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Final thought - even if your application gets denied initially, you can appeal the decision if you think Washington ESD missed something about your work history or eligibility. Don't give up after the first response.
Just wanted to share my recent experience as another data point - I'm a freelance web developer and was surprised to discover I qualified for benefits because I had done some contract work through a staffing agency about 8 months ago. They had classified me as a W2 employee even though it was temporary project work. The key was that unemployment taxes were actually deducted from those paychecks. I almost didn't apply because I assumed being primarily self-employed would disqualify me, but I'm glad I did. The Washington ESD agent I spoke with said they see this situation fairly often with freelancers who have mixed income sources. So definitely worth applying even if you think you might not qualify!
Thread summary for anyone scrolling: You can't check someone else's UI status directly, but you can report suspected fraud through Washington ESD's online portal or phone line. Make sure you have real evidence, not just suspicions. And if you need to actually talk to Washington ESD, apparently claimyr.com is the way to go since their phones are impossible.
Just wanted to add that if you do decide to report suspected fraud, keep in mind that Washington ESD investigators are pretty thorough. They'll cross-reference employment records, tax filings, and other data sources to verify claims. So if your ex-partner is legitimately reporting his side work income while collecting partial benefits (which is allowed), the investigation will show that. The system is designed to catch both unreported income AND to protect people who are following the rules correctly.
One last thing - if you do decide to apply, don't wait. File as soon as possible after your last day of work because there's usually a processing time before benefits start, and you can't backdate your claim very far.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that your unemployment benefits might affect your eligibility for certain other programs or benefits. For example, if you're getting health insurance through Washington state programs, the unemployment income could potentially impact your qualification levels. Also, if you have student loans, unemployment benefits count as income for income-driven repayment plans, which might increase your monthly payments. It's worth checking how unemployment benefits interact with any other financial assistance you might be receiving.
Thanks everyone for all the advice and information. This has been really helpful and honestly makes me feel less alone in this situation. I'm going to start applying for assistance programs this week and reach out to some of the resources mentioned. Hopefully I'll find something before my benefits run out but at least now I have backup plans.
Hey Malik, I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago and I know how scary it feels. One thing that really helped me was contacting 211 (just dial 2-1-1) - they have a database of local resources and can help you find assistance programs in your specific area that you might not know about. They helped me find a local nonprofit that had emergency utility assistance and even some job placement services. Also, if you're struggling with food costs, don't overlook the food banks - many of them also have connections to other community resources and job opportunities. The key is to start reaching out now while you still have those 3 weeks of benefits coming in. You're not alone in this and there are more resources available than you might realize.
Finnegan Gunn
Technical support can sometimes help, but they typically won't have access to adjudication details. They can confirm if identity verification has been processed in the system though, which might be useful information. Just be prepared that they'll likely refer you back to regular ESD agents for claim-specific questions.
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Ava Hernandez
I feel your pain - I went through something similar last year and it's absolutely maddening. The identity verification process is broken and they know it. What helped me was creating a detailed timeline document with every interaction, phone call, and submission date. When I finally got through to a supervisor, having that documentation made all the difference. Also, don't let them keep sending you the same forms over and over - if you've already submitted something, tell them explicitly that it's a duplicate and reference your original submission date. Sometimes the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing over there. You're closer than you think - the fact that your adjudication items are getting date changes means someone is actively working on your file. Hang in there!
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