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Quick reminder that if you refuse suitable work (full-time job in your field at reasonable pay), you can lose your benefits entirely. Part-time work is fine, but don't turn down good full-time opportunities just to keep collecting UI.
What constitutes 'suitable work'? I've seen some pretty terrible job offers that barely pay more than unemployment.
This whole thread has been super helpful. I was scared to do any work while on unemployment because I didn't want to lose my benefits. Now I understand I can actually make more money total by working part-time plus collecting UI.
Just want to add that even if you get initially denied, don't give up! The appeal process exists for a reason and lots of people win their appeals. I volunteer at a legal aid clinic and we help people with unemployment appeals all the time.
I've heard that calling first thing Monday morning sometimes works better than other days. The phone system resets over the weekend and you might have better luck getting through.
I'll try that next Monday. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get some answers about what's happening with my claim.
Monday mornings are definitely better but still really hard to get through. That's why I ended up going with Claimyr - they handle all the calling hassle.
I'm on week 20 of my benefits and starting to get nervous about finding work soon. Has anyone had luck with extending benefits beyond 26 weeks? I heard there might be options during high unemployment periods.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This thread has been way more useful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website. Sounds like I can count on 26 weeks maximum, need to keep up with job search requirements, and should start looking for work immediately rather than waiting.
And if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD, remember that Claimyr option. Saved me so much time and frustration.
Liam Murphy
Check your spam folder for emails from Washington ESD. Sometimes important notifications end up there and you might miss requests for additional information.
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Sienna Gomez
•Good point, I'll double check that. I've been checking my regular inbox but haven't looked at spam recently.
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Liam Murphy
•Yeah definitely check. I almost missed an important deadline because their email went to spam.
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Amara Okafor
At this point I'd definitely recommend trying one of those callback services like Claimyr. I was skeptical at first but after 4 weeks of getting nowhere with the regular phone system, I tried it and finally got answers. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get things moving.
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Sienna Gomez
•That's three people now mentioning the same service. I think I need to seriously consider it.
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Amara Okafor
•It's worth checking out their demo video to see how it works. At least then you'll know what you're getting into.
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