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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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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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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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Has anyone here successfully transitioned to gig work or freelancing before their benefits ran out? I'm wondering if that's a viable option to bridge the gap while still looking for permanent employment.
Yes you have to report it, but you might still get partial benefits depending on how much you earn. Could be worth looking into if you're getting close to exhaustion.
Just make sure you understand the working while collecting rules before you start any gig work. Washington ESD has specific formulas for how outside income affects your weekly benefit amount.
Bottom line is that yes, unemployment benefits can and do run out. Plan accordingly, don't wait until the last minute to explore other options, and remember that this situation is temporary even though it doesn't feel like it when you're living through it.
Thanks everyone for all the advice and perspective. It helps to know I'm not alone in dealing with this stress. I'm going to check my benefit balance tomorrow and start making some backup plans.
Good luck OP! Keep us posted on how things work out. This thread has been really helpful for me too as someone else facing the same situation.
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Final thought - once you file, you'll get a monetary determination letter showing your weekly benefit amount and total benefits available. Keep that somewhere safe.
How long does it take to get that letter usually?
Usually within a week of filing if there are no issues with your claim.
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If you're not sure about something, it's better to ask than guess wrong. The penalties for making mistakes can be serious, especially if they think you did it on purpose.
How do I get help if I have questions? Calling seems impossible.
That's where services like Claimyr come in handy. Sometimes you really do need to talk to a person to get things sorted out properly.
One last thing - keep checking your account regularly for any messages or requests for information. If Washington ESD asks for something, respond quickly or your benefits could be delayed or stopped.
Thank you everyone for all this help. I feel much more confident about getting started now.
You're welcome! Come back if you have more questions. We've all been there.
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just wanted to add that the 26 weeks resets if you work enough hours and earn enough wages to qualify for a new benefit year. so if you find work for a while then get laid off again, you could potentially get another 26 weeks
you need to earn at least $3,400 in covered wages during your base period and work in at least two quarters. the exact requirements can be complicated so best to check with washington esd
This is where having a reliable way to contact ESD comes in handy. All these qualification questions are easier to get answered when you can actually reach someone. That Claimyr service mentioned earlier has been a lifesaver for getting through to agents when I had questions about my base period earnings.
One more thing - make sure you understand the difference between your benefit week and your benefit year. Your benefit year is 52 weeks from when you first filed, but you only get up to 26 weeks of actual payments during that year.
Exactly. If you find work after 10 weeks and then get laid off again 6 months later, you'd only have 16 weeks left in that benefit year (assuming you still qualify).
this is why its so important to understand all the rules upfront. wish washington esd made this stuff clearer on their website
Giovanni Rossi
One more thing - if you do end up needing to file for unemployment in the future, do it as soon as possible after losing your job. There's a waiting period and benefits don't start immediately, so the sooner you file the better.
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StarSeeker
•Good to know for future reference. Hopefully I won't need it but it's good to understand the process.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Exactly. Better to know and not need it than need it and not know!
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
Summary for anyone else reading this: You need sufficient earnings in your base period (not just time at one job), you need to be unemployed through no fault of your own, and you need to actively search for work. Quitting usually disqualifies you unless you have documented good cause.
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StarSeeker
•Perfect summary! This thread has been super helpful in understanding how it all works.
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