Call ESD

Washington Unemployment

Pay nothing until a live ESD agent is on the phone with you.

Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr calls for you, so you don't have to wait on hold.

$0 upfront. We only hold your card.
No live agent, no charge.

$19.99 is charged only once a live ESD agent is on the phone with you.

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
Fox KTVUABC 7CBSSan Francisco Chronicle


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 :)

Jamal Anderson

What was unemployment rate during Trump years - how does it affect Washington ESD benefits?

I keep hearing people talk about unemployment rates during different presidential terms and I'm confused about how this affects my Washington ESD claim. Does the national unemployment rate impact how much I can get in benefits or how long I can collect? My claim got approved last month but I'm only getting $362 a week which seems low compared to what I was making. Is there a connection between the unemployment rate and benefit amounts in Washington state?

thanks everyone for explaining this. i was also confused but now i get it. unemployment rate = big picture economy stuff. my benefits = my personal wage history. simple enough

0 coins

Perfect summary! That's exactly right.

0 coins

Update: I'm going to call Washington ESD tomorrow to check on my wage records. If I can't get through I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Thanks for all the help!

0 coins

Good luck! Hope you get it sorted out quickly.

0 coins

let us know how it goes! curious if they find missing wages

0 coins

Ethan Brown

Washington ESD unemployment can't get through phone lines - tried everything

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for over two weeks about my unemployment claim and I literally can't get through to a human. The automated system either hangs up on me or puts me on hold for 3+ hours before disconnecting. I've tried calling at 8am sharp, during lunch, late afternoon - nothing works. My claim has been pending adjudication for a month now and I desperately need to speak with someone about missing documentation they supposedly need. Has anyone actually gotten through recently? What's the secret because I'm about to lose my mind here.

honestly at this point I'm just going to try that claimyr thing too, this is ridiculous

0 coins

I already signed up for it, we'll see how it goes

0 coins

Hope it works as well for you as it did for me!

0 coins

Thanks for this thread everyone, at least now I know I'm not doing something wrong with my calling strategy. The system is just overwhelmed.

0 coins

Exactly, good to know it's not user error on our part

0 coins

The system definitely has capacity issues. Hang in there, you'll get through eventually

0 coins

Anastasia Fedorov

Washington ESD unemployment qualification - how much do I need to make to qualify for unemployment benefits?

I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington state. I worked part-time for about 8 months last year making around $18,000 total. Is there a minimum amount you need to earn to be eligible? I've been looking at the Washington ESD website but the base year calculations are confusing me. Can someone explain this in simple terms?

I wish they would just send you a letter telling you exactly how much you earned in each quarter instead of making you guess

0 coins

How do you request it? Online or do you have to call?

0 coins

There should be an option in your eServices account, or you can request it by phone if you can get through.

0 coins

Thanks everyone for the helpful info. I think I understand the requirements better now. Going to gather all my wage info and file my claim this weekend.

0 coins

Same here! This thread was really helpful in understanding what I need.

0 coins

Hope it goes smoothly for both of you. The hardest part is usually just getting started.

0 coins

Olivia Harris

How much will I get on unemployment benefits from Washington ESD?

I just got laid off from my retail job last week and I'm trying to figure out how much I'll get from Washington ESD unemployment. I was making about $18 an hour working about 30-35 hours a week. Does anyone know how they calculate the weekly benefit amount? I heard it's based on your highest quarter but I'm not sure what that means exactly. Also do I need to include tips in my income calculation? I'm really stressed about making rent next month.

One last thing - keep all your documentation! Pay stubs, termination notice, any correspondence from Washington ESD. You might need it later if there are any questions about your claim or if you need to appeal anything.

0 coins

Will do. I've been saving everything just in case.

0 coins

Smart! It's better to have too much documentation than not enough when dealing with Washington ESD.

0 coins

Hope everything works out for you! The unemployment system can be stressful but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims and doing job searches it becomes pretty manageable. Just stay on top of the requirements and you should be fine.

0 coins

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! This thread has been really informative.

0 coins

You're welcome! Feel free to ask if you run into any other questions as you go through the process.

0 coins

Zara Shah

Can you file taxes on Washington ESD unemployment benefits - need help with tax forms

I received unemployment benefits from Washington ESD for about 8 months last year and now I'm trying to figure out how to handle this on my taxes. Do I need to report all the UI payments I got? Washington ESD sent me some kind of tax form but I'm not sure what to do with it. Has anyone dealt with filing taxes after getting unemployment? I'm worried I'm going to mess something up and get in trouble with the IRS.

Does anyone know if state disability payments are taxable the same way as regular UI? I got both last year and want to make sure I report everything correctly.

0 coins

State disability benefits generally aren't taxable at the federal level, but regular unemployment benefits are. You should receive separate forms for each type of benefit.

0 coins

That's what I thought but wanted to double check. Thanks for confirming!

0 coins

Final update: Got my taxes filed successfully! The 1099-G from Washington ESD made it pretty straightforward once I had all the right forms. Thanks everyone for the help and advice.

0 coins

jealous... still working on mine and dreading how much im gonna owe

0 coins

Hang in there! It's not as complicated as it seems once you get started.

0 coins

Prev1...818819820821822...2231Next