunch, and even late afternoon but nothing works. My weekly claim is showing pending and I can't figure out what's holding it up. Has anyone had luck getting through to an actual person at Washington ESD recently? What's the best time to call or is there a different number I should be using?

The frustration is real. I spent my entire morning calling and got nowhere. At least we're not alone in this struggle.

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Thanks for the solidarity. It does help knowing I'm not the only one dealing with this.

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Update: I tried the Claimyr service and they got me through in 18 minutes. The agent was able to see that my former employer hadn't responded to their inquiry, which was causing the delay. She escalated it and said I should see movement within a week. Worth every penny after all the time I wasted calling myself.

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That's great news! I'm definitely going to try Claimyr now. Thanks for the update.

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This gives me hope. I'm going to try it too since I'm in the same situation.

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Oscar Murphy

Does collecting Washington ESD unemployment affect your social security benefits?

I'm 62 and thinking about filing for unemployment after being laid off from my warehouse job last month. I've been working for 35 years and was planning to start collecting social security in a few years. My neighbor said that getting unemployment benefits could mess up my social security somehow? Is this true? I don't want to do anything that would hurt my future retirement benefits. Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

Bottom line - unemployment benefits and Social Security are completely separate. File for your UI benefits with confidence, and don't let this worry keep you from getting the help you need while you're looking for work.

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Thanks everyone for all the reassurance and information. I'm going to file my claim today!

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Had the same concern when I was 63 and got laid off. Talked to someone at Social Security directly and they confirmed zero interaction between the two programs. Your future SS benefits are safe!

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Perfect - that's exactly the confirmation I needed. Really appreciate everyone's help with this question.

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Glad we could help clear this up for you. Good luck with your job search!

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