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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.
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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.
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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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Just remember that getting CalFresh while on unemployment is totally normal and nothing to be embarrassed about. Both programs exist to help people during tough times.
Thank you for saying that. I really appreciate everyone's help and encouragement.
I just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully got CalFresh while receiving Washington ESD unemployment benefits. The process is definitely doable! One thing that really helped me was having my monthly UI determination letter ready when I applied - it shows exactly what your weekly benefit amount is and makes the income verification much smoother. Also, don't forget that they'll factor in your rent and utility costs when calculating your CalFresh amount, so even with UI income you might still qualify for meaningful food assistance. The whole safety net is designed to work together during times like these.
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I went through the Training Benefits program last year and it was a game-changer! Did a cybersecurity certification program while still getting my unemployment benefits. The key is getting pre-approval - don't start any classes before Washington ESD approves your training plan or you could lose benefits. The application process took about 3 weeks but totally worth it. They covered my tuition for a 6-month program and I found a job 2 weeks after graduation making $15k more than my previous job. Just make sure the program you choose is in a high-demand field - they're more likely to approve tech, healthcare, and skilled trades.
This is exactly what I needed to hear! A real success story with actual numbers. $15k more is huge! Can you share what cybersecurity program you did? I'm interested in tech but wasn't sure which direction to go. Also, when you say "high-demand field" - did Washington ESD give you a list of approved career areas or did you have to research that yourself?
Wow, that's an amazing outcome! I'm really encouraged by your story. I've been hesitant about going back to school while on unemployment because I was worried about messing up my benefits, but hearing that you actually increased your salary by $15k makes it seem worth the risk. Did you have to maintain your regular job search activities while in the program, or were you able to focus just on the training? Also, how did the weekly certification process work - did you have to report differently since you were in approved training?
I'm actually in a very similar situation right now - collecting unemployment and considering going back to school. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the Training Benefits program which I had no idea existed! I'm particularly interested in healthcare programs since that seems to be one of the high-demand fields mentioned. Has anyone here specifically done medical training through the program? I'm thinking about either medical coding or pharmacy tech certification. Also, for those who used Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD - is there a cost for that service or is it free? I've been trying to call for weeks with no luck and I really need to speak with someone about my options before making any decisions about school enrollment.
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I think the confusion comes from people mixing up unemployment with other benefits that might have restrictions on reapplying.
Yeah, unemployment insurance is different from welfare programs that might have waiting periods.
Exactly. Unemployment is insurance you pay into while working, so you can use it whenever you qualify.
I've filed for unemployment benefits twice in Washington over the past few years and it's really straightforward. The key thing is that each claim is completely independent - as long as you worked enough hours and earned sufficient wages between claims, you're eligible for a new benefit year. Washington ESD doesn't penalize you for filing multiple times, it's actually very common especially in industries with seasonal work or frequent layoffs. Just make sure you have all your recent employer information ready when you file online.
That's really helpful to know! I was worried there might be some kind of waiting period or penalty for filing a second time. It's good to hear that having sufficient work history between claims is the main requirement. I worked steadily for 10 months at decent wages, so sounds like I should be all set to file tomorrow.
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Bottom line: 26 weeks is the standard duration in Washington state. Make sure you understand all the requirements, file your claims on time, and use the time productively to find your next job. You've got this!
Appreciate all the encouragement and practical advice from everyone. Time to get started on this process.
Best of luck! The unemployment benefits will give you some breathing room to find something good instead of having to take the first thing that comes along.
Just wanted to add that if you're dealing with a complex situation like being laid off while on leave, or if you have questions about how your severance affects your benefit start date, don't hesitate to call Washington ESD directly for clarification. I made the mistake of assuming things and it caused delays in my claim. Better to ask upfront than deal with complications later. The 26 weeks is standard but there can be nuances depending on your specific circumstances.
Ella rollingthunder87
Bottom line for OP - you'll probably get somewhere in the $500-700 range based on your salary. Not amazing money but enough to get by while job hunting. Just file as soon as you're eligible and don't delay.
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Lara Woods
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Sounds like it's definitely worth applying if I end up needing it.
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Adrian Hughes
•Definitely file right away if you become unemployed. There's no benefit to waiting and you want to get the process started as soon as possible.
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Libby Hassan
One thing to keep in mind is that your benefit amount also depends on how consistent your earnings were during the base period. If you had gaps in employment or your income varied a lot between quarters, it might affect your weekly benefit calculation. Also, make sure you have all your employment documentation ready when you file - pay stubs, W-2s, etc. It helps speed up the process and ensures they calculate your benefits accurately from the start.
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Sean Doyle
•This has been such an informative discussion! As someone who's never had to deal with unemployment before, all these practical tips are really reassuring. I'm particularly glad to hear about the digital documentation being accepted - like someone else mentioned, most of my pay stubs are PDFs anyway. One thing I'm wondering about is timing - if I suspect layoffs might be coming at my company, is there anything I should be doing now to prepare besides gathering documents? Like should I start researching the application process or would it be better to wait until it actually happens?
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Zoe Walker
•Definitely smart to start preparing now if layoffs seem likely! I'd recommend creating a folder (digital or physical) to start collecting all those pay stubs, W-2s, and employment records while you still have easy access to everything. Also familiarize yourself with the ESD website and maybe even create an account if possible - when the time comes, you'll want to file as quickly as possible since there's no benefit to waiting. Another thing to consider is updating your resume and LinkedIn profile now while you're still employed and not under the stress of sudden job loss. Having these things ready to go will let you hit the ground running with both your unemployment application and your job search if the worst happens.
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