


Ask the community...
One last thought - even if you represent yourself, consider paying for an hour consultation with an unemployment lawyer just to review your evidence and strategy. Could be worth the cost for the peace of mind.
Good luck with whatever you decide! Sounds like you have a solid case either way. Just remember to stay organized and stick to the facts during the hearing.
Anyone else have trouble getting through to Washington ESD to ask questions about eligibility? I swear their phone system is designed to make you give up. Found Claimyr through Reddit and it actually worked - got connected to an agent who helped me understand the base period calculation. Worth every penny honestly.
I'm at my wit's end trying to reach them. Might have to try this Claimyr thing too.
Do it. Their demo video shows exactly how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. So much better than listening to busy signals all day.
The job search requirement is no joke either. You have to keep detailed records of where you applied, when, and what happened. Washington ESD can audit this stuff, so don't just make it up. I use a spreadsheet to track everything.
One more resource - if you need help with the appeal process down the road, legal aid organizations in Washington sometimes help with unemployment cases. Just another option to keep in mind.
For anyone else reading this who got fired - don't let it stop you from applying. The worst they can say is no, and you might be surprised by the outcome. I thought for sure I'd be denied but ended up getting approved.
Just wanted to add that you can appeal your benefit calculation if you think there's an error. I had to do this when they missed one of my employers from my base period.
Thanks everyone for explaining this! The Washington ESD website makes it sound so complicated but this thread broke it down perfectly.
Ethan Taylor
The key thing is just don't panic if things seem slow at first. The system handles thousands of claims and sometimes there are delays, but you'll get your benefits if you're eligible.
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Omar Hassan
•Thanks for the encouragement! I feel much more prepared now.
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Chloe Anderson
•That's what this community is for - helping each other navigate this stuff!
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Luca Romano
oh and one more thing - if you have any 1099 work or side gigs you need to report that income too when you file your weekly claims. dont try to hide it because they will find out eventually
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Omar Hassan
•I don't have any side income but good to know for the future. Honesty is definitely the best policy.
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Luca Romano
•exactly! better to report everything upfront than deal with overpayment issues later
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