Washington Unemployment
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Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.
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
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 :)
How to prepare for unemployment hearing - Washington ESD appeal process help needed
I got the notice that my unemployment appeal is going to a hearing next month and I'm completely overwhelmed. Washington ESD denied my claim saying I was fired for misconduct but that's not what happened at all. I was laid off due to budget cuts at my company but they're claiming I had performance issues. The hearing is scheduled for 3 weeks from now and I have no idea how to prepare. What documents should I gather? Do I need a lawyer? Has anyone been through this process before? I really need these benefits and I'm scared I'm going to mess this up.
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What does hold mean on unemployment claim in Washington ESD?
I just checked my claim status online and it shows 'HOLD' next to my weekly claim. This is the first time I've seen this and I have no idea what it means. My previous weeks were all processed fine and I got paid. I haven't changed anything about my job search or work reporting. Does anyone know what a hold means on Washington ESD claims? Should I be worried about getting my benefits?
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Just want to add that holds can also happen if Washington ESD is cross-referencing your claim with other state databases. Sometimes there are false matches that need to be cleared up manually.
That sounds complicated. How would I even know if that's what happened?
You wouldn't know without talking to Washington ESD directly. These backend system issues don't generate notices that claimants can see.
UPDATE: I was able to get through to Washington ESD this morning using that Claimyr thing. Turns out my hold was because I reported working 3 hours last week but didn't report any earnings (I did volunteer work, not paid work). The agent fixed it right away and said my payment should process tonight. Thanks everyone for the help!
Perfect example of why it's important to be very specific when reporting work activities. Volunteer work should be reported differently than paid work.
Great outcome! This is a common mix-up we see. Volunteer work hours don't need to be reported as work hours on your weekly claim, but it's good that you got it clarified.
Does Washington ESD unemployment count as income for FAFSA - confused about reporting
I'm filling out my FAFSA for next year and I'm not sure if I need to report the unemployment benefits I received from Washington ESD. I got about $8,200 in UI payments last year while I was between jobs. The FAFSA form asks about untaxed income but unemployment is taxed, right? I'm really confused about what counts and what doesn't. Has anyone dealt with this before? I don't want to mess up my financial aid by reporting it wrong.
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Good to know! I might need to use that if I have issues with my 1099-G.
How does that even work? Do they have some special connection to Washington ESD or something?
This whole thread has been super helpful. I was totally confused about unemployment and FAFSA but now I feel like I can actually fill out the form correctly. Thanks everyone!
Same here! I feel so much better about tackling this now.
Glad we could help! These government forms are confusing but once you get the hang of it, it's not too bad.
Can you file for Washington ESD unemployment while waiting for workers comp decision?
I got injured at work 6 weeks ago and filed a workers compensation claim through L&I. The claim is still under review and they haven't made a decision yet about whether it'll be approved. In the meantime I'm not getting paid and bills are piling up. Can I file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD while I wait for the workers comp decision? I'm worried about getting in trouble if I apply for both at the same time but I really need some income right now.
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The whole thing is stressful but manageable if you stay organized. Keep all your paperwork, be honest on your claims, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. You'll get through this.
Thanks everyone for all the advice. This has been really helpful and I feel much better about moving forward.
Good luck with everything! Hope your workers comp gets approved soon.
One more thing - if you end up needing to appeal anything with either workers comp or unemployment, don't wait. The deadlines are strict and you don't want to miss your chance to contest a decision.
What are the typical appeal deadlines?
For Washington ESD it's usually 30 days from the date of the decision letter. L&I has different deadlines depending on what you're appealing.
How to claim your weekly unemployment benefits - Washington ESD online system help
I just got approved for unemployment after waiting 3 weeks in adjudication and now I'm supposed to claim my weekly benefits but I'm honestly confused about the whole process. The Washington ESD website has so many different sections and I don't want to mess anything up. Do I need to claim for the weeks I was waiting for approval too? And what's this job search requirement thing - do I need to log jobs before I can claim? Also worried about the 'able and available' questions because I had a minor medical appointment last week. Can someone walk me through exactly how to claim weekly benefits step by step?
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I had to use Claimyr recently when I got confused about my job search requirements and couldn't reach anyone at Washington ESD. The service at claimyr.com actually helped me get through to someone who explained exactly what I needed to do. Worth checking out if you get stuck like I did.
Good to have that option available. Hopefully I won't need it, but it's reassuring to know there are ways to reach someone when needed.
Annabel Kimball
If you're still having trouble getting information from Washington ESD before your hearing, definitely try that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. I used them when I was dealing with a weird adjudication issue and they got me through to someone who could actually help me understand what was happening with my claim.
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Rachel Tao
AuthorThanks! I'm going to check them out tonight. I still have so many questions about the whole process.
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Chris Elmeda
The video demo on their site really explains how it works well. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through the regular phone lines.
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Jean Claude
One last tip - write down all your questions ahead of time! During the hearing you might forget to ask something important. Having a list in front of you helps make sure you cover everything.
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Rachel Tao
AuthorGreat idea. I'm making a list right now of everything I want to clarify.
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Jean Claude
Perfect! You've got this. Sounds like you have good evidence with that termination letter.
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