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update: tried calling at 8am sharp like suggested and actually got through! was on hold for 90 minutes but finally talked to someone. they explained my adjudication delay and what i need to do next. persistence really does pay off sometimes
This has been really helpful reading everyone's experiences. I'm dealing with the same issue and it's good to know I'm not alone in struggling to reach Washington ESD. Going to try some of these suggestions and maybe look into that Claimyr service too.
The whole system is designed to discourage people from filing, honestly. Between the confusing calculations, the job search requirements, and the impossible phone system, they make it as hard as possible. But if you paid into it through your paychecks, you earned those benefits.
One last thing - keep detailed records of everything. Your separation paperwork, all communication with Washington ESD, your job search activities, everything. If something goes wrong (and it might), you'll need documentation to sort it out.
And remember, if you do get stuck or need to reach Washington ESD for any reason, services like Claimyr can save you a lot of time and frustration. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to get actual help instead of spinning your wheels for hours.
One more thing - make sure you understand the job search requirements from the beginning. They vary depending on your situation but you need to be actively looking for work and documenting your efforts.
Good luck with your claim! Hope you find a new job quickly and don't need the full 26 weeks of benefits.
Just to summarize for anyone reading this later - Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit as your highest quarter earnings divided by 26, with a maximum of $999/week and minimum of $295/week for 2025. You can collect for up to 26 weeks, there's a one-week waiting period, and benefits are taxable income.
Gael Robinson
One thing to remember - if you find part-time work while collecting unemployment, you can still get partial benefits. Just report all your earnings on your weekly claim. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good when it comes to job opportunities.
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Jenna Sloan
•That's helpful to know. I wasn't sure if part-time work would disqualify me completely.
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Edward McBride
•Nope, you can work part-time and still collect partial benefits. Just be honest about your earnings.
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Darcy Moore
I'm at week 8 of my 26 weeks and honestly the weekly claim filing is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Just don't miss any weeks or you'll have to call Washington ESD to fix it, and we all know how fun that is.
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Dana Doyle
•Truth! I missed one week early on and it took forever to get it sorted out.
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Vanessa Figueroa
•This is another situation where Claimyr came in handy for me - fixing a missed week filing. Much easier than trying to get through the regular way.
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