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Bottom line: Earnin and similar apps won't work with unemployment benefits. But there are legitimate assistance programs that can help bridge the gap between payments without affecting your UI claim. Focus on those instead.
I went through this exact situation a few months ago. Earnin definitely won't work - they need employer verification and Washington ESD isn't considered an employer. I ended up calling 211 like others suggested and found several local programs that helped with groceries and utility bills. Pierce County has a good emergency assistance program too. The key thing is these legitimate assistance programs don't count as income so they won't mess up your weekly certifications. Way better than trying to figure out cash advance apps that don't work anyway.
Another data point - I filed for unemployment after being laid off from a small company (only 15 employees) and my former boss actually reached out to wish me luck with my job search. Not all employers are going to react negatively to you filing for benefits you're entitled to.
Last thought on this topic - even if your employer does find out and has some kind of negative reaction, that's really more of a reflection on them than on you. You're dealing with unemployment in a responsible way by filing for benefits while you search for new work.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I'm going to try a few different approaches and see what works. Will update if I make any progress!
I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now - been trying to get through for my adjudication for over a month. The phone system is absolutely useless. I've been reading through all these suggestions and I think I'm going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned. At this point I'm willing to pay something if it means I can actually talk to a human being and get my claim moving again. Has anyone else had success with contacting their state representative's office? That sounds like it might be worth trying too, especially since this has been dragging on for so long.
I actually contacted my state representative's office about 3 weeks ago when my adjudication hit the 8-week mark. They have a constituent services team that specifically helps with Washington ESD issues. It took about 10 days, but they were able to get my case escalated and I finally got a callback from an actual adjudicator. Definitely worth trying if you've been waiting over a month - they seem to take legislative inquiries more seriously than regular calls. You just need to fill out a form on your rep's website explaining the situation and how long you've been waiting.
Update us when you hear back! Always helps to know how these things turn out for other people going through the same situation.
Just wanted to add that if your employer is claiming you quit when you were actually laid off, you can request your personnel file from them. In Washington state, employers are required to provide this within a reasonable time. Having your termination paperwork and any layoff notices in writing will be crucial evidence for your case. Also, if other employees were laid off at the same time, see if any of them would be willing to provide a brief written statement confirming the layoffs happened. This kind of corroborating evidence can really help strengthen your position during the investigation.
Aiden O'Connor
Just remember that if you do need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through on the phone, services like Claimyr are always an option. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to avoid the stress of calling hundreds of times.
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Caden Turner
•Good to know there are options if I get stuck. Hopefully I won't need to call at all!
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Leslie Parker
Hey Caden! I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my warehouse job. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to take screenshots of everything as you go through the application - your confirmation numbers, submitted forms, etc. I had a glitch where part of my application didn't save properly and having those screenshots helped me prove what I had already submitted when I had to call them. Also, if you have any old W-2s handy, grab those too even though they might not ask for them - sometimes they help verify your work history faster. The whole thing really isn't as scary as it seems once you dive in!
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