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UPDATE: Finally got through to WorkSource! The person I spoke with was actually really understanding. They said this happens more often than you'd think. They've rescheduled my appointment for next week and added notes to my file explaining the situation. They also said I should call ESD to make sure everything is documented there too. Going to try that now. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great news! This is exactly why it's important to address these issues promptly. For your ESD call, make sure to get a reference number for the call when you speak with them. That way you have documentation that you reported the issue.
So relieved to hear you got it sorted out with WorkSource! That's a huge weight off your shoulders. When you call ESD, definitely mention that WorkSource already documented everything and gave you a new appointment. Having that paper trail will make the ESD conversation much smoother. You handled this exactly right by calling immediately and being proactive about it. Hope the rest of the process goes smoothly for you!
If you run into any issues during the application process, don't hesitate to reach out for help. The Washington ESD website has good FAQs, and if you need to talk to someone, that Claimyr service people mentioned actually works pretty well for getting through to agents.
Just wanted to add my experience - I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Lived in Oregon, worked at a distribution center in Washington for about 10 months before getting laid off. Filed with Washington ESD online and it was actually pretty smooth. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to first payment. Make sure you have your last few pay stubs handy when you apply - they'll ask for wage information and it's easier if you have everything ready. Good luck with your claim!
That's exactly what I needed to hear! It's so helpful to know someone went through the same situation successfully. I was worried about the timeline but 3 weeks doesn't sound too bad. I'll make sure to gather all my pay stubs before I start the application. Did you have to do anything special since you lived out of state, or was it just like applying normally?
Bottom line: quitting and getting unemployment is possible but requires careful preparation and documentation. Don't quit impulsively - build your case first if you're serious about pursuing benefits.
Thank you everyone for all this helpful information. I have a lot to think about and prepare before making any decisions.
Good luck with whatever you decide. Feel free to ask if you have more specific questions as you work through this.
One more thing to consider - if you're dealing with harassment or discrimination based on protected characteristics (race, gender, age, etc.), you might also want to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Washington State Human Rights Commission before quitting. Having an active complaint on file can really strengthen your good cause argument with Washington ESD, and these agencies can sometimes help resolve workplace issues without you having to quit at all.
That's excellent advice about filing with the EEOC or State Human Rights Commission first. I didn't realize having an active complaint could help with the unemployment claim. Do you know how long those complaint processes typically take? I'm wondering if it's worth starting that route before making any decisions about quitting.
This is such a helpful thread! I just had this exact same issue happen to me last week - my payment showed "Paid $0" and I was completely panicking. After reading everyone's experiences here, I called ESD first thing Monday morning at 8 AM sharp and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. Turns out they had flagged my claim for a routine audit because I had reported working a few hours the week before, and their system wanted to verify that I had correctly calculated my earnings deduction. The agent cleared it immediately and my payment processed the next day. The most frustrating part was that there was absolutely no indication in my online account that there was any kind of review or hold - it just showed the confusing "Paid $0" status. For anyone dealing with this, definitely try calling right when they open and be persistent. Ask specifically if there are any holds, reviews, or flags on your account that aren't visible in the portal. It's ridiculous that they don't make these things transparent to claimants!
@Cass Green Thanks for sharing your experience! It s'really helpful to hear that calling at 8 AM actually works - I was starting to think it was impossible to get through to ESD. Your situation with the earnings audit makes total sense, and it s'so frustrating that they don t'give any indication of these reviews in the online portal. I m'dealing with the same Paid "$0 issue" right now and have been worried I messed something up, but reading everyone s'stories here is giving me hope that it s'probably just another one of these invisible holds. Definitely going to try the 8 AM calling strategy tomorrow and specifically ask about any hidden flags or reviews like you suggested. It s'crazy that we have to play detective just to find out what s'happening with our own claims!
I went through this exact same nightmare back in October! My payment showed "Paid $0" for three weeks straight and I was losing my mind trying to figure out what was wrong. Turns out ESD had put a "quality control review" on my account because I had switched from part-time to full-time work search requirements, and their system flagged it as suspicious activity. There was literally ZERO indication of this review anywhere in my online account - no messages, no alerts, nothing. I only found out when I finally got through to an agent after calling for two weeks straight. The agent said these quality control reviews happen randomly and can take 2-3 weeks to complete, but they don't notify claimants because they don't want to "cause unnecessary worry." It's absolutely insane! Once the review was cleared, I got all my back payments within 48 hours. My advice: call every single day right at 8 AM and specifically ask if there are ANY reviews, audits, or quality control flags on your account, even if nothing shows up online. Don't let them brush you off - demand specifics about what might be causing the $0 payment!
Mei Chen
This has been really educational. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference as my business grows and I need to hire more people.
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Ravi Malhotra
•Same here - lots of good practical advice from people who've actually dealt with this stuff.
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Liam Sullivan
•That's what makes these forums valuable - real experience from real business owners.
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Isaac Wright
Just to add one more practical tip - when you're calculating your quarterly UI tax payments, make sure you're using the correct tax rate for your business. New employers start with a standard rate, but after you've been in business for a while, your rate can change based on your experience rating (how many former employees have filed claims). I learned this the hard way when my rate went up after a couple seasonal workers filed for unemployment during the off-season. It's all part of the system, but it's good to understand so you can budget accordingly.
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Mia Green
•That's really helpful to know about the experience rating changes! I hadn't thought about how seasonal layoffs would affect my tax rate down the line. Do you know roughly how much rates can vary, or is it different for every business?
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NebulaNova
•Rates can vary quite a bit actually. New employers in Washington start at around 1.18% for most industries, but experienced employers can have rates anywhere from about 0.2% up to 6% or higher depending on their claims history. The exact range depends on your industry classification too. If you have a lot of seasonal workers who regularly file for unemployment, your rate will definitely creep up over time. It's one of those hidden costs of doing seasonal business that you don't really think about when you're starting out.
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