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For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD, I had success with Claimyr too. Their video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ explains exactly how it works. Definitely worth checking out if you're tired of busy signals.
Bottom line: $999 is the max weekly benefit for 2025 in Washington state. Whether you actually get that amount depends on your earnings history. Most people get somewhere in the $400-600 range based on what I've seen.
For what it's worth, I've found that once you get through the initial filing process, the weekly claims are pretty straightforward. The hardest part is really just getting that first claim submitted and approved.
Make sure you report any income you earn while on unemployment, even small amounts. Washington ESD will find out eventually and you don't want to deal with an overpayment situation.
If you're having trouble with the website or need to speak to someone, I ended up using Claimyr after weeks of failed attempts to call. Worth checking out their demo video to see if it might help you too.
The job search requirements are the same whether you quit or get laid off, so make sure you're ready to start looking immediately. They'll want to see your job search log right away.
If you do decide to quit, make sure you have all your documentation ready before you file your claim. Pay stubs, emails, photos, witness statements, anything that supports your case. The more prepared you are, the smoother the process will go.
And if you need to talk to ESD about any of this, definitely check out that Claimyr service. So much easier than trying to get through on your own.
Talia Klein
Just wanted to add that you should apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's no waiting period to file and the sooner you get in the system, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.
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Scarlett Forster
•Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm going to file my claim this weekend and see how it goes.
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Talia Klein
•Good luck! Sounds like you have realistic expectations which is half the battle.
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Derek Olson
Just remember if you do run into any issues reaching Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier is there as a backup option. Sometimes having that extra resource available gives you peace of mind even if you don't end up needing it.
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Scarlett Forster
•Definitely keeping that in mind! Hopefully I won't need it but good to know it's there if something goes wrong.
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Maxwell St. Laurent
•I used Claimyr too when I had problems with my overpayment notice. Really helped to actually talk to a real person who could explain what was happening.
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