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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!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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Just to add one more helpful resource - the Family Readiness Group (FRG) at JBLM often has informal networks where military spouses share job leads and advice about navigating the local employment scene. I found my current job through a connection I made at an FRG coffee meetup! Also, if you're looking at federal employment opportunities, USAJobs often has positions at JBLM and in the greater Tacoma/Seattle area that give preference to military spouses. The combination of unemployment benefits while actively networking and job searching really helped me land on my feet after our PCS. Don't underestimate the power of connecting with other military families who understand exactly what you're going through with this transition!
This is such great advice about tapping into the FRG networks! I hadn't really thought about how valuable those informal connections could be for job searching. The USAJobs military spouse preference is something I definitely want to look into - having that advantage in federal hiring could really open up opportunities. It's so helpful to hear from someone who successfully used the combination of unemployment benefits and networking to land a good position. I'm starting to feel like this transition might actually be an opportunity to find something even better than what I had before. Thanks for sharing your experience and reminding me that other military families really do understand this unique situation!
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that Washington ESD also allows you to file your claim online even before your first day of unemployment if you know your last day of work in advance. Since military moves usually come with some advance notice through PCS orders, you can actually get your application submitted and processed while you're still wrapping up your previous job. This can help reduce any gap in income once you're actually unemployed and looking for work in Washington. I did this when we moved here last year and it made the transition much smoother financially. Just make sure your last day of work and your move date align properly in your application!
That's such a smart tip about filing before your actual last day of work! I never would have thought of that, but it makes perfect sense for military moves since we usually have that advance notice through PCS orders. Reducing the income gap during transition would be huge - even a few days or weeks can make a big difference when you're dealing with moving expenses and getting settled in a new place. I'll definitely keep this in mind as I plan out my timeline. Did you have to provide any specific documentation about your end date when you filed early, or was it pretty straightforward with the PCS orders?
It was pretty straightforward! I just had to provide the PCS orders showing our move date and my planned last day of work. The Washington ESD system is set up to handle this kind of advance filing since it's common for military families. Just make sure the dates on your orders match what you put in your application. The key is being accurate about when your unemployment actually begins - you can't collect benefits for days you're still employed, but having the claim already processed and approved means payments can start right away once you're actually unemployed. It really did help with the transition stress!
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For anyone else reading this thread in the future, here are some proven strategies for contacting ESD in 2025: 1. Call at 8:00am sharp when they first open (or 7:59am as someone mentioned) 2. If your issue is urgent (eviction, utilities being shut off), make sure to mention this 3. Keep your claim ID number, last 4 of SSN, and specific issue details ready 4. If you can't get through after multiple attempts, contact your state representative 5. Always document every contact attempt with date/time for reference 6. Check if your issue can be resolved through the eServices portal 7. Prepare for a potential 30-60 minute hold time once you do connect Staying calm and being specific about your issue when you do reach someone will help get your problem resolved more quickly.
I've been dealing with this same nightmare for the past 2 weeks! After reading through all these suggestions, I finally got through yesterday using a combination of the tips here. Called at exactly 8:00am, selected option 1 then 4, and waited on hold for almost an hour. The agent was able to see that my claim had been flagged for identity verification even though I never received any notice about it. She walked me through uploading documents right there on the call and said it should process within 48 hours. Dylan, so glad you got through too! For anyone still struggling - persistence really is key, and having all your info ready makes the call go much smoother once you do connect. Don't give up!
Thank you for sharing your experience Dana! It's so frustrating that they don't send notices about identity verification flags - how are we supposed to know what's wrong if they don't tell us? I'm going to try your exact approach tomorrow morning. Did the agent mention why these identity verification flags are happening so frequently? It seems like a lot of people are getting stuck on this step without any notification.
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I went through the same thing a few months ago. The frustration is real! One tip that helped me - if you do try calling at 8am, have the number already dialed and hit call at exactly 8:00:00. Even a few seconds late and you'll be stuck in the queue forever. Also, don't hang up if you get the busy signal - sometimes it will actually connect you after a minute or two. The system is definitely broken but these little tricks can help you work around it.
That's a great tip about having the number already dialed! I never thought about timing it that precisely. The busy signal trick is good to know too - I always hung up immediately when I heard that. Thanks for sharing these workarounds, every little bit helps when dealing with this mess of a system.
This is super helpful! I've been making the mistake of calling a few minutes after 8am thinking it wouldn't matter. And I definitely always hung up on the busy signal - had no idea it might actually connect. Going to try both of these tips tomorrow morning. Really appreciate you sharing what actually worked for you instead of just the usual "keep trying" advice.
I had the exact same problem last year and ended up having to get creative. After weeks of trying to call, I actually contacted my state representative's office and they have a constituent services team that can help with state agency issues. They reached out to Washington ESD on my behalf and got a response within 3 days. It's not guaranteed but it's worth a shot if you've exhausted other options. You can find your rep on the Washington State Legislature website. Sometimes going through a different channel gets you faster results than the normal system.
This is such a game-changer tip! I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get through to Washington ESD for over two weeks now. I never even considered that my state representative could help with something like this. It's frustrating that we have to go around the system like this, but if it works, it works. I'm going to look up my rep today and give their office a call. Did you have to provide any specific documentation when you contacted them, or just explain your situation?
This is such great advice! I never would have thought to contact my state representative for help with unemployment issues. It makes total sense though - they have the connections and influence to actually get things moving when the regular system fails us. I'm dealing with a similar situation where my claim has been stuck in adjudication for over a month with no clear explanation. I'm definitely going to look up my representative tomorrow and give this a try. It's sad that we have to work around the system like this, but sometimes you have to be creative to get results. Thanks for sharing what actually worked instead of just the usual "keep calling" advice!
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Thanks for this additional information! I was able to find my 1099-G following everyone's advice, but this is good to know for future reference. I appreciate all the help from everyone!
Just wanted to share another tip for anyone still having trouble - if you're using a mobile device to access the ESD website, sometimes the 1099-G section doesn't display properly. I had this issue last month and switching to a desktop computer made all the difference. The mobile version of their site seems to hide some menu options or they don't load correctly. Also, make sure you're not using an outdated browser - I've found that Chrome or Firefox work best with the ESD portal. Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through!
That's such a helpful tip about the mobile vs desktop issue! I've noticed this with other government websites too - they often don't work well on phones. Your point about browser compatibility is spot on. I had a similar experience with another state portal where switching from Safari to Chrome made everything work properly. Thanks for sharing this - it could save people a lot of headaches when they're already stressed about tax season!
Jason Brewer
I went through almost the exact same situation last year - 4 months in adjudication hell with a former employer who was clearly stalling. What finally broke things loose for me was a combination approach: 1. Filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office about my employer's bad faith handling of unemployment claims (they have a worker protection unit) 2. Contacted my state senator's office using their online constituent services form - way more effective than calling 3. Sent a certified letter to ESD's main office in Olympia with copies of all my documentation The key thing that seemed to make the difference was when the senator's office got involved - they have a direct liaison with ESD leadership. My claim was approved within 2 weeks of their intervention. Also, start documenting the financial hardship this delay is causing you (late fees, potential eviction notices, etc.). Sometimes showing the real-world impact helps prioritize your case. Hang in there - I know how desperate and helpless this feels, but you will get through it!
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KhalilStar
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you! I'm definitely going to try the multi-pronged approach you described. Filing a complaint with the Attorney General's office is something I hadn't considered - I didn't even know they had a worker protection unit. Do you happen to remember what specific section or form you used when you filed that complaint? And the certified letter idea is great too - having a paper trail that goes directly to Olympia leadership could definitely help get attention. I'm so tired of being stuck in this endless loop with no one taking responsibility for the delays.
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Julian Paolo
I feel your pain - I just went through this exact nightmare myself. Was stuck in adjudication for 2.5 months while my former employer dragged their feet responding to ESD's requests. Here's what finally worked for me: The most effective thing was contacting the ESD Ombuds office that Eleanor mentioned, but here's the key - when you call them at 844-395-6697, ask specifically to speak with an ombudsman about "employer non-responsiveness causing claim delays." They have special procedures for cases where employers are clearly stalling. Also, when you contact your senator's office (which I highly recommend), mention that you're facing imminent eviction/homelessness. They have emergency protocols for constituents in crisis situations. My senator's caseworker actually called ESD while I was on the phone and got my claim moved to "priority review." One more tip - if you can prove your employer has a pattern of disputing all unemployment claims (like the HR person telling you it's company policy), that's actually evidence of bad faith that can work in your favor. Document that conversation if you can remember details about when/who said it. Don't give up - the system is awful but people do get through it. You've got this!
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