Washington Unemployment
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ESD Overpayment Waiver approved - how long until refund arrives?
Finally got my ESD overpayment waiver approved last week after fighting it for nearly 2 months! I had to pay back $4,250 while the appeal was pending, which completely drained my savings. The determination letter says I'm eligible for a refund of what I paid, but doesn't mention WHEN I'll actually get my money back or how they'll send it. Has anyone gone through this process recently? How long did it take to get your refund after approval? Will they mail a check or direct deposit? I need to pay rent next week and was really counting on having this money back by now.
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Does unemployment pay child support - Washington ESD taking money from benefits?
Just got approved for unemployment after being laid off from my warehouse job last month. My ex has been after me about child support payments and I'm wondering if Washington ESD will automatically take money out of my weekly benefits to pay child support? I owe about $2,800 in back support and I'm worried they're going to garnish my UI payments before I even see them. Has anyone dealt with this? Really need to know what to expect because I've got rent due next week.
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Final reminder - if your employment situation changes or you find new work, make sure to update both Washington ESD and DCS immediately. The garnishment arrangements may need to be adjusted based on your new income level.
Will do. Hopefully I'll find something soon and can get back to making regular payments without all this complexity.
Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble making ends meet with the reduced benefits after child support garnishment, you might want to look into local food banks and community assistance programs. Many areas have resources specifically for people dealing with unemployment and family support obligations. Also, some utility companies have hardship programs that can help keep your lights on while you're getting back on your feet. Don't be afraid to ask for help - that's what these programs are there for.
Can I take a contract job while on Washington ESD unemployment benefits?
I've been collecting unemployment for about 6 weeks now and just got offered a short-term contract position that would last maybe 2-3 months. The pay would be decent but I'm worried about how this affects my Washington ESD claim. Do I need to report contract work differently than regular employment? Can I go back on unemployment when the contract ends without reapplying? I don't want to mess up my benefits but also can't afford to turn down work opportunities.
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Bottom line: take the contract work! Report everything accurately, keep filing your weekly claims, and don't overthink it. The partial unemployment system exists exactly for situations like this.
Thanks everyone! I feel much more confident about taking this contract now. Going to accept the offer and just stay on top of the reporting requirements.
Good luck! Hope the contract leads to something permanent.
I went through this exact situation last year! Took a 10-week contract while on unemployment and it worked out great. Just remember that Washington ESD calculates your partial benefits automatically once you report your earnings - you don't need to do the math yourself. The hardest part is just remembering to file every single week even when you're busy with contract work. Also, keep a simple spreadsheet of your weekly hours and earnings - makes the reporting so much easier. The contract income actually helped me stretch my unemployment benefits longer since I wasn't using them up as quickly. Win-win situation!
Can small business owners apply for unemployment benefits in Washington ESD?
I had to close my small retail shop last month after 8 years because my lease doubled and I couldn't make it work anymore. I'm wondering if I can file for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD? I know I was technically self-employed but I did pay into the system when I had employees. Has anyone been in a similar situation? I'm really confused about whether business owners are eligible for regular UI benefits.
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Sorry you're going through this. Closing a business is hard enough without having to worry about financial support afterward. Hope you find some assistance through other programs even if unemployment doesn't work out.
Thanks, I appreciate that. It's definitely been a tough transition but I'm trying to stay positive.
Hang in there. A lot of successful people have had to close businesses and bounce back stronger.
I'm in a very similar situation - had to close my consulting business last year when my main client contract ended. Like others have mentioned, I ended up using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD and confirm I wasn't eligible since I was taking distributions rather than W2 wages. What really helped me was connecting with my local WorkSource office - they have business transition workshops and helped me understand what retraining programs were available. Also check with your local SCORE chapter if you're considering starting something new. The transition is rough but there are more resources out there than you might think. Definitely get that official determination from ESD first though so you know exactly where you stand.
Will Shared Work claim cover full shutdown week or need new claim with another waiting week?
Help! My manufacturing job has been on Shared Work for about 5 weeks now but with minimal hour reductions (only losing 2-3 hours per week). Now management announced a full plant shutdown for one week in April. I've already served my waiting week for the Shared Work claim, but I'm confused about what happens when I report ZERO hours that shutdown week. The ESD website says Shared Work is only for 50-90% of normal hours - so what happens that shutdown week? Will my current claim still pay benefits for that week? Or will I need to file a regular unemployment claim and serve ANOTHER waiting week? Really worried about missing a full week of pay since I've got a mortgage payment due that week. Has anyone dealt with a full shutdown week while on Shared Work?
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wait but dont u have to do job searches if ur on regular unemployment? with shared work u dont have to do that right? so maybe thats why they want u to stay on shared work even for 0 hours? just thinking out loud here lol
Good observation. Yes, that's a key difference - Shared Work participants are exempt from job search requirements, while regular UI claimants must complete 3 job search activities each week. This is another reason why staying on the Shared Work claim during a temporary full reduction is beneficial.
I just wanted to update everyone. I finally managed to reach someone at ESD after trying for 3 days straight. They confirmed that for our company's Shared Work plan, I should continue filing through my existing Shared Work claim even during the full shutdown week. I won't need to file a new claim or serve another waiting week! Apparently different Shared Work agreements have different terms, which explains why there's so much conflicting information out there. Such a relief to know I won't miss that week of pay. Thanks everyone for your help!
Thanks for updating us! That's excellent news. It's so valuable when people share their outcomes here - helps others who may face the same situation in the future.
So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always recommend getting confirmation directly from ESD rather than relying on what HR says. Your experience shows how important it is to understand your specific company's Shared Work agreement terms. Hope the shutdown week goes smoothly for you!
LordCommander
That's awesome that you finally got through and have a timeline! The not knowing is honestly the worst part of this whole process. I'm in a similar boat - had my waiver approved 3 weeks ago and still waiting. Might have to try that Claimyr service myself since I've been striking out with the regular phone line. Hope your refund comes through next week as scheduled!
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Andre Rousseau
I'm in the exact same situation! Had my waiver approved about 2 weeks ago and have been anxiously waiting. The uncertainty is really tough when you're trying to budget and plan for upcoming expenses. Definitely going to look into that Claimyr service - seems like actually getting through to talk to someone makes all the difference in getting real answers instead of just waiting and wondering. Thanks for sharing your experience @Jamal Edwards, and fingers crossed both of our refunds come through soon!
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Nasira Ibanez
I'm going through something similar right now - had my overpayment waiver approved about 10 days ago and also paid back around $3,800 while waiting for the decision. Like you, I'm really stressed about the timeline since I have some urgent bills coming up. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like 3-6 weeks is pretty typical, which is longer than I was hoping for. I've been trying to call ESD but haven't had any luck getting through yet. Might try that Claimyr service that @Fatima Al-Sayed mentioned since it seems like actually talking to someone is the only way to get real information about when to expect the refund. Thanks for starting this thread - it's really helpful to hear everyone's experiences even though the wait times are frustrating!
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