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One thing nobody mentioned - if you have a pension or retirement income, that can reduce your weekly benefit amount. Not sure if that applies to you but worth knowing.
Final tip - if you end up needing to talk to Washington ESD about your benefit calculation or any other issues, seriously consider using claimyr.com. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through their phone system. The peace of mind was worth it.
Quick update - I actually just got off the phone with Washington ESD (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it worked great). The rep confirmed that I should file a claim and they'll investigate the work classification. She said to be thorough in describing how my work was structured and provide as much documentation as possible.
One last tip - when you're filling out your claim, there should be a section where you can explain your work situation in detail. Use that space to describe how your client controlled your work, provided equipment, set schedules, etc. Don't just rely on the basic form fields.
For anyone still dealing with this - don't wait too long to address it. There might be time limits on requesting retroactive payments, even for waiting week issues.
This thread convinced me to check my own payment history. Sure enough, I'm missing my first week too! Guess I'll be trying that Claimyr service as well.
My biggest advice is to file your claim as soon as possible after you lose your job. Don't wait thinking you might get called back or that you'll find something quickly. Benefits are retroactive to when you first became unemployed, but only if you file promptly.
Last thing - keep all your paperwork and documentation organized. Save emails from your employer about the layoff, keep copies of your application and any correspondence with ESD, and maintain your job search log. If any issues come up, having good documentation will make resolving them much easier.
Good luck! Remember, you've earned these benefits by working and paying into the system. Don't feel bad about using them when you need them.
Destiny Bryant
Thanks everyone for clarifying this. I was also confused and this thread answered my questions too.
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Carmella Popescu
•Glad I'm not the only one who was confused about this!
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Dyllan Nantx
Bottom line: Washington state eliminated the waiting week permanently. File your weekly claims and you should get paid for your first eligible week. If you need to talk to Washington ESD and can't get through, there are services like Claimyr that can help.
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Carmella Popescu
•Perfect. This thread has been incredibly helpful. Thank you all!
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Ana Rusula
•Happy to help. Good luck with your claim!
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