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Thanks everyone for clearing this up! I feel much better about my unemployment situation now. Just going to focus on filing my weekly claims and doing my job searches. No need to worry about PEUC or any other programs that don't exist anymore.
Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through the transition from pandemic programs to regular UI. I was on PEUC in 2021 and when it ended, I had to file a new regular Washington ESD claim. The process was actually pretty straightforward - just had to go through the normal application process like anyone else. The confusing part was that my PEUC claim just... stopped, and I had to figure out on my own that I needed to file a new regular claim. Washington ESD could have communicated that transition better, but once I got the new claim going it was much simpler than dealing with all the pandemic program complications.
That transition period sounds really confusing! I'm glad I'm starting fresh now without having to deal with switching between different programs. Did you have any gap in benefits when your PEUC ended and you had to file the new regular claim?
Yeah there was about a 2-3 week gap while I figured out what happened and got the new claim processed. I wish Washington ESD had sent some kind of notification explaining the transition instead of just cutting off payments. But honestly, regular UI is so much less stressful than dealing with all those pandemic program extensions and changes.
For what it's worth, I used Claimyr when I needed to speak with someone at Washington ESD about appeal timelines and they were super helpful. Worth checking out if you need specific information about your case that you can't find online.
Multiple people have mentioned them now. I might have to try it since I can't get through to Washington ESD any other way.
Yeah the phone situation with Washington ESD is ridiculous. Claimyr actually got me to someone who could look up my specific case details.
I'm new to this community but dealing with a similar situation. My employer just filed an appeal on what seems like day 29 or 30 - I'm not sure exactly when they received the notice but I've been collecting benefits for about 5 weeks. Reading through all these responses is really helpful, especially knowing that I should continue getting paid during the appeal process. I was panicking thinking the payments would stop immediately. Does anyone know if there's a way to check exactly when the initial determination notice was mailed to my employer? I want to see if they might have missed the 30-day deadline.
Welcome to the community! You can call Washington ESD directly to ask for the mail date of your determination notice, though as others mentioned the phone lines are tough. You could also check if you kept your original determination letter - it should have the mail date on it. That date is what starts the 30-day countdown for your employer. If you've been collecting for 5 weeks and they just filed, there's a good chance they're cutting it very close to the deadline or might even be late. The fact that multiple people here have mentioned using Claimyr to actually reach someone at Washington ESD might be worth considering if you can't get through the regular phone lines.
Yes! Just wanted to update everyone - the payment switched from pending to paid yesterday and I just checked my bank account and the money is there! Thanks everyone for the help and reassurance.
Congrats on getting your first payment! 🎉 Your experience is really helpful for others going through the same thing. It's reassuring to see that the "approved" status actually means what it says and that the pending payments do process within a reasonable timeframe. Thanks for following up with the outcome - so many people post their questions but never update us on how things turned out. Hope the rest of your unemployment journey goes smoothly!
Thanks @CosmicCaptain for sharing your experience! As someone who's currently in the adjudication phase myself, this gives me a lot of hope. It's so nerve-wracking waiting to see what happens, especially when you're counting on that income. Really appreciate you taking the time to update everyone on the positive outcome - it makes such a difference for those of us still waiting!
I'm going through something similar with my Uber driving income dropping way off. From what I've learned reading through all these responses, it sounds like the main takeaways are: 1) Regular unemployment is only for W-2 employees, not contractors like us, 2) The pandemic PUA program that helped gig workers ended in 2021, and 3) There might be other assistance programs worth exploring through WorkSource Washington or DSHS. It's frustrating that the safety net doesn't really cover gig workers, but at least now I know what options to look into. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and suggestions!
That's a really good summary! I'm new to this whole gig work thing and was wondering the same questions. It's disappointing that there's such a gap in coverage for contractors, but I appreciate everyone breaking down the reality of the situation. The WorkSource and DSHS suggestions seem like good places to start looking for alternative help. Hope things improve for both of you soon!
I've been following this discussion and wanted to share my experience as someone who transitioned from gig work to traditional employment partly for this reason. I drove for Lyft for about a year and faced the same income volatility issues. What really opened my eyes was realizing that not only do we miss out on unemployment benefits, but we also don't get workers' comp if we're injured on the job, and we're responsible for all our own taxes and vehicle expenses. I ended up taking a dispatcher job with a local logistics company - less flexibility but way more security. The peace of mind knowing I have unemployment protection, health insurance, and paid time off has been worth the trade-off. For anyone in Washington dealing with income drops from gig work, I'd also suggest checking out the state's Basic Food program and energy assistance programs through LIHEAP - these can help bridge the gap while you explore other options.
This is really insightful, thanks for sharing your transition story! I've been wondering about making a similar move but wasn't sure if giving up the flexibility would be worth it. Hearing about the workers' comp angle is eye-opening too - I hadn't even thought about what happens if I get hurt while delivering. The logistics dispatcher job sounds like a good middle ground since you're still in the transportation/delivery world. Did you find it hard to adjust to having set hours after being used to working whenever you wanted? And thanks for mentioning the Basic Food and LIHEAP programs - I'll definitely look into those as short-term help while I figure out my next steps.
LilMama23
Just want to add that your benefit year starts when you first file, not when you actually start receiving payments. So if there's any delay in processing your claim, that doesn't extend your benefit year - the clock starts ticking from day one.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•That's really important to know. I was wondering about that since my claim took a few weeks to get approved.
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KylieRose
•Yeah, delays in claim processing don't extend anything. If you have questions about your specific dates and remaining time, definitely try to get through to Washington ESD. Claimyr made that so much easier for me.
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Dmitri Volkov
Bottom line: 26 weeks maximum, must be claimed within your 52-week benefit year, job search required throughout, and no extensions currently available. Keep track of your remaining weeks and plan accordingly.
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Aaliyah Jackson
•Glad this helped! The Washington ESD system can be confusing but once you understand the basics it's much more manageable.
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Malik Johnson
•This has been such a helpful thread! I'm new to this whole unemployment process and was really stressed about not understanding the time limits. Reading through everyone's experiences and explanations has cleared up so much confusion. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge - it makes such a difference for people like me who are navigating this for the first time.
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