Washington Unemployment

CommunityGovernment Services

Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.

Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.

160,000+ people connected since 2021

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
Fox KTVUABC 7CBSSan Francisco Chronicle


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 :)

ESD weekly claim with new job - how to report gross pay when first paycheck hasn't arrived?

I'm filing my last weekly claim after starting a new job. Started working Feb 3rd but won't get paid until February 14th. I'm confused about how to calculate and report my gross pay for the weekly claim when I haven't actually received a paycheck yet. Do I estimate my earnings for the hours I worked that week? Or do I wait until I get my first paycheck to file? Will ESD think I'm lying if the amounts don't match exactly? Also, does anyone know if there's a specific spot on the weekly claim to note that this will be my final claim because I found employment? I don't want to mess this up and get hit with an overpayment notice months later.

I HATE how ESD makes this so confusing! My sister got hit with a $2,100 overpayment because she reported when she got PAID instead of when she WORKED. The system should be more clear about this! Make sure you're super accurate with your hours. I even took screenshots of my timesheets and saved them in case ESD questioned me later. For your final claim, there's a question that asks if you've returned to work full-time - make sure to say YES to that one.

0 coins

OMG that's awful about your sister! I'll definitely be careful about reporting the correct hours. Taking screenshots of timesheets is a great idea too.

0 coins

Congrats on the new job! One thing to add - when you say you "started a job on 2/3" - if that was Feb 3, 2025, that was a Monday, not a Saturday. ESD weeks run Sunday-Saturday, so keep that in mind when dividing up your hours worked if you're submitting claims for multiple weeks.

0 coins

You're right! I meant Feb 3rd is when I started, and I'm trying to file for the week ending Feb 9th. Thanks for the heads up about ESD weeks!

0 coins

Finding my 1099-G tax form for 2023 ESD unemployment benefits - where to look?

Has anyone figured out how to get their 1099-G form for taxes? I received some unemployment benefits in 2023 and need to report it on my taxes, but I'm not sure where to find the tax form or what it's even called. Is this something ESD automatically mails out, or can I download it from somewhere on their website? I've looked around my eServices account but can't find anything labeled as a tax form. Starting to worry since I want to file my taxes soon and don't want to miss including this income. Any help would be super appreciated!

Back in 2020 during COVID I never got my 1099-G and filed without it. BIG MISTAKE. IRS came after me 6 months later saying I underreported income. Had to pay penalties on top of the taxes I owed. Don't mess around with this form!

0 coins

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I was able to find the 1099-G form right where you all said - in the main menu of eServices under "1099-G Tax Forms." I feel silly for missing it before. For anyone else looking, you can also request a copy by phone if needed. This community is amazing!

0 coins

ESD benefits running out at 26 weeks - any extensions available? Also question about substitute teaching impact

I'm getting really worried as I'm approaching the end of my regular unemployment benefits (about 3 weeks left of my initial 26-week period). The job market in my field (marketing) has been brutal, and despite sending out 5-7 applications weekly, I've only had two interviews that went nowhere. Does anyone know if Washington still offers any kind of extension after the regular 26 weeks runs out? I've heard conflicting information about this. Also - I just got approved to be on the substitute teacher list with my local school district as a backup plan. If I pick up just ONE day of subbing in a week, will that completely eliminate my unemployment for the entire week? Or does ESD calculate it differently? I don't want to accept a single day of work if it means losing a whole week of benefits, but I also need to start building some connections.

I'd like to add some clarification about working while on unemployment: 1) You must report all hours and earnings, even for one day of work 2) The formula is: Weekly benefit - (gross earnings ร— 0.75) = adjusted benefit 3) You must still be available for full-time work to qualify for benefits 4) Substitute teaching hours are compatible with UI as long as you remain available for full-time permanent work 5) If working as a substitute, make sure you're reporting your hours correctly - count prep time if required A common mistake is not reporting small amounts of work, which can lead to overpayment notices later. Always report everything, even if it's just a few hours.

0 coins

My cousin got in trouble for not reporting some gig work while on unemployment. They made her pay it ALL back plus some kind of penalty. Not worth the risk!

0 coins

What about applying for TANF or other assistance programs once unemployment runs out?? Has anyone done that? Does one automatically qualify if UI benefits are exhausted??

0 coins

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is primarily designed for families with children, and eligibility is based on income, resources, and other factors - not simply UI exhaustion. If your UI is running out, I recommend: 1) Contact WorkSource about job search assistance and possible training programs 2) Apply for Basic Food benefits (SNAP/food stamps) 3) Check if you qualify for HEN (Housing & Essential Needs) if you have a temporary disability 4) Apply for healthcare through Washington Apple Health Each program has different eligibility requirements, and none automatically qualify you just because UI ended.

0 coins

ESD adjudication results mixed - one approved, one disqualified - can I get backpay for those weeks?

After 7 long weeks my claim finally came through adjudication. I had two separate issues they were reviewing. One issue was disqualified and the other was approved just yesterday. Here's my problem - all my weekly claims during those 7 weeks have been marked as '$0.00' and 'disqualified' in my ESD account. I'm guessing this happened because they finalized the disqualification decision first before approving the other issue. I'm really struggling financially and was counting on that backpay for the 7 weeks. Does anyone know if those weeks are permanently lost? Or is there any way to have ESD review those weeks again since one of my issues was ultimately approved? I can't get through on the phone to ask an agent directly.

Always continue filing your weekly claims, even while appeals are pending! This is the #1 mistake people make. If you win your appeal but haven't been filing, you can't go back and claim those weeks later. Also, check your determination letters carefully. They should specify exactly which weeks were affected by which issue. If the disqualification letter only mentions the travel week, you have an even stronger case for getting the other weeks reconsidered.

0 coins

Just checked my letters, and you're right! The disqualification letter specifically mentions only the week of March 12-18, 2025 as being affected by the travel issue. The approval letter for the separation issue covers my entire claim period. This seems like clear evidence that the other weeks should be paid!

0 coins

Based on everything you've shared, you're absolutely entitled to backpay for 6 of those 7 weeks. This is a fairly common ESD system error that requires manual intervention to fix. Your determination letters are the smoking gun here - save those carefully! I would suggest two parallel approaches: 1. File the appeal as others have suggested (you have 30 days from determination date) 2. Try persistently to reach an agent who can fix this more quickly than waiting for an appeal The appeal is your safety net, but getting through to ESD directly could resolve this faster. Good luck and please update us on what happens!

0 coins

Thank you all so much for the advice and support! I've started my appeal letter and I'm going to try reaching an agent tomorrow morning. I'll definitely update once I have any news. This community has been incredibly helpful when ESD's own information is so confusing.

0 coins

ESD claim stuck 'pending' for 8 weeks - considering calling governor's office

I'm at my wit's end. My unemployment claim has been 'pending' for 8 WEEKS now with zero movement. I've called ESD at least 40 times (no exaggeration) and either get disconnected or told 'someone will call you back' which never happens. I've sent 6 messages through eServices that have all been ignored. My rent is already late and I'm about to lose my apartment. I've heard that contacting the governor's office can sometimes get ESD to actually look at your claim. Has anyone tried this? How many more weeks should I wait before going that route? I'm desperate but don't want to seem like I'm overreacting if this is just how the system works now.

Just wanted to mention - make sure you're still filing your weekly claims even while your initial claim is pending! I made this mistake and it caused even more delays. If your initial claim eventually gets approved, you'll only get backpay for weeks you properly claimed.

0 coins

Yes, I've been religiously filing every week! That's actually making it even more frustrating because I keep hoping each week will be the one where something changes, but nothing does. Thanks for the reminder though - it's definitely important!

0 coins

Any update on your situation? Did you try contacting your rep or using that Claimyr service that was mentioned? I'm curious which approach worked for you as I might be in the same boat soon (my company just announced layoffs).

0 coins

I tried the Claimyr service first and it actually worked! Got connected to an agent who found that there was an identity verification issue that was never properly flagged in the system. They fixed it on the spot and my claim was processed 3 days later. Such a relief! Sorry about your potential layoff - hope everything works out.

0 coins

Prev1...21472148214921502151...2231Next