Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
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Using Claimyr will:
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- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
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If I could give 10 stars I would
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!
Really made a difference
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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- 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 :)
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Any updates? Did you make any progress with your claim? I'm curious because I have a friend PCSing to JBLM next month and I want to give her realistic expectations.
Yes! Finally got through using Claimyr yesterday. Turns out my claim was actually approved 2 weeks ago but got stuck in their payment processing system because they needed to verify my new Washington address (I still had my California ID when I applied). The agent pushed it through and I should see all my backpay next week. So relieved! Tell your friend to make sure she has a WA ID or at least utility bills in her name at her new address to avoid the same delay.
That's such great news that you finally got it resolved! I'm going through something similar right now - military spouse PCS from Fort Carson to JBLM, been waiting 3 weeks in adjudication. Your tip about the Washington address verification is super helpful. I just moved here last week and still have my Colorado ID, so I should probably get that changed ASAP. Did the Claimyr service cost anything, and how long did it actually take to get through to someone? I've been calling ESD directly for weeks with no luck.
Hey! Yes, Claimyr does cost a small fee (I think it was around $20) but honestly it was worth every penny after weeks of frustration. It took about 25 minutes to get connected to an actual ESD agent, which is amazing compared to the hours I spent on hold getting nowhere. Definitely get that WA ID changed ASAP - that seems to be a common hangup for military families. The agent told me they see this address verification issue a lot with PCS moves. Good luck with your claim!
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I'm really sorry to hear about your health struggles, Michael. As others have mentioned, regular unemployment benefits unfortunately don't cover independent contractors like Instacart shoppers. However, I wanted to add a few more resources that might help: 1. Contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they can connect you with local emergency assistance programs for utilities, food, and rent 2. Check if your area has a Community Action Agency - they often have emergency assistance funds 3. Look into local food banks to help reduce your grocery expenses while you recover 4. Some churches and community organizations also have emergency assistance funds, even if you're not a member Also, don't forget to reach out to Instacart directly - while they don't provide traditional benefits, they sometimes have hardship programs or resources for shoppers facing emergencies. It's worth asking. Hope you get the help you need and recover quickly!
This is such comprehensive advice, thank you Anastasia! I hadn't heard of 211 before - that sounds like exactly what I need right now. And you're right about reaching out to Instacart directly, I didn't even think they might have any kind of hardship programs. I'll definitely give them a call along with all these other resources. It's really overwhelming trying to figure out where to start, but this gives me a clear action plan. Really grateful for this community helping me navigate this mess!
Hey Michael, I went through something similar about 6 months ago when I was doing DoorDash and had to stop working due to a back injury. The reality is tough - as gig workers we really don't have the same safety net as traditional employees. One thing that really helped me was applying for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) if you don't already have it - at least that covered my medical expenses while I was out of work. Also, many counties have emergency cash assistance programs that aren't well-publicized but can help with immediate needs like rent and utilities. I'd also suggest checking with local churches and nonprofits even if you're not religious - many have discretionary funds for people in crisis situations, no questions asked. The Salvation Army and Catholic Community Services often have emergency assistance programs too. Hang in there, and definitely pursue all the resources Jessica and others mentioned. It's a frustrating system but there are people and programs out there to help bridge the gap while you recover.
Thank you so much Jessica, this is exactly the kind of real-world advice I needed to hear from someone who's actually been through this. I'm definitely going to apply for Washington Apple Health right away - I've been avoiding dealing with my medical bills because I'm so stressed about money, but getting that coverage would be huge. I never would have thought to reach out to churches since I'm not particularly religious, but you're right that it's worth asking. At this point I need to swallow my pride and explore every option available. It's scary how quickly you can go from having steady income to being completely financially vulnerable when you're self-employed. Really appreciate you sharing your experience and giving me hope that there's a path through this mess. Did you end up going back to gig work after you recovered, or did you find something with better benefits?
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Summary for OP: File immediately after your last day of work, file online at secure.esd.wa.gov, keep filing weekly claims even during processing, and have all your employer info ready. Good luck!
Perfect summary. I feel much more confident about the process now. Thanks to everyone who helped!
Just wanted to add one more timing tip that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're filing right before a holiday weekend, be aware that processing might be delayed. Washington ESD doesn't process claims on holidays, so if you can file a day or two before a long weekend, that might help avoid any delays in getting your claim started. Also, their online system sometimes gets overloaded on Sundays when everyone is filing their weekly claims, so filing your initial claim on a weekday might be smoother.
That's really helpful timing advice! I hadn't thought about holiday processing delays. My last day is Friday and there's no holiday weekend coming up, so I should be able to file over the weekend without any issues. Thanks for the tip about weekday filing too - I might try to get it done during the week if I can manage it around job searching.
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Good choice! Having someone who knows the system help you get through is worth it. The stress relief alone is valuable.
Let us know how it goes! I'm considering it too after reading all these experiences.
I'm a newcomer to this community and honestly feeling overwhelmed after reading all these experiences. I just got laid off from my retail job last week and was planning to file for unemployment benefits, but now I'm terrified about what I'm getting into. Is there any advice for someone who hasn't filed yet? Should I expect the same months-long delays and phone system nightmares that everyone is describing? I'm already worried about making rent next month and these stories are making me panic that I won't see any benefits for months.
Hey Amina, I totally understand the panic - I felt the same way when I first read about everyone's struggles here. But don't let the horror stories stop you from filing! The key things I've learned from this thread: 1) File immediately, don't wait - delays in filing just make everything worse, 2) Document absolutely everything from day one (screenshots, dates, reference numbers), 3) Make sure you have all your paperwork ready before you start (separation notice, ID, bank info), and 4) Be prepared for potential delays but know that many people do get through the system successfully. Yes, the phone system is terrible and yes, some claims take longer than they should, but you've paid into this system and you deserve these benefits. The sooner you start, the sooner you'll potentially start receiving payments. And if you do run into issues, there are resources like that Claimyr service others mentioned, or contacting your state legislator's office for help. You've got this!
Freya Andersen
This thread has been really helpful. I'm in a similar situation and was worried about losing my benefits. Sounds like it's more straightforward than I thought.
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Yuki Tanaka
•Glad we could help! The key is staying compliant with all the requirements regardless of where you live.
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Andre Moreau
I went through this exact same situation last year when I moved from Washington to Nevada while collecting unemployment. You absolutely can keep your Washington ESD benefits - just make sure you update your address in the system and continue meeting all the work search requirements. The most important thing is to be completely transparent about your move if they ask. I never had any issues and collected benefits for the full duration while living out of state. Oregon should be even easier since it's right next door and has a good job market. You're making a smart financial decision by reducing your living expenses while job hunting.
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Carmella Fromis
•This is really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through it! Did you have to do anything special when you updated your address, or was it just a simple change in the online portal? I'm planning the move to Oregon in the next few weeks and want to make sure I don't miss any steps.
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