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.

Live agent or your money backRefund policy

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
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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 unemployment will i get if i make $1,000 a week in Washington ESD

I'm trying to figure out what my weekly unemployment benefit would be if I lose my job. I currently make around $1,000 per week at my construction job and I want to plan ahead in case layoffs happen this winter. Does anyone know how Washington ESD calculates the weekly benefit amount? I've heard it's based on your earnings but I can't find a clear answer on their website.

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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Thanks for all the advice everyone! This has been really helpful for planning ahead.

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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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Exactly - better to know now than scramble to figure it out if something happens. Thanks again everyone!

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How soon can you file for unemployment after being fired in Washington state?

Got terminated yesterday from my warehouse job for attendance issues (missed 3 days in two months due to car problems). My supervisor said I can file for unemployment but I'm not sure when I'm allowed to start the process. Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after being fired, or can I apply right away? Also worried they might deny my claim since it was for attendance. Has anyone been through this situation with Washington ESD?

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.

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Really appreciate everyone's help and advice. Feeling much more confident about this whole process now.

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Good luck with your claim! Let us know how it goes.

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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.

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Good to know there are options if I run into problems contacting them. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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Washington ESD employer asking about federal unemployment tax rate for 2024 - need clarification

I'm a small business owner in Washington state and I'm trying to figure out what the federal unemployment tax rate is for 2024. My accountant mentioned something about it but I want to double-check since I need to make sure I'm paying the right amount for my employees. Does anyone know the current FUTA rate? I know Washington ESD handles the state portion but I'm confused about the federal side. My business had some layoffs last year and I want to make sure I'm compliant with all the unemployment tax requirements.

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.

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When are the quarterly deadlines? I want to make sure I have them in my calendar.

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They're due the last day of the month following the end of each quarter. So January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31.

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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.

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Yeah, the new employer rate is usually lower than the standard rate. It's one of the few breaks small businesses get.

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I wish I had known about that when I started my business. Could have saved some money in those early years.

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Is the Washington ESD unemployment office closed today - can't get through

I've been trying to call Washington ESD all morning about my claim status and keep getting busy signals or disconnected. Are they closed today or is this just the normal impossible-to-reach situation? I need to talk to someone about my adjudication that's been pending for weeks. Anyone know their actual hours or if there's a better time to call?

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.

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At least I know I'm not alone in this struggle. The system definitely needs to be fixed.

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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.

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Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and support. Going to try Claimyr and the other tips. Hopefully I'll get through soon!

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Good luck! Hope you get your adjudication resolved quickly once you connect with an agent.

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Can you get Washington ESD unemployment if you never worked before?

I'm 19 and have been looking for my first job for months but haven't found anything yet. My friend said I might be able to get unemployment benefits even though I've never actually worked before. Is this true? Can Washington ESD give you unemployment if you don't have any work history? I've been applying everywhere but nobody's hiring and I really need some income to help my family with bills.

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.

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How much does that service cost? I'm obviously pretty tight on money right now.

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It's worth checking their website for current pricing, but for me it was worth it to avoid hours of trying to get through on my own. Sometimes getting the right information quickly is worth the investment.

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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.

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You're absolutely right. I need to stop looking for shortcuts and just focus on finding work. Thanks for the reality check.

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Don't give up! Everyone starts somewhere. That first job is always the hardest to get, but once you have some experience it gets easier.

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