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If you do get stuck in adjudication hell like I did, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit. Used it last month when I couldn't get through to check on my claim status. Finally got to talk to a real person at Washington ESD instead of just sitting on hold forever.
About 5 weeks with no updates. Called using Claimyr and found out they just needed one more piece of documentation from me. Got it resolved within a few days after that.
Bottom line - being fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits in Washington. The key question is whether it was for misconduct or not. Performance issues, personality conflicts, not being the right fit - those typically don't count as misconduct.
The minimum benefit in Washington used to be even lower years ago, so I guess $201 is progress? Still not enough to live on though.
Just to confirm what others have said - $201 is definitely the floor for Washington ESD weekly benefits. I've been on unemployment twice and both times that was the minimum they could pay out regardless of circumstances.
just remember that even if you lose the appeal you might be able to set up a payment plan instead of paying the whole amount at once. washington esd is usually willing to work with people on repayment terms. but definitely try the appeal first since you might not owe anything at all
I won my overpayment appeal last year and the biggest thing that helped was getting a phone call with Washington ESD first to understand exactly what they thought I did wrong. Once I understood their reasoning, I could address it directly in my appeal letter. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier sounds like it could be really helpful for getting through to talk to someone.
Yeah, I think I'm going to try that service this week. Getting actual details about what they think I did wrong would definitely help me write a better appeal.
Final myth buster: You don't lose your place in line if you go back to work temporarily. If you lose that job within your benefit year and still have benefit weeks remaining, you can restart your claim without filing a whole new application.
This has been a great thread for clearing up all the confusion. The key is getting information from reliable sources like Washington ESD directly, not from random people who might not know the current rules.
Jacob Lewis
One last thing - if you're thinking about going back to school while on unemployment, there are special programs that might let you collect benefits while in training. Worth looking into if you want to change careers.
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Amelia Martinez
•Really? I didn't know you could go to school and still get unemployment. What kind of programs?
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Jacob Lewis
•Washington ESD has approved training programs where you don't have to look for work while you're in school. You have to get approval first though.
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Ethan Clark
thanks everyone for all the info! this thread has been super helpful for understanding how the benefit amounts work. feeling much better about filing my claim now.
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Freya Collins
•Glad we could help! Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions after you file.
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Mila Walker
•Good luck with your claim! The hardest part is just getting started.
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