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.
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 :)
Why am I disqualified from unemployment - Washington ESD won't explain
Got a letter from Washington ESD saying I'm disqualified but they won't tell me exactly why. The letter just says 'failure to meet eligibility requirements' but doesn't specify what I did wrong. I worked at a retail store for 8 months before they laid me off due to budget cuts. I filed my weekly claims on time and reported my job search activities. Has anyone else dealt with this? How do I find out the specific reason so I can appeal it?
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Can you work while collecting unemployment benefits in Washington?
I'm currently receiving unemployment benefits through Washington ESD and got offered some part-time work at a local retail store. I want to take it but I'm confused about whether I can work while still collecting unemployment. Do I need to report the earnings? Will they reduce my benefits or cut me off completely? I've been getting $487 per week and really need to keep some income coming in while I look for full-time work. Has anyone done this before?
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Bottom line - you can definitely work part-time while collecting unemployment in Washington. Just be honest about your earnings, keep looking for full-time work, and you should be fine. Thousands of people do this successfully.
Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I feel much more confident about taking this part-time job now.
Good luck with the new job! Part-time work can be a great bridge while you're looking for something full-time.
One last tip - if you're ever unsure about something with partial unemployment, it's better to call and ask than to guess wrong. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it was way easier than trying to get through on my own. The agents are usually pretty helpful once you actually reach them.
Definitely keeping that in mind! Better to get the right information upfront than deal with problems later.
Does Washington ESD unemployment benefits count as taxable income?
I've been collecting unemployment benefits for about 8 weeks now and just realized I should probably be thinking about taxes. Does Washington ESD unemployment tax these benefits? I know some states don't tax unemployment but I'm not sure about Washington. Should I be setting money aside or having taxes withheld? My weekly benefit amount is $647 and I don't want to get hit with a huge tax bill next year.
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Just wanted to follow up and say I successfully set up federal tax withholding on my Washington ESD account online. The process was pretty straightforward once I found the right section. Look under 'Payment Information' in your account dashboard.
Awesome, thanks for the update! I'll look for that section when I log in.
Thank you for posting the exact location! I've been looking all over for where to set this up.
One more thing to consider - if you're planning to return to work soon and will only be on unemployment for a short time, you might not need to worry as much about withholding. But if you're looking at being on benefits for several months like I am, definitely set up that tax withholding.
I'm honestly not sure how long I'll be on benefits. Job market is pretty tough right now so I think I'll set up the withholding just to be safe.
Better safe than sorry with taxes. I learned that lesson the hard way a few years ago with a different situation.
When will I get my Washington ESD unemployment check - timing questions
Filed my initial claim with Washington ESD two weeks ago and still haven't received any payment. My claim shows as approved but I'm not sure when the actual check or direct deposit is supposed to come through. I've been doing my weekly claims on time every Sunday. Should I be worried that something's wrong or is this normal timing? Really need to know when I can expect my first unemployment payment.
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make sure your address is correct in the system too. friend of mine had payments delayed because his address was wrong
Good point, I'll double check that. Though I have direct deposit so address shouldn't matter for the actual payment.
true but sometimes they mail important notices to that address so it's still good to make sure it's right
Got terminated from job - can I still collect Washington ESD unemployment benefits?
My manager let me go yesterday after 2 years at my warehouse job. They said it was due to 'performance issues' but honestly I think they just wanted to cut costs since they've been laying people off. I've never been fired before so I'm not sure if I can even apply for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD. Does getting terminated automatically disqualify you? I really need the income while I look for something new.
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Just remember that even if you qualify for unemployment, you still need to actively look for work and report your job search activities. Washington ESD takes that requirement seriously.
I think it's 3 job search activities per week but check the current requirements when you file your claim.
And keep good records of your job search activities. They can audit you at any time and ask for proof.
Best of luck OP! Getting fired is never fun but at least unemployment benefits can help bridge the gap while you find something better. The system isn't perfect but it does work for situations like yours.
Thanks for all the support everyone. Feeling much more confident about applying now. Will update once I hear back from Washington ESD!
Please do update us! Always good to hear success stories to help the next person in your situation.
Nina Chan
Whatever you do, don't give up. I know it's frustrating but these disqualifications can often be overturned if you have good documentation and persistence. The appeal process works if you follow it correctly.
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Owen Jenkins
AuthorThanks for the encouragement. I'm going to file the appeal tomorrow and keep trying to reach someone who can explain the specific reason.
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Ruby Knight
That's the right approach. Document everything and keep copies of all communications. You'll need a paper trail for the appeal hearing.
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Diego Castillo
Just wanted to add that I used Claimyr recently when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my adjudication issue. Took about 2 hours but they got me connected to an agent who was able to explain exactly what was holding up my claim. Might be worth trying for your situation.
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Owen Jenkins
AuthorI keep hearing about this service. At this point I'm willing to try anything to get answers. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Logan Stewart
Same here - used it last month when my claim got stuck. The agent was able to clear up a misunderstanding about my job search activities in about 10 minutes once I finally got through.
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