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Another Claimyr success story here - used them when I got confused about whether my temp agency assignments counted toward job search activities. Got a clear answer from Washington ESD within 30 minutes instead of playing phone tag for weeks.
The 3 job search activities per week is the minimum, but honestly doing more is better for actually finding work. I usually do 5-6 activities per week because I want to get off unemployment as soon as possible.
File online at esd.wa.gov - it's way easier than trying to call. The online application walks you through everything step by step. Just be honest about the termination reason and provide your perspective in the comments section.
Bottom line - getting fired doesn't automatically disqualify you from unemployment benefits. Performance issues rarely rise to the level of misconduct unless there was willful wrongdoing or repeated policy violations. File your claim and let Washington ESD make the determination.
Sorry to jump in late, but I wanted to mention that if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to ask about your specific situation, I had good luck with a service called Claimyr. They helped me get through to an actual person when I had questions about my remaining benefit weeks. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ if you want to see how it works.
A few people have mentioned that service now. Sounds like it might be worth trying if I need to call them.
Yeah, I've seen Claimyr mentioned in other threads too. Seems legit for getting through the phone maze at Washington ESD.
Bottom line for anyone reading this: Washington state gives you up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits within a benefit year that lasts 52 weeks from when you file. Keep filing weekly, meet your job search requirements, and don't wait until the last minute to plan your next steps. The system isn't perfect but it's there to help bridge you to your next job.
Just remember that unemployment benefits are temporary. Even if you get approved, make sure you have a plan for when the benefits end. The average time to find a job is getting longer.
One more thing - some lenders will want to see that you're actively job searching. Keep records of your applications and interviews as proof you're working toward employment.
Luca Ferrari
The Washington ESD system is honestly pretty broken. I've seen people get denied for the most ridiculous reasons, then get approved on appeal for the exact same information. Sometimes it's just a computer glitch or someone made a mistake reviewing your file.
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LunarEclipse
•That's both reassuring and frustrating at the same time. At least it means there's hope for getting it fixed.
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Nia Davis
•Yeah, don't give up! The appeal process exists for a reason. A lot of initial denials get overturned.
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Mateo Martinez
Update us when you figure out what the issue was! I'm curious if it was the WorkSource registration thing. That seems to trip up a lot of people and they don't make it clear that it's required.
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LunarEclipse
•Will do! I'm going to tackle this systematically - WorkSource registration first, then review everything in my account, then file the appeal if needed.
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QuantumQueen
•Good luck! Hopefully it's something simple that gets resolved quickly.
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