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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.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
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!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
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.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
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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Bottom line - you don't need any special unemployment number before filing. Just go to the Washington ESD website and start your application. The system will take care of assigning you all the numbers you need.
Perfect summary. I'm going to start my application right now. Thanks everyone!
I went through this same confusion last year! The Washington ESD system definitely isn't the most intuitive. Just to add to what others have said - when you file your initial claim online, make sure you have about 30-45 minutes to complete the whole application in one sitting. The system can time out if you take too long, and you might have to start over. Also, double-check all your employment dates and employer information before submitting because it's harder to correct mistakes later. Good luck with your claim!
This is exactly the kind of detailed advice I wish was on the Washington ESD website itself! The timeout issue would have definitely caught me off guard. I'm definitely going to set up direct deposit from the start - waiting for a debit card sounds like it would just add more delays to an already slow process. Thanks for mentioning the confirmation page loading issues too. I'll screenshot that confirmation number just to be safe!
All of this is such great advice! I had no idea about the timeout issue or the confirmation page problems. I'm going to make a checklist of everything I need before I start: employment history for 18 months, SSN, driver's license, bank account info for direct deposit, and I'll clear my schedule for at least an hour to be safe. It's really helpful to know these practical details that aren't mentioned on the official website. Has anyone had issues with the direct deposit setup, or does that usually work smoothly once you provide your bank info?
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UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that my claim switched from pending to paid this morning! It took exactly 6 business days after my identity was verified. All of my previously disqualified weeks were also approved and show as paid now. Thank you all for your help and advice - going to be checking my bank account obsessively for the next couple days!
Great news! The payment typically posts to your account within 24-48 hours after the status changes to paid. Glad to hear your previously disqualified weeks were also approved - that's exactly how the system should work once identity is confirmed. Thanks for updating the thread!
Thanks for coming back and letting us know! It really helps other people going through the same thing to know the timeframes.
Congratulations on getting your claim approved! Your timeline of 6 business days is actually pretty typical for what we've been seeing in 2025. For anyone else going through this process, it's really encouraging to see that the system worked as it should once identity verification was complete. The fact that all your previously disqualified weeks were automatically reconsidered is exactly what should happen - no appeals needed when it's solely an identity issue. Hope your payment hits your account soon!
This is such a relief to hear! I'm in a similar situation right now - just finished my identity verification last week and my status changed to pending 3 days ago. Seeing that yours processed in 6 business days gives me hope that mine should be coming soon too. The waiting is the worst part, especially when you're behind on bills. Did you get any notification when it changed from pending to paid, or did you just have to keep checking your account?
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awesome! make sure you file your first weekly claim as soon as you get your determination letter. and remember its every sunday after that. set a reminder on your phone so you dont forget
Good idea about the phone reminder. I'll set that up now.
I just want to add one more thing that helped me when I filed last year - keep a detailed folder (physical or digital) with all your unemployment documents. This includes your determination letter, weekly claim confirmations, job search records, and any correspondence with Washington ESD. If you ever get audited or have questions later, having everything organized will save you so much stress. Also, screenshot your weekly claim submissions as proof you filed on time. The system can sometimes glitch and it's good to have backup documentation.
This is excellent advice! I'm definitely going to start a folder right away. Do you recommend any specific way to organize the job search records? Should I keep screenshots of every application I submit or just the basic details?
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The 26 weeks goes by faster than you think. I'm at week 20 and getting nervous. The job market is tough right now and good jobs are taking longer to find than I expected.
I've been using Claimyr to stay in touch with my Washington ESD case worker about potential training opportunities. Having direct contact with an agent makes it easier to understand all your options.
I didn't know you could have a case worker. I should look into that.
Just wanted to share my recent experience since I see a lot of questions here. I filed my claim in December after getting laid off from a tech job I'd held for 3 years. Washington ESD approved me for the full 26 weeks, and my weekly benefit amount was calculated based on my highest earning quarter in the base year. The process took about 3 weeks to get my first payment, but they did backpay to my filing date. One tip - make sure you have all your employment history and wage information ready when you file, including any W2s or pay stubs from the past 18 months. It really speeds up the process if they don't have to request additional documentation from you or your employers.
Carmen Vega
I'm in a very similar boat right now - got let go from my office job three weeks ago for "not being a good fit" which I think was really just code for budget cuts. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring! I keep second-guessing myself about whether to file, but it sounds like the consensus is definitely to apply right away. One question I haven't seen addressed - if you do get approved and start receiving benefits, but then your former employer decides to contest it later, what happens? Can they take away your benefits retroactively or do you get to keep what you've already received while they sort it out? I'm worried about getting approved initially and then having the rug pulled out from under me.
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MidnightRider
•Great question! From what I understand, if your employer contests your claim after you've already been approved and receiving benefits, Washington ESD will do another investigation. During that review period, you typically continue receiving benefits while they sort it out - they don't just cut you off immediately. If they ultimately rule against you after the contest, then yes, you might have to pay back benefits you received (that's called an overpayment), but if their decision stands in your favor, you keep everything. The key is being completely honest in your initial application so there are no surprises later. Most employers who are going to contest do it right away though, not weeks into your claim. Given that you were told it was "not being a good fit" rather than misconduct, you should definitely apply - that sounds exactly like the type of situation unemployment benefits are designed for!
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Ethan Moore
I was in a really similar situation about a year ago - got fired from my restaurant job for "poor performance" but honestly I think they were just looking for reasons to cut staff during a slow period. The whole thing felt really unfair since I was never given clear feedback about what I was doing wrong until the day they let me go. I was so nervous about filing because I thought being fired automatically disqualified you, but I'm really glad I applied anyway. The process took about 4 weeks from start to finish, and Washington ESD did contact my former employer to get their side of the story. I had to do a phone interview where they asked me to explain what happened from my perspective. I just stuck to the facts and explained that I felt I was doing my best but wasn't given adequate guidance on how to improve. They ended up approving my claim! The whole experience taught me that Washington's unemployment system really does try to be fair and distinguish between people who were fired for legitimate misconduct versus those who just couldn't meet unrealistic expectations or were let go for business reasons. Definitely apply - the worst they can say is no, and at least you'll know for sure rather than wondering what if.
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