Washington Unemployment
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Accepted lower-paying job - do I still file my final ESD weekly claim or stop now?
I just accepted a new job that starts this week but I'm taking a 79% pay cut from my previous position (desperate times...). This would have been my final week of unemployment benefits anyway. I'm confused about whether I should still file my weekly claim and report the hours I'm working, or just stop claiming entirely since I've found employment? I'll be working more than 8 hours this week at the new job. I know my weekly benefit would be reduced because of the reported hours, but I'm not sure if I'm even supposed to claim at all now that I'm technically employed again. Any guidance would be super appreciated!
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Got ESD payment after 5+ weeks by contacting Governor's office - success story!
After 5 weeks and 3 days of watching my claims sit in pending purgatory, I FINALLY got paid yesterday! For anyone stuck in the same boat, here's what worked for me. I tried calling ESD about 30 times over those weeks - either couldn't get through or was promised callbacks that never happened. Finally got desperate enough to contact the Governor's office (called twice over three days). Magically, within 48 hours of my second call, all my pending claims suddenly processed and the money was in my account this morning. Total backpay came to $4,325. Not sure if it was coincidence or if someone actually flagged my account, but after weeks of stress and nearly missing my rent payment, I'm just relieved. Has anyone else had to go to these lengths to get their claims processed? Seems ridiculous we have to escalate things this high just to get what we're entitled to!
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I don't think contacting the Governor is the best approach for everyone. I was in a similar situation last month, and what worked for me was finding my state representative's contact info and reaching out to their office. My rep has a staff member who specifically handles ESD issues, and they were able to move my claim through within a week of contacting them. It's unfortunate that we have to resort to political pressure to get our claims processed, but at least there are options when you're stuck in pending status for weeks.
this is good advice too! i contacted my state senator last year when i had issues and they actually called me back the same day. didn't fix my problem right away but at least i felt like someone was listening
Im just wondering why they make this process so DIFFICULT??!! We worked and paid into the system but when we need help its like pulling teeth to get it!!! The system is designed to make people give up. I had a friend who just stopped trying after 2 months of trying to get his claim fixed.
I honestly think it's a mix of understaffing, outdated systems, and maybe a bit of intentional difficulty to reduce payouts. I almost gave up too. The worst part was having to continue claiming every week with no idea if I'd ever actually see that money. Really messes with your mental health.
Identity adjudication cleared but no next steps shown on ESD portal - what now?
Finally got through identity adjudication after 3 weeks (they flagged me because my driver's license was renewed right before I filed), but now I'm confused about what happens next. My ESD account shows no pending issues anymore and the identity verification flag is gone, but there's nothing telling me what to do next. No prompts to upload anything, no messages, no instructions. Do I just wait for payments to start automatically? Do I need to call someone? The last weekly claim I filed still shows as 'pending' even though the adjudication is gone. First-time filer here and totally lost!
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Just checking back - any update? Did your payments start processing yet?
Yes! It just updated this morning - five days after the identity adjudication cleared. All my pending weekly claims changed to 'paid' status and the payment is scheduled for tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your help and advice!
ESD claim shows 'paid' status on a holiday - is this normal?
Just checked my ESD account and was shocked to see my weekly claim already shows 'paid' even though today is Memorial Day! I filed yesterday evening and was fully expecting to be stuck in 'processing-ivr' limbo until at least tomorrow since government offices are closed. Has anyone else noticed faster processing times recently? Or is this just a system glitch and I shouldn't expect the money to actually hit my account until they're back open? I'm relatively new to unemployment (laid off 3 weeks ago) and still figuring out the patterns with payments.
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NOBODY KNOWS HOW ESD ACTUALLY WORKS!!! One week everything processes super fast, next week identical claim sits pending for days. One agent tells you one thing, another says completely opposite. It's all just random chaos and we're all just guessing!!!! 😫
While the system isn't perfect, there are actually specific reasons why claims might process differently from week to week. High-volume periods (like after holidays), system maintenance windows (usually Sundays), and claim-specific factors all play a role. If you're seeing inconsistent processing times regularly, it's worth asking an agent to check your specific claim details as there might be an account flag triggering additional reviews.
Approved for standby but weekly claim option missing from ESD portal - help!
Super confused and hoping someone can help! I got approved for standby status on my unemployment claim last week (got the official letter and everything), but when I logged in to do my weekly claim today, the option just isn't there. The system shows I'm approved for standby through May 2025, but there's literally no way to file my weekly claim. I can see all my past claims, but no option to file a new one. I've tried logging out and back in, different browsers, even my phone - nothing works. Has this happened to anyone else? What am I missing? I need that payment to cover my mortgage next week!
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when u talk 2 ESD make sure they backdate ur weekly claims so u dont lose any $$$. they should let u file for all the weeks u missed once they fix the system error
UPDATE: Finally got through to ESD (used that Claimyr service and it actually worked pretty well). The agent said it was a known glitch in their system! Apparently when standby is approved, sometimes the computer system doesn't properly update the weekly claim filing permissions. She fixed it in just a few minutes and I was able to file for the past two weeks I missed. She said the payments should process normally now. Thanks everyone for your help!
Great to hear you got it resolved! This is definitely a common glitch in their system. For anyone else reading this in the future - if you get approved for standby and can't file weekly claims, don't panic, just contact ESD directly to have them fix the permission settings on your account.
Layla Sanders
my brother had this happen when he got a job at walmart after being laid off from boeing. he filed his final week and reported the hours and got like $75 instead of his full amount but at least it was something. def file your claim man
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Anna Stewart
Just to clarify a few things that have been mentioned: 1. Yes, file your claim and report all hours/earnings 2. ESD deducts 75% of your earnings from your weekly benefit amount 3. You should answer the job search questions accurately - if you consider yourself still looking for work (which makes sense given the pay cut), then answer accordingly 4. Your claim remains active for your benefit year 5. If your hours increase to full-time at this job, you'd be considered fully employed even if the pay is low Hope this helps clear up any confusion!
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Eleanor Foster
AuthorThis is super helpful, thank you! I'll go ahead and file my final claim tonight and make sure to accurately report everything. Really appreciate everyone's guidance!
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