Washington Unemployment
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ESD paid my benefits on same day but in separate deposits - normal?
Got something weird with my ESD benefits today. I checked my bank account and saw that my unemployment payment came through, but it was split into multiple separate deposits that showed up throughout the day instead of one lump sum like usual. The total amount matches what I was expecting, but I'm confused why they'd send it in pieces? Has anyone else experienced this? Should I be concerned that something's wrong with my claim? I've been on UI for about 6 weeks now and this is the first time it's happened.
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ESD keeps hanging up on me - any alternative numbers to bypass high call volume?
I'm at my wit's end trying to reach someone at ESD! I've called 1-800-318-6022 like 15 times today and every single time I get that stupid automated message about 'high call volume' and then it just disconnects me. Not even an option to wait on hold! I have questions about my claim that I can't resolve online and desperately need to speak with an actual person. Does anyone know if there's another phone number I can try? Or maybe a specific time of day when the lines aren't so busy? Any tricks to actually get through to a real human being? I'm getting so frustrated I could scream.
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my cousin works at WorkSource and she says they cant help with phoning ESD either. whole system is broken
That's disappointing. I was actually going to try visiting a WorkSource office in person to see if they could help me get through to someone.
WorkSource can help with job search activities and some basic claim information, but they don't have special access to ESD's claims processing. However, I still recommend visiting them because sometimes they can provide guidance on what type of issue you have, which helps you use the correct prompts when calling ESD directly.
UPDATE: I tried Claimyr that someone mentioned above when I had the same problem last week. It actually did work - got connected to an agent after about 90 minutes. Just sharing in case you're still struggling to get through after trying the early morning calls. The video explains how it works pretty clearly. Also, the state representative suggestion is solid advice for claims stuck in adjudication for extended periods.
Thank you all for the helpful suggestions! I'm going to try calling right at 8:00 AM tomorrow, and if that doesn't work after a couple attempts, I'll look into the Claimyr service. Really appreciate everyone's advice and tips!
Reported 4 hours of substitute teaching as casual labor on weekly claim - did I mess up?
I'm freaking out that I might have messed up my weekly claim! I picked up 4 hours of substitute teaching this week (just a one-time thing), and when filling out my weekly claim, I categorized it under 'casual labor' since I'm not actually employed by the school district. After submitting, the system started asking me additional questions about self-employment which threw me off. I uploaded the emails from the school director as documentation, but now I'm worried I should have added this under 'new employer' instead. This is my first time reporting ANY work while on unemployment and I really don't want to get flagged for reporting incorrectly. Has anyone dealt with substitute teaching on unemployment? Did I handle this right or should I try to contact ESD to fix it?
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I'm in a similar situation! I did yard work for a neighbor and wasn't sure how to report it. The ESD website is SO confusing. Did your benefit amount get reduced by exactly how much you earned from the subbing job? That's what I'm worried about - if I report $50 for mowing a lawn, do they just subtract that from my weekly benefit?
Yes, that's exactly how it works. If your weekly benefit is $650 and you earn $50 mowing lawns, you'll receive $600 for that week. Remember though, you need to report gross earnings (before any taxes), not what you actually take home.
One additional note - make sure you're also listing this work as one of your job search activities for the week! Many people forget that work you actually perform (even part-time or one-day) counts as a job search activity. This helps you meet your 3 required activities per week.
Wait, I can count the substitute teaching as one of my job search activities? I had no idea! That's super helpful since I was scrambling to get all three in this week.
Will part-time work destroy my brother's ESD benefits? Need advice for child support situation
My brother is literally living on my couch right now because child support is taking about 60% of his unemployment check and he can't afford even a studio apartment. He's been looking for a full-time position for months but nothing comes close to his previous salary ($85k in tech support). He's thinking about picking up a part-time retail job (maybe 15-20 hrs/week) to boost his income, but we're worried ESD will just cut his benefits completely, making him worse off. Does anyone know how part-time work affects unemployment in WA when there's child support involved? How much can he earn before they start reducing his weekly benefit amount? I really need him to get off my couch but don't want him ending up worse financially.
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tell him check out warehouses, my buddy was in tech and couldnt find anything so he did amazon warehouse for like 6 months, decent pay and they hire everyone
That's actually a good idea! Amazon has a fulfillment center not too far from us. I'll suggest it - might be better than retail, and maybe more hours available too.
One more thing - when your brother reports his part-time earnings to ESD, he needs to report GROSS earnings (before any deductions), not net pay. I've seen people get hit with overpayment notices because they reported the wrong amount. Also, your brother might benefit from connecting with WorkSource. They can help with job searches in his field and sometimes have special programs for people transitioning between careers. With his tech background, they might be able to connect him with short-term contract work that pays better than retail while he searches for a permanent position.
Thanks for the gross vs. net clarification! That would have been exactly the kind of mistake he might make. And I didn't think about WorkSource for tech contracts - he's been focused on permanent roles but a contract might be perfect right now. Anything to get him off my couch (and I do love him, but my 1-bedroom apartment isn't meant for two adults!
Running out of ESD benefits in 2 weeks - can I reapply for unemployment?
I've been on unemployment since November and I just checked my ESD account and saw I only have 2 more payments left! My benefit year isn't over yet (ends in October) but my benefit balance is almost gone. I'm still applying for jobs every week and doing all my job search activities but the market in my field (administrative assistant) is brutal right now. Nobody's calling me back even though I've sent out like 30 applications. Do I just reapply when my benefits run out? Is there some extension I can get? I'm seriously freaking out because my rent just went up $200/month and I have no savings left. Has anyone dealt with this before? What happens when your benefit balance hits zero but your benefit year isn't over??
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UPDATE: I wanted to thank everyone for their help! I went to WorkSource and got connected with their Dislocated Worker program. They're helping me enhance my resume and connected me with some temp agencies that work specifically with admin assistants. I also applied for food benefits and energy assistance. I also managed to get through to ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. The agent was super helpful and confirmed I can't get an extension but said I should continue filing weekly claims even after my benefits run out (something about keeping my claim active for tax purposes and in case any emergency extensions get approved later). Still stressed about money but at least I have a plan now. Thanks again everyone!
That's great news about the Dislocated Worker program! And yes, continuing to file weekly claims is smart - it maintains your claim status and proves ongoing eligibility should any extensions become available. Good luck with your job search!
Leo McDonald
is there any downside to getting split payments? like does it mean were getting flagged for something?? now im paranoid lol
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Jessica Nolan
No, split payments don't indicate any issues with your claim. It's just a processing quirk that happens sometimes with ESD's payment system. As long as your total benefits match what you're expecting and your claim status shows as active/paid, you're fine.
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Angelina Farar
Personally had this happen 4-5 times over the last year on my claim. Sometimes it's when they're processing retroactive payments or adjustments, other times it just seems random. One thing I noticed is it seems to happen more often when my weekly claim is processed on a Monday rather than Sunday.
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