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
I'm in a very similar situation - also in construction and down to my last few weeks of regular UI benefits. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about the Training Benefits program. I had no idea that existed! One question for those who've been through this process: are there any specific training programs that are particularly well-suited for construction workers? I've been doing residential framing for 8 years but I'm open to learning new skills, especially if it means I can get some financial support while training. Energy-efficient construction sounds promising like the original poster mentioned, but I'm wondering if there are other trades or certifications that are considered "high-demand" in Washington right now. Also, does anyone know if the Training Benefits program allows part-time work while you're in training? I might be able to pick up some small side jobs even during the slow season, but I don't want to jeopardize my benefits eligibility. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this thread has given me hope that there might be a path forward even if regular extensions aren't available!
Great question about high-demand training programs for construction workers! From what I've researched, some of the most in-demand certifications in Washington right now include electrical work (especially solar installation), HVAC systems, plumbing, and green building/energy efficiency certifications like LEED. Welding is also always in high demand here. Regarding part-time work while in Training Benefits - yes, you can typically work part-time while receiving benefits, but your weekly benefit amount will be reduced based on your earnings (just like with regular UI). There's usually a small earnings disregard, so you might be able to earn a little without any reduction, but definitely check with ESD about the specific rules for Training Benefits since they can be different from regular UI. I'd suggest looking at the WorkSource website for their list of approved training providers and in-demand occupations. Community colleges like Seattle Central, Bellevue, and Everett have great trades programs that are often pre-approved for Training Benefits. Good luck - sounds like you're being proactive about this which is exactly what you need to do!
Adding to what Mia said about high-demand programs - I'd also look into crane operator certification if you're interested in staying in construction but want better job security. Washington has a lot of infrastructure projects coming up and crane operators are always needed. The training is usually shorter than some other programs (8-12 weeks) but pays really well. Another option is to look into construction project management or estimating programs. With your 8 years of framing experience, you already understand the work from the ground up, which is valuable for those roles. Many of these programs can be done partially online which gives you flexibility. For the part-time work question - definitely report any earnings when you file your weekly claims, even small side jobs. It's better to be transparent and have your benefits reduced slightly than risk any issues with overpayments later. The ESD is pretty good about working with people who are honest about their earnings.
Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in workforce development - the advice here about Training Benefits is spot on, but I'd also suggest looking into Washington's Apprenticeship programs. Many building trades apprenticeships (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, etc.) actually provide a small living allowance while you're learning, plus you get paid progressively more as you advance through the program. The good news is that some apprenticeships can be combined with Training Benefits in certain circumstances, though you'd need to verify this with ESD. Also, with your framing background, you might be able to get advanced placement in a carpentry apprenticeship program, which could shorten the timeline. One resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) - they have job boards and sometimes know about training opportunities or temporary work that could help bridge the gap. Worth checking out while you're exploring your options. The construction industry in Washington is definitely cyclical, but all the infrastructure and housing development planned for the next few years means there should be good opportunities once you get through this rough patch. Hang in there!
Thanks for mentioning apprenticeships! I hadn't considered that option but it makes a lot of sense, especially with my existing framing experience. The idea of getting paid while learning and potentially combining it with Training Benefits is really appealing. I'll definitely check out the BIAW website and see what apprenticeship opportunities might be available. Do you happen to know if there are any age restrictions or other barriers for someone with existing construction experience to enter an apprenticeship program? I'm wondering if being an experienced worker rather than a complete beginner affects the application process or placement opportunities. Also really appreciate the reminder about the long-term outlook for construction in Washington - it's easy to get discouraged when you're in the middle of the slow season, but you're right that there's a lot of development planned. Sometimes you just need that outside perspective to remember this is temporary!
Join the conversation
Hang in there - I know it's incredibly stressful. Try to take care of your mental health during this process too. The uncertainty is really tough to deal with.
Thank you, I really needed to hear that. This whole situation has been affecting my sleep and anxiety levels.
You're not alone in feeling that way. The financial stress combined with the uncertainty is really difficult. Consider reaching out to counseling services if you need support.
I went through this exact same situation last year - 7 weeks in adjudication hell. What finally broke it loose for me was getting my state representative's office involved. I called their constituent services line and explained how the delay was causing financial hardship. They have a direct line to Washington ESD and can sometimes get cases escalated. It took about 2 weeks after I contacted them, but my claim finally moved forward. Worth a shot if all else fails - most rep offices are pretty responsive to unemployment issues since they're affecting so many constituents.
That's really helpful advice! I never thought about contacting my state representative. Do you remember which office you called - was it your district rep or someone specific who handles these issues? And did you need to provide any special documentation when you contacted them?
Join the conversation
I'm dealing with the same exact issue! Started getting the "Unable to process your request" error on Tuesday when trying to file my PFML weekly claim through SecureAccess. I was getting so stressed thinking I'd miss my deadline and lose benefits. This thread has been a lifesaver - I had no clue about the maintenance window since I don't use Twitter. It's honestly ridiculous that ESD doesn't post maintenance notifications prominently on their main website. We shouldn't have to hunt down random social media posts to find out when their systems are down! I'm going to try the direct paidleave.wa.gov link and the Firefox browser suggestions once everything is supposedly back up tomorrow evening. Really grateful for everyone sharing the phone numbers and tips here - this community is way more helpful than ESD's actual communication!
I totally feel your frustration! I'm new to this whole PFML process and have been having the exact same login errors since Tuesday. Like you said, it's absolutely ridiculous that we have to rely on Twitter posts and community forums to find out when their systems are down. A simple banner on their main website would solve so many problems! I'm really grateful for this thread too - without everyone sharing info here, I would have been completely lost and probably would have panicked about missing my claim deadline. I'm definitely going to try the Firefox suggestion and bookmark that direct PFML phone number for future reference. Hopefully once the maintenance is done tomorrow evening, we can all finally get our claims filed without any more headaches!
I'm having the exact same login issues! Been trying to access my PFML weekly claim since Tuesday and keep getting that "Unable to process your request" error through SecureAccess. This thread has been so helpful - I had no idea there was scheduled maintenance happening since I don't follow their Twitter account. It's really frustrating that ESD doesn't communicate these outages better on their main website. I was starting to panic about missing my filing deadline, but knowing about the 3-day extension is such a relief! I'm going to try the Firefox browser tip and going directly to paidleave.wa.gov once the system is back up tomorrow evening. Thanks to everyone for sharing all the helpful phone numbers and workarounds - this community is way more responsive than ESD's actual support channels!
Join the conversation
I'm dealing with this exact same confusion! Filed my claim about a week ago and have been refreshing my eServices account multiple times a day trying to figure out what's happening. The "determination pending" status had me panicking that I messed something up in my application. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - it's clear this is just how the Washington ESD system works, not that we're doing anything wrong. I finally found my monetary determination letter in correspondence after reading this thread, and it shows I'm approved for $302/week. Still waiting on that first payment but now I know that's totally normal. It's honestly ridiculous that in 2025 we need community threads like this just to understand basic benefit status information. The website UX is genuinely terrible - there should be a simple dashboard showing "APPROVED" or "PENDING" right when you log in, not this treasure hunt through multiple sections!
I'm in the exact same situation! Filed my claim 5 days ago and have been obsessively checking eServices trying to decode what everything means. The lack of a simple status dashboard is so frustrating - like you said, just a basic "APPROVED/PENDING/DENIED" indicator would solve so much confusion. I haven't found my monetary determination letter yet but now I know exactly what to look for thanks to everyone's shared experiences here. It's honestly mind-blowing that we need to rely on community discussions to understand our own government benefits in 2025. The Washington ESD really needs to hire some UX designers!
I'm in the exact same boat as everyone here! Filed my claim 10 days ago and have been completely lost trying to figure out if I'm approved or not. The Washington ESD website is absolutely terrible for showing clear status - I've been checking multiple times a day and getting more confused each time. After reading through this whole thread, I finally understand that the monetary determination letter in correspondence is the key document. Just found mine buried in there and it shows $318/week approved for 26 weeks! Still no payment yet but knowing that 1-3 week delays are totally normal has taken so much stress off my shoulders. It's honestly insane that we need community discussions like this just to understand basic information about our own claims. The fact that so many newcomers are asking the exact same questions shows this is clearly a design problem with the ESD system, not user error. This thread should seriously be turned into an official guide because it's more helpful than anything on their actual website!
Daniel Rogers
Remote work unemployment claims are processed the same way as any other claim. The only potential complication is if there's confusion about which state you should file in, but since you're a Washington resident that's not an issue for you.
0 coins
Avery Flores
•Perfect, that's exactly what I needed to know. Going to file my claim this weekend.
0 coins
Daniel Rogers
•Good luck! The online filing system is pretty straightforward once you get started.
0 coins
Kennedy Morrison
I went through this exact situation last year - worked remotely for a New York company while living in Washington. Filed with Washington ESD without any issues. The key thing is that your employer should have been paying Washington unemployment insurance taxes since you're a resident here. When you file, they'll verify this automatically through their interstate system. Just make sure you have your employment documentation ready and be prepared to explain your remote work arrangement if they ask during the application process.
0 coins
Luca Conti
•That's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing! Did you have any issues with the job search requirements since you were looking for remote positions? I'm wondering if I need to focus on local jobs or if remote applications nationwide count toward the weekly requirements.
0 coins
Landon Flounder
•Remote job applications definitely count toward your weekly search requirements! I applied to positions all over the country and Washington ESD had no issues with it. Just make sure to document each application properly in your job search log - include the company name, position title, date applied, and method of application. The fact that it's remote work actually gives you more opportunities to meet the search requirements since you're not limited to just local openings.
0 coins