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Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! I'm going to try the Claimyr service that several people mentioned since I can't afford to keep wasting weeks on this. Will update if I finally get through to someone.
Good luck with your claim! The restaurant industry has been hit hard lately so hopefully you'll find something soon.
One last tip - if your claim gets approved, sign up for direct deposit right away. Paper checks take forever to arrive and can get lost in the mail.
One more tip - if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I found success using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got connected to an agent in minutes instead of hours.
Just wanted to add that if you're getting the maximum benefit amount, you still need to pay federal taxes on it. Washington doesn't have state income tax but the IRS will want their cut.
Something else to consider - many veterans are overqualified for available positions but underqualified for positions that match their military rank/responsibility level. It's a weird gap that civilian HR doesn't know how to handle.
If anyone's still reading this thread - I used claimyr again last week to get through to Washington ESD about veteran education benefits and how they affect UI eligibility. The agent knew exactly what I was talking about and saved me from making a mistake on my weekly claim. Sometimes it's worth it to get expert help instead of guessing.
Thanks for all the advice everyone. This thread has been more helpful than anything I've found on the official Washington ESD website. Going to look into several of these suggestions.
Mila Walker
I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through about this exact question. The agent walked me through examples with my specific benefit amount. Really helped me understand the math.
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Logan Scott
•Did they give you anything in writing or just explain it over the phone?
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Mila Walker
•Just explained it, but I took notes. The agent was very patient and answered all my questions about different scenarios.
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Chloe Green
Remember folks, when in doubt, report the income. It's always better to over-report than under-report with Washington ESD.
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Lucas Adams
•Absolutely. The penalties for unreported income are much worse than temporarily reduced benefits.
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Ryder Greene
•This whole thread has been a huge help. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge!
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