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- 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
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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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The system is actually pretty straightforward for seasonal workers once you understand it. The confusion usually comes from people not knowing about the base period earnings requirements.
Agreed! A lot of seasonal workers think they can't get benefits because they only worked a few months, but as long as you earned enough in the right quarters you qualify.
That was exactly my confusion - I thought seasonal work somehow didn't count the same way. Good to know it's treated like any other job for UI purposes.
One last tip - if your seasonal job was through a temp agency make sure you understand who your 'employer' was for Washington ESD purposes. Sometimes it's the agency, sometimes it's the actual worksite.
Good point though - temp agency situations can definitely complicate the wage reporting aspect of seasonal claims.
I had a temp agency situation with my seasonal warehouse job last year and it was such a headache! The agency wasn't reporting wages correctly to Washington ESD and I had to get them to fix their records before my claim could be processed. Make sure to keep all your paystubs if you're working through an agency.
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btw make sure u start doing ur job search activities ASAP. u need 3 job search activities EVERY week or they'll deny benefits. and keep good records of everything!!
Thanks for the reminder! I'll start applying for jobs right away. Do the job search requirements apply to the waiting week too?
Yes, you need to complete and document 3 job search activities even during your waiting week. The only exception would be if you're on approved standby status (which doesn't sound like your situation).
Just wanted to add - since you're in construction, you might want to check if your union has any specific guidance about filing unemployment claims. Some construction workers have different rules or considerations, especially if you're typically seasonal or expect to be called back when work picks up. Also, Washington allows you to file claims online through the ESD website, but if you run into any technical issues or have questions about your specific situation, don't hesitate to call their customer service line (though as others mentioned, it can be tough to get through). The key thing is to stay consistent with filing your weekly claims even if you don't get paid for the waiting week.
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Final thought - even if your claim gets approved, remember that partial unemployment benefits are usually much less than full unemployment. But every little bit helps when your hours are inconsistent.
Absolutely. Even a couple hundred dollars would make a huge difference during slow weeks.
I work PRN at a surgical center and went through this exact process about 6 months ago when my hours dropped to almost nothing. One thing that really helped was keeping a detailed log of when I was available for shifts vs when shifts were actually offered. Washington ESD asked me about this during my phone interview - they wanted to make sure I wasn't turning down available work. Also, don't be discouraged if your first application gets flagged for review. PRN status can be confusing for the initial processing system, but once you talk to an actual person they usually understand the situation better. The partial benefits I received weren't huge but definitely helped bridge the gap during the really slow months.
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Whatever you decide, act quickly. These programs have strict timelines and deadlines. Missing a deadline could affect your benefits for months.
You're right. I need to stop procrastinating and start making calls and filling out applications today.
I've been through a similar situation and here's my advice: Start by calling Washington ESD to report your upcoming surgery immediately - don't wait until you're actually unable to work. Then apply for PFML right away since it takes 6-8 weeks to process. The key is overlapping your applications so there's no gap in benefits. Also, ask your surgeon's office for all the medical documentation you'll need upfront - they're used to these requests. Keep detailed records of every conversation and form you submit. The transition between programs can be smooth if you plan it properly. Good luck with your surgery!
Javier Morales
Update: I called ESD this morning after failing to get through for 3 days straight. Finally got through and they confirmed I need to indicate I'm no longer available for work on my next weekly claim. The agent said this will automatically close my claim and I can apply for PFMLA the next day. Thanks everyone for your help! Now to figure out the PFMLA application process...
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Isabella Costa
•Congrats on getting through! One tip for the PFMLA application - make sure you have a clear medical certification form from your doctor. They're REALLY picky about how that form is filled out. My application was delayed by 3 weeks because the doctor left one field blank.
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Aisha Mahmood
Congratulations on your new baby! I just went through this exact same transition 3 months ago when my daughter was born. The process is actually pretty straightforward once you know the steps: 1. File your final weekly unemployment claim and select "no longer available for work" - there will be a dropdown asking why, and you can select something like "caring for family member" 2. Wait 1-2 business days for the system to process the closure 3. Apply for PFMLA at paidleave.wa.gov (totally separate system) 4. Make sure your PFMLA start date is AFTER your final UI week ends The key thing I learned is to keep screenshots of everything - your final UI claim confirmation AND your PFMLA application. ESD systems don't always communicate well with each other, so having your own documentation is crucial if any issues come up later. Also, start gathering your paperwork for PFMLA now - you'll need the baby's birth certificate and a medical certification form from your doctor. The sooner you get those ready, the smoother the application process will be. Good luck and enjoy those precious newborn days!
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