Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the ESD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the ESD drops your call
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!
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 :)
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have u tried messaging ur state representative?? thats wat i did after waiting 9 wks and suddenly my claim got fixed in 3 days!! they can do something called a "legislative inquiry" that puts ur claim at the top of someones list. worth a try b4 u go thru all that job application stuff lol
Really? I never thought of trying that route. I'm going to look up who my rep is right now. Thanks for the tip!
I share your frustration with the system, but I'd caution against assuming the delays are due to incompetence or poor management. The reality is that ESD is dealing with an antiquated computer system that was scheduled for replacement before the pandemic hit. The claims process involves multiple verification points through different agencies and employers, and adjudication specifically means there's some discrepancy that requires human investigation. If you're serious about applying, search for "Unemployment Insurance Specialist" or "Employment Security Specialist" on careers.wa.gov. But be aware - the starting pay isn't great considering the technical knowledge required (around $22-28/hour depending on experience), and the pressure can be intense when you're dealing with people who are desperate for their benefits. In the meantime, have you tried requesting an expedite on your claim due to financial hardship? There's a specific process for this that can sometimes help.
Thank you for the reality check and the specific job titles. I didn't know about the expedite option - how exactly do I request that? At this point I'm genuinely facing eviction if I don't get some income soon.
To request an expedite due to financial hardship, call the claims center and specifically state that you need to request a hardship expedite. Be prepared to briefly explain your situation (facing eviction, utilities being shut off, etc.). You can also upload documentation of the hardship (eviction notice, final utility bills) to your eServices account under "Upload a Document" and select "Hardship Documentation" as the document type. This won't guarantee immediate resolution, but it can move your case up in priority.
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Just to clarify based on some misinformation in this thread: 401k withdrawals are typically only counted for the week they're received. However, if you're receiving systematic/periodic payments from your retirement account (like monthly distributions), those CAN affect multiple weeks. Based on your description, you took a one-time withdrawal, which should only affect the one week. If you're concerned, check your ESD account online - look at 'Payment History' and it should show if future payments are being held or if just the one week was affected. Also, be aware that taking 401k withdrawals while on unemployment can sometimes trigger additional verification requirements, so keep an eye on your ESD messages in case they request any documentation about the withdrawal.
This ⬆️ Exactly right. The confusion comes from people mixing up lump sum withdrawals vs recurring distributions. Big difference in how ESD treats them!
UPDATE: I just checked my ESD account and filed this week's claim (with no additional income to report) and it shows as 'processing' with the full benefit amount! Looks like it's just a one-week impact after all. Thanks everyone for your help and clearing this up for me. The stress was really getting to me!
Great news! Glad it worked out. For future reference, always remember that one-time payments (including 401k withdrawals, severance pay, vacation payouts, etc.) only affect the week they're received. ESD considers each week independently.
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Wait are holiday furloughs even eligible for unemployment? My company does this too but HR told us we shouldn't file because it's planned in advance or something. Now I'm confused if I've been missing out on benefits I could've claimed...
Your HR is incorrect. Temporary layoffs/furloughs absolutely qualify for unemployment in Washington, even if they're planned in advance. The determining factor is whether you're experiencing a reduction/loss of work and wages through no fault of your own - which a furlough definitely is. You should absolutely file when furloughed.
Update: I reopened my claim yesterday and selected "TEMPORARY LAYOFF" as everyone suggested. I made sure to enter my return-to-work date and answered "Yes" when asked if I'm returning to the same employer. The system accepted my application without any errors, so hopefully it goes through smoothly! I'll update again once I know if it gets approved or stuck in adjudication. Thanks everyone for your help!
nice! hope it goes thru quick for u. remember to still do ur job search stuff this week even tho ur going back soon!
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Glad to hear it worked out for both of you! The ESD agent I spoke with mentioned their payment status system often lags 1-2 days behind actual payments during these processing delays. Definitely worth checking your bank account directly rather than just relying on the ESD portal status.
Yuki Tanaka
To follow up on your question about alternatives if you don't qualify for regular UI due to insufficient W-2 hours: Unfortunately, the pandemic-era programs that covered self-employed workers (PUA) have ended. If you don't qualify for regular UI, you might want to look into: 1. WorkSource job placement services 2. DSHS emergency assistance programs 3. Local workforce development programs that might offer retraining 4. Apply anyway and appeal if denied - sometimes ESD misses eligible wages in their system And yes, absolutely apply even if you're unsure about qualifying. The formal determination is necessary if you need to appeal or pursue other options.
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Liam Murphy
•Thank you so much for this thorough information. I'll definitely apply regardless of my uncertainty about qualifying. I've been working with WorkSource already but will look into those DSHS programs too. Really appreciate the help during this stressful time!
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Aisha Patel
@OP regarding the Claimyr service I mentioned earlier - yes, it definitely worked for me. It's not sketchy at all - they basically just help you navigate the ESD phone system and get placed in the callback queue properly. Once they connect you, you're talking directly with ESD. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for days. The agent I got was able to explain exactly what I needed for my new claim application after my benefit year ended.
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Liam Murphy
•Thanks for the info! I might try that if I can't get through in the next couple of days. At this point I'm willing to try anything since I really need to understand my options before my benefits run out.
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