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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!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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This thread really helped me understand something I never thought about before. I'm currently on unemployment after getting laid off from a tech startup, and I always assumed there was some kind of employee contribution I was missing. It's actually pretty reassuring to know that my former employer was paying into this system the whole time I worked there. Makes me feel less guilty about collecting benefits since it's literally insurance they paid for. Also explains why some companies are so reluctant to do layoffs - didn't realize their tax rates could go up based on claims history.
That's exactly how I felt when I first learned about this! It really changes your perspective on unemployment benefits when you realize it's not welfare - it's literally insurance your employer was paying premiums on. The guilt thing is so real too. I think a lot of people don't claim benefits they're entitled to because they don't understand how the system actually works. Good luck with your job search!
This is such valuable information! I'm a freelancer who just transitioned to W-2 employment and had no idea my new employer was paying unemployment taxes on my behalf. Coming from the gig economy where you get zero safety net, it's actually amazing that there's this whole insurance system built in for regular employees. Makes me appreciate having a "real job" even more. Quick follow-up question though - if I go back to freelancing later, do I lose access to unemployment benefits since I wouldn't have an employer paying those taxes anymore?
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I'm in a similar situation - just got approved for unemployment after being laid off from my manufacturing job. The 26 weeks sounds like it should be plenty of time, but reading through everyone's experiences here is making me realize I need to be more strategic about my job search timeline. I've been taking it slow for the first few weeks, but it sounds like I should ramp up my efforts sooner rather than later. Thanks for all the detailed explanations about how the benefit year works - I had no idea about the 52-week limit regardless of whether you use all your weeks or not.
You're smart to start planning early! I made the same mistake of taking it easy the first month and then felt rushed later. One thing that helped me was setting weekly goals for applications and networking - treating job searching like a full-time job itself. Also, definitely keep track of your job search activities from day one since Washington ESD can audit those records at any time. The 26 weeks feels like a lot at first but it really does go by quickly, especially when you factor in holidays, interview processes, and waiting for responses from employers.
Just wanted to add that it's also worth checking your online ESD account regularly to track your remaining weeks and benefit year end date. The online portal shows your claim summary with how many weeks you've used and your maximum benefit amount remaining. I found it helpful to screenshot this information periodically so I could track my progress and plan accordingly. Also, if you're considering any training programs or certifications while unemployed, make sure to discuss them with WorkSource first since some approved programs can extend your eligibility or provide additional support. The key is staying proactive rather than reactive - don't wait until week 20-something to start worrying about what comes next.
This is really helpful advice! I just started collecting benefits myself and hadn't thought about taking screenshots of my account to track progress. That's a smart way to stay organized. The point about training programs is interesting too - I've been considering getting some forklift certifications since I'm in warehouse work. Do you know if those kinds of certifications typically qualify for the extended programs, or is it more for longer-term education? I want to make sure I understand all my options before I get too deep into my benefit period.
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If anyone is still having trouble reaching Washington ESD, I used Claimyr a few weeks ago and it worked great. You can check out their demo video to see how it works before deciding. Made my life so much easier than trying to call during business hours.
Thanks for the recommendation! I'm going to check out that video demo tonight.
Anything has to be better than sitting on hold for hours just to get disconnected.
Thanks everyone for all the detailed info! This is really helpful. I was panicking thinking I did something wrong when I saw the waiting week notice. It's good to know I just need to keep filing my weekly claims and do my job search activities as normal. The hardest part is definitely the financial strain of waiting that extra week when you're already stressed about money. At least now I know what to expect and that I'm not the only one who's been confused by this process.
You're definitely not alone in being confused! The waiting week policy really isn't explained clearly anywhere on the Washington ESD website. I went through the same panic when I first saw it on my account. Just remember that even though you're not getting paid for that week, it still counts as meeting your obligation to file, so don't let the $0 payment discourage you from continuing to file your weekly claims. The financial stress is real though - consider reaching out to local food banks or assistance programs if you need help getting through that first unpaid week.
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Last thought - if anyone is preparing for their appeal hearing, practice explaining your situation clearly and concisely. I rambled too much in my first hearing and felt like I confused the judge. Second time I was more prepared and it went much better.
Good advice. I tried to stick to the facts during my hearing and not get too emotional about how unfairly I felt I was treated.
Exactly. Keep it factual and let your documentation do the talking. Getting emotional can hurt your credibility even if you're 100% right.
I'm in a similar situation - had my appeal hearing 10 days ago and the waiting is absolutely killing me. My case was also for voluntary quit due to hostile work environment. The judge seemed to understand my situation and asked good questions about the documentation I provided. Really hoping for positive news soon! Reading everyone's experiences here is helping me stay somewhat sane during this anxious wait. Fingers crossed for both of us Malik!
Zainab, I'm so glad you shared your experience! It's incredibly reassuring to hear from someone in almost the exact same situation. The hostile work environment cases really are challenging because there's so much you have to prove, but it sounds like you did your homework with the documentation. I've been second-guessing every detail from my hearing, but you're right that when the judge is asking thoughtful questions and really digging into the evidence, that's usually a positive sign. The 10-day mark means you're getting close to that typical 2-3 week window. I'll definitely keep you posted when I hear back, and please do the same! This community has been such a lifeline during this stressful wait.
Welcome to the anxiety club Zainab! I'm at 8 days post-hearing myself and completely understand that nail-biting feeling. Hostile work environment cases can definitely be tricky but it sounds like you presented your evidence well. The fact that the judge was engaged and asking detailed questions is really encouraging - in my experience that usually means they're taking your case seriously rather than just going through the motions. Try to hang in there, you're getting close to that typical decision timeframe. This whole thread has been such a sanity saver for me too during this wait!
Emma Wilson
UPDATE: OP, any luck reaching Washington ESD about your backdating request? I'm curious how it worked out.
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Amara Okafor
•Still trying to get through to them! Going to give that service someone mentioned a try if I can't reach them by Friday.
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Sofia Torres
•Claimyr worked great for me when I was in a similar situation. Hope you get it sorted out soon!
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Miguel Ortiz
I went through something similar last year when I got furloughed. The key thing that helped me get backdating approved was having documentation from my HR department showing they advised employees to wait before filing because they expected to bring people back within 2-3 weeks. Washington ESD considered that "good cause" for the delay. Make sure to gather any emails, texts, or written communication from your employer about the potential callback - that's going to be your strongest evidence. Also, be persistent with calling. I had to try for about a week straight before I finally got through to someone who could help with the backdating request.
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Rosie Harper
•That's really encouraging to hear! I do have some text messages from my supervisor about waiting to see if they'd call me back, so hopefully that will be enough documentation. Did you have to submit the HR documentation formally or just mention it during your phone call?
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