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File now and don't stress too much about the attendance thing. Washington ESD sees these cases all the time and they understand that sometimes people have legitimate reasons for missing work. Your car breaking down isn't misconduct.
Just wanted to add that I also used Claimyr when I had issues getting through to Washington ESD about my claim status. Really saved me time and frustration when I needed to speak with an agent about my adjudication. The service at claimyr.com was worth it for me.
If you're doing your own payroll, make sure you're also staying on top of your Washington ESD quarterly reports. Missing those deadlines can affect your credit eligibility for the federal tax.
One more thing - if you're just starting out as an employer, you might qualify for a reduced rate with Washington ESD for your first few years. It's worth asking about when you register.
The Washington ESD phone system has been broken for years. It's not just you - thousands of people are dealing with the same impossible calling situation every day.
Just to wrap up with some final advice - keep documenting your call attempts in case you need to appeal any issues later. And definitely try that Claimyr service if you're getting nowhere with manual calling. The phone situation probably won't improve anytime soon unfortunately.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and support. Going to try Claimyr and the other tips. Hopefully I'll get through soon!
I used claimyr last month to get through to ESD about a different issue and it was honestly a lifesaver. Even though you probably won't qualify for benefits, it might be worth using their service to talk to an agent about what options exist for people in your situation. They might know about programs or resources that aren't widely publicized.
Bottom line - focus your energy on job applications rather than trying to get unemployment benefits you're not eligible for. Use every resource available: job centers, online applications, networking, temp agencies. Once you get that first job, even if it's temporary, you'll start building the work history you need.
Ethan Clark
final thought - if you do end up needing to file, gather all your employment records first. pay stubs, W-2s, employment dates, etc. makes the whole process smoother
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Margot Quinn
•Thanks for all the advice everyone! This has been really helpful for planning ahead.
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Mila Walker
Hope you don't need it but good on you for planning ahead! Construction work can be unpredictable so it's smart to understand your options.
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Margot Quinn
•Exactly - better to know now than scramble to figure it out if something happens. Thanks again everyone!
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