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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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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!
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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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does anyone know if u get backpay for all the weeks during the appeal if u win? i'm in the same boat waiting for my appeal hearing and running out of money fast :/
Yes, if you win your appeal, you'll receive backpay for all eligible weeks during the appeal process - but ONLY if you filed weekly claims for those weeks. This is why it's absolutely crucial to continue filing your weekly claims even while your appeal is pending. If you miss filing for any weeks, you typically can't get benefits for those weeks even if you win your appeal.
I went through a very similar situation about 8 months ago - fired for allegedly being "insubordinate" when I actually questioned unsafe working conditions at my warehouse job. Here's what I wish someone had told me from the start: 1. File your appeal TODAY, not tomorrow. The 15-day deadline is firm and ESD won't accept late appeals except in very rare circumstances. 2. Since you mentioned the Nevada statute in your denial letter, you need to immediately clarify which state you should be filing in. If you worked in Nevada but moved to Washington, this could complicate things significantly. 3. Your coworker's text messages are excellent evidence, but get them to write a formal witness statement too. Include their contact info in case the judge wants to question them directly. 4. Document EVERYTHING about your work history - any training you received on food safety, employee handbook policies, performance reviews, etc. This shows you were a conscientious employee, not someone prone to misconduct. 5. Most importantly: frame this as you being terminated for doing your JOB correctly (following food safety protocols) rather than committing misconduct. The burden is on your employer to prove misconduct occurred. A single incident where you were actually trying to protect public health and the company's interests is NOT misconduct under unemployment law. Stay strong - you've got good evidence and a solid case!
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Thanks for all the detailed info everyone! Based on what I'm reading, with my $52k salary I should expect somewhere in the $600-700 range weekly, which is actually better than I thought. The one week waiting period is good to know too. I'm hoping I won't need to file but it's reassuring to understand how it all works. Definitely going to bookmark this thread in case I need to reference the Claimyr service or appeal process later. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!
Glad this thread was helpful! One thing I'd add is to keep all your pay stubs and employment records organized before you file, just in case there are any discrepancies with what ESD has on file from your employers. I had a situation where one of my previous employers reported my wages incorrectly and having my own documentation made the correction process much smoother. Also, if you do end up filing, don't stress too much about the initial calculation - you can always request a redetermination if something looks off. The system isn't perfect but Washington generally does right by people once you get through to the right person.
Just want to add that if you're concerned about the waiting period, you should file your claim on Sunday night/Monday morning to start the week off right. I made the mistake of filing mid-week and it pushed everything back. Also, make sure you have your Social Security card and driver's license handy when you apply - the system will ask for those numbers and it's faster if you don't have to hunt them down. One more tip: screenshot or write down your confirmation numbers for everything. The system can be glitchy and having those reference numbers saved me when I had to call customer service.
That's really smart advice about filing on Sunday/Monday! I never would have thought about the timing affecting when benefits start. The tip about screenshotting confirmation numbers is gold too - I've had issues with other government websites where things just disappeared. Quick question though - when you say "start the week off right," does that mean the benefit week runs Sunday to Saturday? I want to make sure I understand the timing correctly if I do end up needing to file.
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I'm in almost the exact same situation as you - filed my claim about 5 weeks ago and it's been stuck on pending status with zero explanation from Washington ESD. The online system just shows "pending" no matter what's actually wrong behind the scenes. I've tried calling probably 40+ times and either get immediate busy signals or sit on hold for hours before getting disconnected. It's incredibly frustrating not knowing if there's an actual issue that needs my attention or if I'm just supposed to keep waiting indefinitely while bills pile up. Reading through all these comments, it's clear that getting through to an agent is really the only way to find out what's actually happening with your claim. Based on all the positive experiences people are sharing about Claimyr, I'm seriously considering trying them this week - $20 seems worth it to finally get some answers instead of continuing this endless cycle of failed phone calls. The uncertainty and stress of not knowing what's wrong is honestly affecting my sleep at this point!
I completely understand what you're going through - being stuck in limbo for 5 weeks without any real information is incredibly stressful! I'm new to this community but have been following similar unemployment discussions, and it's really concerning how many people are dealing with identical situations where the online system just shows "pending" regardless of what's actually wrong. The lack of transparency from Washington ESD seems to be a systemic issue. Based on all the positive feedback about Claimyr throughout this thread, it does seem like they've found a way to bypass the phone system problems that are affecting everyone. While it's frustrating to have to pay for access to your own benefits information, if you're already 5 weeks in with no progress, it might be worth trying. The mental health impact of this uncertainty is real - you shouldn't have to lose sleep over not knowing what's happening with your claim. Hang in there and don't lose hope!
I'm experiencing this exact same issue right now - filed my claim 4 weeks ago and it's been stuck on pending with absolutely no communication about what's causing the delay. The online portal is completely useless for showing what's actually wrong behind the scenes. I've tried calling Washington ESD dozens of times but either get busy signals immediately or sit on hold for hours just to get disconnected. It's incredibly stressful not knowing if there's a specific problem that needs fixing or if I'm just supposed to wait indefinitely while my bills keep coming. After reading through all these experiences, it's clear that speaking with an agent is really the only way to get answers, but their phone system seems designed to prevent that from happening. I'm strongly considering trying Claimyr based on all the positive feedback here - it sounds like they've figured out a way to actually get through when the regular system fails. The uncertainty is honestly the worst part of this whole process!
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! Four weeks is already way too long to be left in the dark about your own claim. I'm relatively new to this community but have been reading through everyone's experiences and it's really eye-opening how broken the communication system seems to be at Washington ESD. The fact that so many people discover completely different underlying issues (employer disputes, verification problems, system glitches) that are completely invisible in the online portal is really concerning. Based on all the consistently positive feedback about Claimyr throughout this thread, it does seem like they've found a reliable solution to the phone system nightmare that everyone is experiencing. While it's frustrating that we have to pay a third party just to get basic information about our own benefits, if you're already 4 weeks in with no progress through normal channels, it might be worth considering. The stress and uncertainty of not knowing what's wrong can really take a toll on your mental health. Hang in there - once you get through to an agent and find out what's actually holding things up, it sounds like the resolution usually happens pretty quickly!
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As someone who's been helping friends and family navigate the ESD system for the past year, I wanted to add a few more practical tips that might help newcomers: **Before you even log in:** - Have a pen and paper ready to jot down any error messages you might encounter - Make sure you have at least 1 hour of uninterrupted time - Close all other browser tabs to avoid any conflicts **During the filing process:** - If you see a spinning wheel or loading icon, DON'T click anything else - just wait - The "Save and Continue" buttons sometimes take 10-15 seconds to respond - If you get kicked out mid-process, don't panic - your partial information usually saves **Red flags to watch for:** - If the page looks completely blank, try Ctrl+F5 to hard refresh - If buttons appear greyed out, try scrolling down - sometimes there are required fields below - If you get an "unexpected error" message, wait 10 minutes before trying again I've noticed ESD has been making small improvements to the system lately, but it's still far from perfect. The most important thing is to be patient with yourself and the technology. This community has your back if you get stuck! Also keeping a backup email folder with all your job application confirmations has saved me during audits. Stay organized and don't let the system stress you out more than necessary! 🌟
This is such comprehensive advice, Alejandro! As someone who just started this process, I really appreciate the detailed breakdown of what to expect and watch out for. The tip about having a pen and paper ready for error messages is brilliant - I would have never thought of that but it makes total sense. I'm especially glad you mentioned the timing thing about buttons taking 10-15 seconds to respond, because I'm definitely the type of person who would get impatient and start clicking multiple times! The backup email folder idea is genius too. I've been saving confirmation emails but not in any organized way. I'm going to create a dedicated folder right now for all my job search documentation. It's so reassuring to know that even if the system has issues, there are ways to work around them and people like you who are willing to share that knowledge. Thanks for taking the time to compile all these practical tips - this thread just keeps getting more helpful! 🙏
I just want to say how grateful I am for this entire thread! I've been putting off filing my weekly claim because I was so intimidated by the job search reporting part, but reading through everyone's experiences has made me realize it's totally doable. I love how this community comes together to help each other navigate what is honestly a pretty confusing system. The step-by-step breakdown, browser tips, formatting requirements, and all the little technical tricks people have shared are going to save me so much frustration. I'm planning to set up my spreadsheet this weekend with all the columns mentioned (Date, Company, Position, Method, Outcome) and gather all my job search info before I even log in. The tip about Sunday morning filing for better system stability is definitely going on my calendar! One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had experience with reporting freelance/gig work applications as job search activities? I've been applying to some contract positions through platforms like Upwork and wasn't sure if those count toward the 3 weekly requirements. Again, thank you all for being so generous with sharing your knowledge. It's amazing how much less stressful this feels when you have a roadmap to follow! 💙
Sarah Jones
This thread has been super educational! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with a different angle - I worked for a religious nonprofit (not technically a church) that provided social services. They definitely deducted unemployment taxes from my paychecks, but when I got laid off last month, Washington ESD is saying there might be complications with my claim because of the religious exemption status. It's so confusing how these rules work differently for various types of faith-based organizations. Has anyone else dealt with religious nonprofits versus actual churches? Wondering if the rules are different.
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QuantumQuester
•Religious nonprofits that provide social services definitely have different rules than traditional churches! The fact that they were deducting unemployment taxes from your paychecks is actually really encouraging - that's usually a clear sign they were participating in the standard UI system. When Washington ESD mentions "complications," it could just be that their system automatically flags any organization with "religious" in the name for manual review, even when they're legitimately paying into unemployment insurance. I'd recommend asking them specifically what documentation they need to resolve this. Getting a copy of your most recent paystub or W-2 showing the SUTA/UI deductions could help clear things up quickly. Don't let the "religious exemption" language scare you - if they were taking unemployment taxes out of your pay, you should be eligible for benefits!
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Yuki Tanaka
•Your situation sounds frustrating but promising! Since unemployment taxes were being deducted from your paychecks, that's usually a dead giveaway that your employer was participating in the UI system. Religious nonprofits that do community service work often operate more like regular employers compared to traditional churches. The "complications" Washington ESD mentioned might just be their system being overly cautious with faith-based organizations. I'd suggest gathering your recent paystubs showing the UI deductions and maybe even your year-end tax documents - having that proof should help resolve any confusion quickly. Sometimes these cases just need a human to review the file and confirm everything is legitimate.
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Sayid Hassan
I went through something very similar last year when I was laid off from a small faith-based organization. The key thing that helped me was actually calling the church's payroll/HR person first before dealing with Washington ESD. They were able to tell me right away that they had chosen to participate in unemployment insurance, which made my conversation with ESD much smoother. If you can't reach anyone at your former church, definitely check your old paystubs for any "SUI" or "SUTA" deductions - that's your smoking gun right there. Also, don't get discouraged if the first ESD representative you talk to seems unsure about religious employer rules - I had to speak with a supervisor who was more familiar with these specific cases. The whole process took about 2 weeks to sort out, but I did end up getting my benefits approved. Keep pushing for answers!
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Amina Sy
•This is really encouraging to hear! I've been feeling so overwhelmed by this whole situation, but your step-by-step approach makes it seem much more manageable. I'm definitely going to start by contacting the church's finance office tomorrow - they should be able to give me a straight answer about their unemployment status. And you're right about checking my paystubs first; I have them all in a folder somewhere, just need to dig them out and look for those tax deductions. It's also good to know that I might need to ask for a supervisor at ESD if the first person isn't familiar with religious employer cases. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience - it gives me a clear action plan and hope that this will work out!
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Nia Davis
•This is exactly the roadmap I needed! Starting with the church's HR/payroll person is brilliant - I should have thought of that first instead of jumping straight into the ESD maze. I'm going to dig out all my paystubs tonight and look for those unemployment tax deductions. It's really reassuring to know that even when there are complications with religious employers, persistence pays off and you can still get your benefits approved. The tip about asking for a supervisor if needed is gold too - I'll definitely keep that in mind if I hit any roadblocks. Thanks for sharing your success story, it gives me so much confidence that I can navigate this!
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