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
One thing to remember is that your benefit amount is just the starting point. You still have to pay federal taxes on unemployment benefits, and you can choose to have them withhold 10% or pay quarterly estimated taxes. Factor that into your budget planning.
Wait, unemployment is taxable? I had no idea! That's going to reduce the effective benefit even more.
I learned this the hard way last year. Didn't have taxes withheld and ended up owing $1,200 at tax time. Definitely opt for the 10% withholding if you file a claim.
Bottom line for the original question: there's no simple percentage answer because Washington ESD uses a complex formula. Your best bet is to gather your wage statements from the past 18 months and use their online calculator, or be prepared to wait for them to calculate it when you file your claim.
Thanks everyone for all the detailed responses! I feel much better prepared now if I need to file a claim. The quarterly calculation makes sense once you understand the logic behind it.
Just remember that even if the amount isn't what you hoped for, it's temporary income support while you find your next opportunity. Better than nothing during a tough transition!
Join the conversation
Just want to add that your benefit amount stays the same for your entire benefit year unless you have qualifying circumstances for a recalculation. So once you figure out why it's $387, that's what it'll be every week (minus any deductions for part-time work).
Good to know it's consistent. At least I can budget around that amount once I understand where it comes from.
Unless you exhaust your regular benefits and qualify for extended benefits, but that's a whole other calculation
Hope you get it figured out! The math should work out once you have the right numbers to plug in. Don't give up if it doesn't make sense at first - these calculations can be tricky.
Thanks everyone for all the help! I'm going to check my wage details online first and see if I can figure it out from there.
Join the conversation
Make sure you're checking both email and your eServices account regularly. They usually notify you multiple ways when there's an update to your claim.
I've been checking daily. Hopefully I'll see something soon!
Good luck! Sounds like you're on the right track. Keep filing those weekly claims and the determination should come through soon. This thread has been really helpful for understanding the process.
Thank you! I really appreciate everyone's help and advice. I'll update this thread when I hear something.
Join the conversation
Just to summarize for OP - you need sufficient wages in your base period, be unemployed through no fault of your own, be able and available for work, and actively seek employment. The monetary requirements are pretty specific so check those carefully.
Thanks everyone! This is super helpful. I think I meet the requirements so I'll file tomorrow.
Good luck! File online at esd.wa.gov and make sure to keep copies of everything. The process can be slow but stick with it.
Also worth mentioning - if you're eligible for other types of benefits like workers compensation or social security, that might affect your unemployment benefits. Washington ESD has specific offset rules for these situations.
What about retirement benefits? I'm 62 and considering filing for unemployment.
Retirement benefits can affect your unemployment benefits depending on the type and amount. You'll need to report all income when you file weekly claims.
Jamal Wilson
The appeals process saved my butt last year. I was denied initially but won on appeal. Definitely worth fighting if you think the denial was wrong. Don't give up!
0 coins
Natasha Kuznetsova
•That's encouraging to hear! How long did it take to get your back pay after you won?
0 coins
Jamal Wilson
•About 2 weeks after the decision. They deposited all the back pay at once, which was a huge relief.
0 coins
Mei Lin
Final thought - even if you're not sure you have a strong case, it's often worth appealing anyway. The worst thing that happens is they uphold the original decision, but you might be surprised and win.
0 coins
Natasha Kuznetsova
•You're right. I have nothing to lose by trying. Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouragement!
0 coins
Liam Fitzgerald
•Exactly! And sometimes the employer doesn't even show up to contest it, which makes it much easier to win.
0 coins