


Ask the community...
One more tip - keep detailed records of your business closure expenses and timeline. Washington ESD will want to see proof that the closure was involuntary and legitimate, not strategic.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This thread answered questions I didn't even know I had about business owners and unemployment benefits.
The whole system is so confusing! I've been trying to figure out if I qualify for weeks. Maybe I should just call and ask directly instead of guessing.
Good luck getting through! I've been trying to call for two weeks and either get a busy signal or get disconnected after waiting for an hour.
That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ to see how it works. They handle all the calling frustration for you.
Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you should qualify. $18,000 is well above the minimum earnings requirement, and being laid off due to restructuring typically qualifies as being unemployed through no fault of your own.
Pro tip: if you're ever unsure about how to answer these weekly claim questions, you can call the Washington ESD customer service line. Though good luck getting through without help - that's why services like Claimyr exist.
Bottom line: 'Not adversely affected' = you were able and available for work that week. 'Adversely affected' = something prevented you from being able to accept work. Keep it simple and answer based on your actual situation.
Honestly, the qualification requirements aren't that complicated once you break them down. Work history, earnings, separation reason, and ongoing availability. If you check those boxes, you should be fine. The bigger challenge is usually dealing with the system once you're approved!
I had to use Claimyr twice during my claim - once for initial questions and once when my claim went into adjudication for weeks. Both times they got me through to someone who could actually help. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to avoid the endless phone tag with Washington ESD.
I might look into that if I run into issues. Calling government agencies is always such a nightmare.
Yeah, Washington ESD's phone system is particularly frustrating. At least with Claimyr you know you'll actually talk to someone.
Giovanni Gallo
Last piece of advice - be patient with the process but persistent if you run into problems. Sometimes claims get stuck for no good reason and you have to advocate for yourself.
0 coins
Giovanni Gallo
•You're welcome! Good luck with everything and I hope your claim goes smoothly.
0 coins
Sean O'Brien
•yeah good luck! let us know how it goes
0 coins
Fatima Al-Mazrouei
Oh and one more thing - if you end up needing to call Washington ESD for any reason, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit. I used it when I had an adjudication issue and it actually worked. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
0 coins
Diego Chavez
•Good to know there are options if I run into phone issues. Hopefully I won't need to call but it's good to have a backup plan.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•Exactly. Most claims go through fine but it's nice to know there's help available if you need it.
0 coins