Update us when you finally get through! It helps to know what methods actually work so others can try the same approach.

I've been in a similar situation and found that persistence is key. One thing that worked for me was calling the 800-318-6022 number repeatedly using redial - I would call, get busy signal, hang up immediately, and redial. Sometimes after 20-30 attempts in a row I'd get through to the hold queue. It's tedious but better than waiting hours just to get disconnected. Also, if you're facing eviction, make sure to mention that urgency when you do get through - they may be able to expedite your case or connect you with additional resources.

are u sure u selected alternate year? sometimes the system just does that automatically. happened to me in january

Just checking back - were you able to get this resolved? For anyone else with this issue, here's a quick explanation of the base years: If you applied in April 2025: - Regular base year: January-December 2024 - Alternate base year: April 2024-March 2025 So if most of your work hours were in early 2024, the regular base year would be better. If most were more recent, alternate might be better. The system should check both automatically, but sometimes it doesn't.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This community is amazing. I was stressed about fees but now I know exactly where to go for free withdrawals.

Just wanted to add that some credit unions are part of the CO-OP network which allows free ATM access, but not all of them. You can check if your local credit union participates by looking for the CO-OP logo on their ATMs or asking them directly. I use BECU and their ATMs work with my Washington ESD card without fees.

If you have questions about your specific rate calculation, you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD directly. The online account system doesn't give you enough detail to understand how they calculated everything.

As a new business owner myself, I found that Washington ESD's rate calculation becomes clearer once you understand the basic components. Your rate starts with a base percentage determined by your industry classification, then gets adjusted by your experience rating (which considers unemployment claims filed by your former employees), plus additional factors like the social cost component and any solvency surcharges. Since you've been operating for 3 years, you're likely transitioning from the standard new employer rate to your individualized experience rating. The key is that fewer claims against your account generally mean a lower rate over time.

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above after struggling to get through to ESD for weeks. It actually worked! Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. Just wanted to report back that it's legit if anyone else is facing the same frustration with the phone lines.

Just wanted to add my experience to help others in similar situations. I moved from Washington to Colorado mid-2024 while collecting unemployment benefits from WA ESD. Colorado also has state income tax, and yes, I had to pay Colorado state taxes on all my WA unemployment benefits. The key thing to understand is that unemployment benefits are taxed as regular income in your state of residence, not the state that issues them. I learned this the hard way when I didn't set aside enough money for state taxes. My advice: immediately start setting aside at least 5-7% of each payment for state taxes (depending on your state's tax rate), and definitely try to get federal withholding set up through ESD to avoid a big tax bill come filing time. Also keep detailed records of your move date and all correspondence with both states' tax agencies - you'll need it for filing.