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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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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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Wow, this thread is amazing! I've been on unemployment for about 6 weeks and have been so anxious about whether I'm doing the work search requirements correctly. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences and tips has been incredibly reassuring and educational. I especially appreciate the emphasis on specific documentation - I realize I've been way too vague in my WorkSourceWA entries. The spreadsheet backup idea is brilliant, and I'm definitely going to start implementing that this week. One quick question - I've been participating in online coding bootcamp prep courses to update my skills for tech positions. These aren't through WorkSourceWA but are directly related to improving my qualifications for jobs I'm applying to. Would these count as work search activities? They're usually 2-3 hour sessions and I can get certificates of completion. Also, thank you to everyone who mentioned Claimyr - I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about a specific question and this might be exactly what I need!
Hi Sean! Those coding bootcamp prep courses absolutely count as work search activities! Since they're directly related to improving your qualifications for tech positions you're targeting, they fall under the skills training/professional development category. The fact that you get certificates of completion is perfect for documentation - save those certificates and log each session as something like "Completed coding bootcamp prep course session on [specific topic] - [X] hours, certificate earned" with the date and course provider. Even though they're not through WorkSourceWA, they're clearly aimed at making you more employable in your field. I've been counting similar online courses and haven't had any issues. Just make sure to document how each course relates to your job search goals. And yes, definitely try Claimyr if you've been struggling to reach Washington ESD - so many people in this thread have had success with it when the regular phone lines are impossible to get through!
This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I just filed my first unemployment claim last week and was completely lost on the work search requirements. Everyone's detailed experiences and practical tips have made this so much clearer. I'm particularly grateful for the advice about keeping detailed documentation with specific job titles, position IDs, and company names - I had no idea that level of detail was important for potential audits. The spreadsheet backup system that several people mentioned is genius, and I'm setting that up today. One thing I'm curious about - I've been doing informational interviews with people in my network to learn about their companies and potential opportunities. These are genuine conversations about exploring career paths, not just trying to check boxes. Do these count as work search activities? Also, how specific do I need to be when documenting them - should I include what we discussed or just the basic details like name, company, and date? Thanks again everyone for sharing your real-world knowledge - this has been so much more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone!
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You're definitely overthinking this! I went through the exact same situation a few weeks ago when I picked up extra shifts at my restaurant job. Skipping a week when you work full-time hours is totally normal and expected - that's literally how the system is designed to work. Your claim stays active for the full benefit year, so missing one week won't reset anything or cause any problems. I was nervous about it too, but when I resumed filing the following week everything continued smoothly. Just make sure to accurately report your earnings from that 32-hour week when you file next week. The ESD system actually handles this type of schedule fluctuation really well. You're doing exactly what you're supposed to do by not filing when you know you won't qualify!
Thanks Sofia! Your restaurant experience really helps confirm what everyone else has been saying. It's such a relief to hear from so many people who've successfully navigated this exact situation. I was definitely overthinking it - seems like the ESD system really is well-designed for people with fluctuating schedules like ours. All these responses have given me the confidence to skip filing this week and just resume next week when my temp hours drop back down. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences and ease my worries!
I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through something similar! Last month I had a week where I worked 30 hours at my retail job and was really stressed about whether to file or skip. I ended up skipping that week and then resumed filing the following week when my hours dropped back to normal. Everything went perfectly smoothly - no issues with my claim, no restart needed, nothing. The system just picked up where it left off. Reading through all these responses really confirms what I experienced - the ESD system is definitely designed to handle variable work schedules like yours. You're absolutely making the right choice by skipping this week since you know you won't qualify with 32 hours. Just make sure to report those earnings accurately when you file next week. Don't stress about it - this is exactly how it's supposed to work!
Thanks for sharing your experience Diego! It's really helpful to hear from someone who just went through this recently. Your retail situation with 30 hours sounds very similar to what I'm dealing with at 32 hours. All these responses from everyone have been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that the ESD system really is designed to handle exactly these kinds of fluctuating work schedules. I feel so much more confident now about skipping this week and just resuming next week. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your recent experience, especially as someone new to the community!
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Just wanted to share some encouragement for everyone in this thread! I'm a graduate student who successfully received UI benefits last year after losing my research assistant position. The process definitely felt overwhelming at first, but it's absolutely doable. A few things that helped me: 1) I applied online late at night when the system was less busy, 2) I was completely transparent about being a student from day one, and 3) I emphasized my willingness to work around my class schedule. The weekly job search requirement actually helped me stay motivated to find new employment. For those worried about the financial aid impact - yes, UI counts as income on FAFSA, but for me it was the difference between staying in school or dropping out, so it was worth it. The financial aid office was understanding when I explained the circumstances during my aid review. Don't let fear of the unknown keep you from applying if you need the support!
This is so reassuring to hear from someone who's been through the whole process! I'm particularly relieved about your point on being transparent about student status from day one - I was worried that might hurt my chances, but it sounds like honesty really is the best policy. The late-night application tip is really practical too, I hadn't thought about system traffic affecting the process. Your experience with financial aid is especially helpful since that's been one of my biggest concerns. Did you find that explaining the UI income during your aid review was straightforward, or did you need to provide a lot of documentation about the circumstances? I'm definitely feeling more confident about moving forward with my application now!
When I lost my server job in 2018, I was taking full time classes, but had been working for 30 hours a week for three years. I went through three months of fighting the unemployment department for not being “eligible” for unemployment. They said that because of my class schedule I was considered “not available for work” and I would only be approved for it if 1. I dropped out of school so my schedule was wide open or 2. I enrolled in a commissioner approved training program (CAT), which is like a tech school program. I was 8 months away from graduating with my four year degree, so I couldn’t do either of those things. I even showed them data on the projected annual job growth in the field I was getting a degree in and my consistent work history. It’s a huge flaw in the system that leaves university/college students vulnerable.
This is really concerning to hear - it sounds like you had a much different experience than some of the other students who posted here. I'm wondering if the policies have changed since 2018, or if it varies by case reviewer? Your situation with 30 hours/week for three years sounds like it should have clearly met the work history requirements. Did you ever try appealing their decision or getting help from an advocate? I'm planning to apply soon and now I'm worried I might face similar pushback despite having good work history.
@Review Girl This is really troubling to hear - your experience sounds completely different from what others have shared here. Three years of consistent work history should definitely qualify you! I m'wondering if there were specific case workers or regional offices that were more restrictive back in 2018? It s'frustrating that you were so close to graduation and couldn t'get the support you needed. Did you ever find out if other students in your area had similar experiences during that time period? I m'hoping the policies or enforcement have become more consistent since then, but your story is definitely a good reminder that the system isn t'always fair or predictable for students.
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I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just made this mistake on my weekly certification this morning and have been stressing about it all day. This thread is honestly incredible - it's both reassuring and frustrating to see how many people have dealt with this exact issue. The fact that PFML agents handle this "multiple times per day" but there's still no edit button is just unbelievable, especially when people are already dealing with medical leave and financial pressure. Based on all the success stories here, I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service that so many people have recommended - the 15-20 minute wait times sound amazing compared to the 2+ hour horror stories with the regular phone line. It's such a relief to know this is actually a quick fix for the agents once you get connected. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions - you've turned what felt like a complete disaster into something manageable with a clear path forward!
Hazel, I completely understand that stress! I just went through this exact same situation a couple weeks ago and this thread was a lifesaver for me too. It's honestly shocking how common this mistake is - you'd think after dealing with it "multiple times per day" they would have added an edit button by now! I ended up using the Claimyr service after reading all the positive reviews here, and it worked perfectly - got connected in about 17 minutes and the agent fixed it right away. She was super understanding and said it's literally one of their most frequent calls. Don't stress too much about it - based on everything I've seen in this thread, it's a really straightforward fix once you get through to someone. The Claimyr approach definitely seems like the way to go based on all the success stories. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you!
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a newcomer to PFML and haven't made this specific mistake yet, but reading through everyone's experiences has been so educational. It's shocking that such a basic feature like editing submitted certifications doesn't exist when this clearly happens "multiple times per day" according to the agents. I'm bookmarking this entire conversation as a reference guide - the Claimyr service recommendations from Brady, Skylar, Isabella and others sound like a game-changer compared to the traditional phone line nightmare. The detailed advice about calling at 8 AM, having claim ID/SSN ready, and asking for reference numbers is also really valuable. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their solutions and success stories - this community support makes navigating these government systems so much less intimidating!
Nathaniel Mikhaylov
Just wanted to share another resource that helped me when I was in your exact situation last year - Catholic Community Services and other faith-based organizations often have rapid response emergency assistance programs. I'm not religious but they helped me with a $300 grocery voucher and paid my phone bill for two months while I was between jobs. No religious requirements, just proof that you're actively job searching. Also, if you're a veteran, make sure to check with the VA - they have specific programs for veterans facing financial hardship during job transitions that are separate from regular unemployment benefits. The application process is usually much faster than DSHS. Hang in there - I know how scary this situation feels but there are more safety net options than most people realize.
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Natasha Petrova
•Thanks for mentioning Catholic Community Services - I had heard of them but wasn't sure if they helped non-members. That's really encouraging to know they don't have religious requirements. The veteran resources are a good callout too, even though it doesn't apply to me personally. It's amazing how many programs exist that people just don't know about when they're in crisis mode. I'm definitely going to look into faith-based organizations in my area. Did you have to provide a lot of documentation to get help, or was the process pretty straightforward?
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Giovanni Mancini
I'm going through this exact same situation right now - just got the exhausted benefits notice yesterday and I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed. This thread has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about some of these resources like 211 or that WorkSource had emergency assistance programs beyond just job search help. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if you have any skills in high-demand areas, some of the community colleges offer really short-term certification programs (like 2-4 weeks) that are specifically designed to get people back to work quickly. I just found out about a forklift certification program at my local community college that's only 3 days and they help with job placement afterward. Might be worth checking if there are any quick certifications in your area that could open up more opportunities while you're searching. Thanks to everyone who shared resources - I'm going to start making calls tomorrow to some of these programs. It helps so much to know other people have gotten through this situation.
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