Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the ESD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the ESD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
The bottom line is that regular unemployment in Washington maxes out at 26 weeks. Extensions are rare and usually only happen during major economic downturns. Your best bet is looking into training programs if you want to extend your benefits while learning new skills.
This is the most accurate summary. Don't count on extensions - use your 26 weeks wisely and have a backup plan.
Thanks everyone for the reality check. I guess I better start looking into those training programs and maybe consider part-time work too.
I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. After my 26 weeks ran out, I ended up applying for a WIOA-funded training program through WorkSource for medical coding. It took about 3 weeks to get approved, but once I started the program I was able to get additional financial support that helped bridge the gap. The key is to start the application process early - don't wait until your last week of benefits. Also worth noting that some community colleges have their own workforce development grants that can provide income support during training. Definitely explore all your options because once those 26 weeks are done, there's no going back to regular UI unless you work enough to requalify.
Join the conversation
@profile8 - There are different teams handling different types of appeals, but they all fall under the broader Appeals Implementation Unit. The routing happens internally based on the appeal decision code. That's why it's important to reference your specific appeal decision number when contacting ESD - it helps get your inquiry to the right specialized team. @profile4 - Glad to hear your account updated! That's pretty close to the typical timeframe. For anyone else reading this thread in the future, the 10-15 business day window seems to be fairly standard for appeal implementations in 2025.
Thanks everyone for all your help and advice! The payments have now all processed and I received the full backpay amount for the 13 weeks I was waiting. Such a huge relief after months of stress. For anyone else going through this - just keep filing those weekly claims and be patient (though I know that's easier said than done when you're desperate for funds).
Congratulations on winning your appeal! I went through something similar last year and the waiting after getting the decision letter is honestly almost as stressful as waiting for the appeal itself. From what I've seen in this community, 2-3 weeks seems to be the norm for ESD to update everything in their system after an appeal win. The secure message approach that others mentioned here is definitely worth trying - I had good luck with that when I was in your shoes. Just make sure to keep filing those weekly claims religiously because once it all processes, you'll get every penny you're owed. Hang in there, you're so close to the finish line!
Join the conversation
Final reminder for anyone reading this - make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' vs 'standby' status. If you're laid off temporarily and expecting to return to the same job, you might qualify for standby which has different job search requirements.
What's the difference in requirements for standby status?
With standby, you don't have to do the 3 weekly job search activities since you're expected to return to your employer. But you need documentation from your employer confirming the temporary layoff and expected return date.
Hey there! I'm in a similar situation and have been researching Washington ESD benefits. Based on everything I've read here, it looks like you'd be looking at around $400-450 per week with your $800 weekly wages. The formula is pretty straightforward: they take your highest quarter earnings, divide by 26, then multiply by 0.0385. Just make sure to file your weekly claims right away even while waiting for approval, and definitely register with WorkSourceWA for the job search requirements. Good luck if you end up needing to file!
This is such a helpful summary! I've been following this thread as someone who might need to file soon too. The $400-450 range seems to be the consensus for someone making $800/week. One thing I'm still confused about though - do they use your actual weekly wages or do they calculate everything based on quarterly totals? Like if I had some weeks with overtime that pushed me over $800, would that help my benefit amount?
Join the conversation
Good luck with whatever you decide! The job market for experienced workers is actually pretty good right now in Washington, especially if you're open to remote work or consulting.
Thanks! I hadn't really considered consulting, but that might be a good bridge between full-time work and full retirement.
Definitely worth exploring. A lot of retirees are finding consulting work pays well and gives them more flexibility than traditional employment.
As someone who went through a similar situation at 63, I can tell you that timing is everything. I initially planned to retire voluntarily but ended up waiting when I heard rumors about restructuring at my company. Sure enough, they offered voluntary buyouts first, then did layoffs six months later. Those who took the buyouts weren't eligible for UI, but those of us who got laid off were able to collect benefits while job searching. The key is being genuinely available for work - I had to prove I was actively looking and willing to take suitable employment. It's worth noting that "suitable work" standards do relax somewhat after you've been unemployed for a while, but initially they expect you to seek work similar to your previous position.
@b92fc0aa5e6d This is exactly the kind of real-world insight I was hoping for! Your experience really drives home how important timing can be. I'm definitely going to hold off on any voluntary retirement decisions and see what happens with Boeing's restructuring plans. The difference between taking a buyout versus waiting for potential layoffs could make all the difference for UI eligibility. I'm also realizing I need to be more realistic about the job search requirements - it sounds like Washington ESD really does expect genuine effort to find work, not just going through the motions. One question about your experience: when you were collecting benefits and actively job searching at 63, did you encounter any age-related challenges in the hiring process? I'm wondering what kind of timeline I should realistically expect if I do end up in a similar situation, especially given that I've been in the same role at Boeing for so long.
@b92fc0aa5e6d Thank you for sharing such detailed insight from your experience! This is incredibly helpful as I'm trying to navigate the same decision at Boeing. Your timing strategy makes perfect sense - waiting to see if the company offers voluntary buyouts versus layoffs could completely change my UI eligibility. I hadn't fully understood that distinction before. I'm also realizing I was probably being naive about the job search requirements. It sounds like Washington ESD really does verify that you're genuinely looking for work, not just going through the motions while waiting for full retirement. That's good to know upfront. One question about the "suitable work" standards - when they initially expect you to look for similar positions, how strictly do they interpret that? Given my engineering background at Boeing, would I be expected to only pursue other engineering roles at first, or could I reasonably look at project management or consulting type positions that might be less demanding but still utilize my experience?
GalacticGuru
thanks everyone for the info, this is exactly what i needed to know even though it's not what i wanted to hear
0 coins
Connor Murphy
•Same here. At least now I know what to expect and can plan accordingly
0 coins
Natasha Kuznetsova
•Knowledge is power, even when it's disappointing news. Good luck with your job search!
0 coins
Connor Murphy
UPDATE: I'm going to try that Claimyr service to get through to Washington ESD and ask about my specific situation. Will report back if I learn anything new about extensions or other options.
0 coins
Freya Pedersen
•Please do update us! We're all in similar situations and could use any additional info you get
0 coins
Emily Sanjay
•Same here, really hoping you find out something useful! I'm in a similar situation and could really use some good news about potential options beyond the standard 26 weeks.
0 coins