Washington Unemployment
CommunityGovernment Services
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.
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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 much does a company pay for unemployment in Washington ESD?
I'm trying to understand how unemployment insurance works from the employer side. My small business is expanding and I need to hire more people, but I want to budget properly for all the costs. Does anyone know how much companies actually pay into the Washington ESD unemployment system? Is it a percentage of wages or a flat fee? I've been looking through the Washington ESD website but it's confusing with all the different tax rates and formulas.
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How to file unemployment online with Washington ESD - complete walkthrough needed
I just got laid off yesterday and need to figure out how to file unemployment online with Washington ESD. I've never done this before and honestly have no idea where to start. I went to the esd.wa.gov website but there are so many different links and I'm not sure which one is for filing a new claim. Do I need to create an account first? What information should I have ready before I start? Any step-by-step guidance would be really helpful since I'm already stressed about losing my job.
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Don't forget to keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still being processed. You can't go back and claim those weeks later if you miss them.
Wait, so I should file weekly claims even before I know if I'm approved?
Yes, exactly. You need to file for every week you want to claim benefits for, even during the processing period.
Final tip: print or save copies of everything you submit. If there are any questions later, you'll want to have records of exactly what you reported and when you reported it.
Perfect, thank you everyone for all the help! I feel much more confident about filing now.
Good luck! The process really isn't as scary as it seems at first.
Do I have to file unemployment on my taxes - Washington ESD benefits reporting
I received unemployment benefits from Washington ESD last year totaling about $8,200. My tax preparer is telling me I need to report this as income but I'm confused because I thought unemployment wasn't taxable? I never had taxes withheld from my weekly claims and now I'm worried I'm going to owe a huge amount. Can someone explain if Washington ESD unemployment benefits have to be reported on taxes and if I should have been paying taxes on them all along?
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PSA for everyone - if you're currently getting unemployment from Washington ESD, log into your account and elect tax withholding NOW. Don't wait until tax time to deal with this.
This is good advice. I wish I had done this from the beginning.
Agreed. The 10% withholding option covers most people's tax liability on unemployment benefits.
I'm a tax preparer and see this confusion every tax season. Yes, unemployment is taxable income. Yes, you should have taxes withheld if possible. And yes, you need to report the full amount on your tax return.
Wish more people knew about this beforehand. It would save a lot of stress.
Absolutely. I always recommend clients elect withholding on any unemployment benefits to avoid surprises.
What are the qualifications for Washington ESD unemployment benefits - confused about requirements
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment in Washington state but the Washington ESD website is confusing me. I lost my job last month (not my fault - company downsized) and I've been working for 2 years at this place making about $45k annually. I know there are work history requirements and I need to be able and available for work, but what exactly do I need to prove? Do I need a certain amount of wages in my base period? How many hours per week do I need to work to have qualified? Also confused about the job search requirements - how many jobs do I need to apply for each week? Any help understanding the basic qualifications would be appreciated.
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Also remember that Washington state has some specific rules about what constitutes 'suitable work' that you have to accept. Generally it's work that's reasonably related to your skills and experience, pays at least 70% of your previous wage, and is within a reasonable commute distance.
It varies, but generally within your local labor market area. For most people that's about a 1-hour commute each way.
That seems reasonable. I'm in the Seattle area so there should be plenty of opportunities within that range.
Just wanted to add that if you have any questions about your specific situation, it's really worth getting connected to someone at Washington ESD directly. I know people mentioned Claimyr earlier - I ended up using them too after spending days trying to get through on my own. The website is claimyr.com if anyone wants to check it out. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to understand how the rules apply to your particular case.
Yeah the written information can only take you so far. Every situation is a little different.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. I think I have a much better understanding now of what I need to do to apply.
What banks does Washington ESD unemployment accept for direct deposit?
I'm setting up my unemployment benefits and need to know which banks Washington ESD accepts for direct deposit. I have accounts with a few different banks and want to make sure I pick one that won't cause issues. Does anyone know if there are restrictions on certain banks or credit unions? I've heard some people had problems with smaller banks not accepting the deposits properly.
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One last thing - if you're worried about security, you can always set up a separate checking account just for unemployment deposits. Some people prefer to keep it separate from their main banking.
That's actually a really smart idea. Might help with budgeting too.
I do this and it's great for keeping track of exactly how much unemployment income I'm getting.
Bottom line: any legitimate bank or credit union should work fine. Just avoid anything sketchy and make sure your account info is correct when you set it up. Washington ESD's direct deposit system is pretty reliable once it's working properly.
Thanks everyone for all the help! Feeling much more confident about setting this up now.
Good luck! You'll be glad you set up direct deposit instead of dealing with the debit card.
Julian Paolo
If you run into problems with Washington ESD down the road, that Claimyr thing mentioned earlier really does work. I used it when I had issues with my own claim and got through to someone right away.
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Lucy Taylor
AuthorGood to hear a success story with that service. I'll definitely keep it in mind.
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KhalilStar
Final piece of advice - establish a good relationship with your local WorkSource office. They can help with hiring and sometimes provide guidance on avoiding layoffs that would increase your unemployment tax rate.
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Lucy Taylor
AuthorI didn't know WorkSource worked with employers too. I'll reach out to them once I get my business fully established.
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KhalilStar
Yes, they have programs for both job seekers and employers. It's part of the same system as Washington ESD.
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