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 do I claim my waiting week for unemployment with Washington ESD?
I've been filing weekly claims for about 6 weeks now and my benefits have been paying out normally. But I just realized I never got paid for my very first week - the waiting week. I thought Washington ESD was supposed to automatically pay that out after I completed a certain number of weeks? Do I need to do something special to claim my waiting week or should it have happened automatically? I'm confused about how this works.
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Can you collect unemployment if you receive a severance package in Washington?
My company is laying me off next month and offering a severance package worth about $8,000. I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD while receiving this severance? The HR person wasn't sure and told me to check with ESD directly, but I figured I'd ask here first. Has anyone dealt with this situation before? I don't want to mess up my claim by not reporting it properly.
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Update us on how it goes when you file! Always helpful to hear how these situations actually play out.
Definitely will. Hopefully it'll be straightforward but I'll let you know if there are any surprises.
What does high unemployment mean for Washington ESD claims and benefits?
I keep hearing about high unemployment rates in the news and I'm wondering how this affects my Washington ESD claim. Does high unemployment mean it's easier to get approved for benefits? Does it change how long benefits last or the weekly amount? I filed my initial claim 2 weeks ago and it's still pending adjudication. My friend says high unemployment means they're being stricter with approvals but that doesn't make sense to me. Can someone explain what high unemployment actually means for us claimants?
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The silver lining of high unemployment is that employers and landlords are usually more understanding about employment gaps. They know it's not necessarily your fault when lots of people are out of work.
I hope that's true. I'm worried about explaining this gap when I do start interviewing again.
Just be honest about the economic situation. Most reasonable employers understand that layoffs happen during tough times.
Bottom line is high unemployment affects the big picture but your individual claim should be processed the same way. Focus on making sure you've provided all required information and keep filing your weekly claims on time.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much better understanding how this all works now.
How long does it take to get approved for unemployment in Washington state?
I submitted my initial claim through the Washington ESD website about 10 days ago and I'm still waiting to hear back. My claim status just says 'under review' and I haven't gotten any correspondence yet. I lost my job at a manufacturing plant due to layoffs and thought this would be pretty straightforward. Anyone know how long the approval process usually takes? I'm starting to get worried because I have bills due next week.
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Update us when you hear back! And seriously, if you need to get a status update quickly, that Claimyr service is worth checking out. Sometimes just knowing where things stand can reduce the stress even if you can't speed up the process.
I definitely will update everyone. This thread has been super helpful and I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences.
Yes please update! I'm in a similar situation and waiting to hear back too. It helps to know we're not alone in this process.
Where to go to get unemployment benefits in Washington - need help starting my claim
I just got laid off from my job at a warehouse in Tacoma and I have no idea where to go to get unemployment benefits. Is there a physical office I need to visit or do I apply online? I've never had to file for unemployment before and I'm really confused about the whole process. Can someone point me in the right direction?
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The customer service line is 800-318-6022 but like others said, it's really hard to get through. They also have online messaging but the response times are terrible.
I'll keep that number handy just in case, but sounds like I should try to handle everything online if possible.
If you do need to call, seriously consider using Claimyr. The regular phone line is basically unusable most of the time, but their service actually gets you through to talk to someone.
good luck with your application! the whole process is stressful but once you get through the initial setup it gets easier. just stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements
Thank you so much! Everyone's advice has been really helpful. I feel much more prepared to start the application process now.
We've all been there. The unemployment system isn't user-friendly but you'll figure it out. Don't hesitate to ask more questions if you get stuck.
Zainab Yusuf
One more thing to check - log into your Washington ESD account and look at your 'Payment History' section specifically. Sometimes the waiting week payment shows up there even if it doesn't appear in your regular weekly payment list. It might be listed as a separate transaction type.
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Ethan Brown
AuthorI'll check that right now. Thanks for the tip!
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Connor O'Reilly
Good suggestion. The Washington ESD website layout can be confusing and payments sometimes show up in unexpected places.
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Yara Khoury
OP, did you ever figure this out? I'm having the exact same issue and found this thread while searching for answers.
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Yara Khoury
Let me know how that goes! I might need to do the same thing.
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Keisha Taylor
Following this thread too. Same situation here - been getting regular benefits for 5 weeks but no waiting week payment.
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