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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: don't count on Extended Benefits being available after your 26 weeks. Plan for either finding a job or having a gap in benefits until you can file a new claim. The system isn't designed to support long-term unemployment, unfortunately.
@Leo McDonald Another option to consider is reaching out to your professional network - former colleagues, LinkedIn connections, etc. Sometimes people hear about openings before they re'officially posted. Also, don t'overlook contract work through platforms like Upwork or Freelancer if your skills translate to remote work. Even small projects can help bridge the income gap while you re'searching for something permanent. The key is diversifying your approach since we know Extended Benefits aren t'coming.
@Leo McDonald I d'also suggest looking into gig economy work like DoorDash, Uber, or Instacart as a quick income bridge. It s'not ideal long-term, but you can start earning within a few days of signing up, which is crucial when you re'running out of benefits. I know several people who combined gig work with temp agency placements to maximize their income during the gap. The flexibility also allows you to still interview for permanent positions when opportunities come up.
I'm hitting my 26 weeks in Washington next month too and this whole thread has been a reality check. The lack of Extended Benefits is really frustrating - it feels like the system just abandons you right when you might need the most help. I've been checking the Washington ESD website regularly hoping to see EB get activated, but it sounds like that's not going to happen. Has anyone had luck with the WorkSource training programs that provide stipends? I'm wondering if that might be a way to get some income while learning new skills that could make me more employable.
@Simon White I went through the WorkSource training program about 8 months ago when I was facing a similar situation. The stipend isn t'huge - I think I was getting around $400/week while in training - but it definitely helped bridge the gap. The key is to apply early because like @Amara Okafor mentioned, there can be waiting lists for popular programs. I did a medical assistant certification program that took about 4 months, and they helped with job placement afterward. The career counselors are actually pretty helpful in figuring out what training might lead to actual job opportunities in your area. Just be prepared for a lot of paperwork and assessments upfront. It s not'a perfect solution but better than having zero income while your benefits run out.
@Simon White I just went through the WorkSource application process last month. The good news is they have several different training programs with stipends - not just WIOA but also some state-funded programs. The bad news is the income requirements can be tricky - you need to show financial need but also can t'have too much in savings. I m'currently waiting to hear back on a healthcare training program that would provide about $350/week during the 6-month certification. The career counselor was honest that it s'competitive, but she said people with unemployment history often get priority since we re'clearly in transition. Even if you don t'qualify for stipend programs, some of the shorter-term certifications might help you land something before your benefits run completely dry. Worth exploring all options at this point.
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Update us on how it goes! Always curious to hear how these background check cases turn out with Washington ESD.
Will do! I'll try to remember to post an update once everything gets resolved.
I went through something very similar about 8 months ago. Got let go from a retail job after their background check flagged an old charge I thought I had disclosed properly. Washington ESD approved my claim after about 10 days - no adjudication needed. The key thing that helped me was having screenshots of the job application where I checked "yes" to having a criminal history and provided details in the explanation box. Even though the background check company found additional details I wasn't aware of, ESD ruled that I had made a good faith effort to be honest and that the termination wasn't due to workplace misconduct. Definitely apply ASAP and gather any evidence you have of your disclosure during the hiring process.
This is exactly what I needed to hear! It sounds like our situations are really similar. I'm definitely going to try to find my original application to show what I disclosed. Did you have to provide any other documentation besides the application screenshots during your claim process?
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Just want to add that while your benefits are running out, make sure you're using all the free WorkSource resources. Their healthcare sector liaison can connect you with employers specifically looking for healthcare admin experience. They also offer free workshops on improving your resume, interview skills, and using LinkedIn effectively. These services remain available to you even after your UI benefits end. Also, don't forget the healthcare field has many adjacent sectors where your skills might transfer. Insurance companies, medical software vendors, and telehealth services are all growing areas that hire people with healthcare admin backgrounds.
I had no idea WorkSource had sector-specific liaisons! That's exactly what I need. I've been so focused on hospitals and clinics that I haven't really explored those adjacent industries you mentioned. I'm going to make an appointment with WorkSource this week and specifically ask about the healthcare liaison. Thank you!
I'm in a very similar situation - my benefits are ending in about 3 weeks and I'm terrified. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful, especially learning about the Training Benefits program and WorkSource resources I didn't know existed. One thing I wanted to add that might help both of us: I found out that some community colleges have "rapid retraining" programs that are specifically designed for unemployed workers and can qualify for the Training Benefits. These are usually shorter-term programs (3-6 months) focused on in-demand skills rather than full degree programs. Also, if you're comfortable sharing, what area of WA are you in? I'm in the Seattle area and wondering if we're competing for the same limited healthcare admin positions, or if there might be opportunities in other regions we should consider. Hang in there - it sounds like there are more options available than either of us realized when we first started panicking about our benefits ending!
Hi there! It's both reassuring and scary to know someone else is going through the exact same thing right now. I'm actually in the Tacoma area, so we might not be competing directly for the same positions - though you're right that healthcare admin jobs seem pretty limited everywhere right now. The rapid retraining programs sound really interesting! Do you happen to know which community colleges offer those? I've been looking at some online certification programs but wasn't sure if they'd qualify for the Training Benefits. It would be amazing if I could get into something that's only 3-6 months instead of having to commit to a full degree program. I'm definitely feeling more hopeful after reading everyone's responses here. When I first posted I thought I was just going to hit a wall when my benefits ended, but it sounds like there are actually several paths forward. Good luck to both of us - hopefully we can both find something before our benefits run out completely!
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Did you manage to get through to ESD yet? Curious if they were able to fix it for you. I'm having a similar issue now and wondering if I should just try calling them too.
Yes! I finally got through yesterday. Used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above and it worked perfectly - got connected in about 20 minutes. The agent confirmed exactly what everyone here said about reduced hours claims needing manual review. They released my claim from the verification queue (had to verify with my employer first) and the weekly claim option appeared immediately after I logged out and back in. Already filed for the past two weeks. Definitely call them if you're having the same issue!
This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with reduced hours claims! I'm glad you got it resolved @Libby Hassan. It's really frustrating that ESD doesn't communicate this verification process clearly upfront. For anyone else reading this thread, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Reduced hours claims automatically go into a verification queue that's not visible to claimants, 2) You need to call ESD directly to get it released, and 3) Using a callback service like Claimyr can save hours of trying to get through. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread will probably help a lot of people in similar situations!
Absolutely agree! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm bookmarking it for future reference since I work part-time retail and hours fluctuate constantly. It's really disappointing that ESD makes this process so confusing - they should definitely add a notice in the confirmation email explaining that reduced hours claims require additional verification. At least now we know what to expect and have a roadmap for getting it fixed. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!
Fatima Al-Rashid
FINAL UPDATE: Just got the notification that 4 weeks of payments were processed and will be deposited tomorrow! Total relief. For anyone else stuck in pending status - definitely try to speak with an actual ESD agent, it made all the difference.
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Amara Okafor
•Great news! This is exactly why speaking with an agent is so critical - many issues can be resolved in minutes once you get to the right person. Glad you'll be receiving your benefits.
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Isabella Ferreira
Congratulations on getting your claim resolved! Your experience really highlights how broken the ESD phone system is - the fact that you had to use a third-party service just to reach a human who could fix something in minutes is ridiculous. It's great that you kept updating this thread though, because your story will definitely help other people who find themselves in the same situation. Four weeks of back payments must be such a huge relief after running low on savings. Thanks for sharing what worked!
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Christian Burns
•This whole thread is so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my claim has been pending for 3 weeks and I was starting to panic. Reading through everyone's experiences and seeing that Fatima got it resolved gives me hope. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service tomorrow. It's crazy that we have to pay a third party just to reach our own state agency, but if it works, it's worth it. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge!
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