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One more thing to add - the unemployment insurance system also helps stabilize the economy during recessions by providing income support to displaced workers.
For anyone still struggling to reach Washington ESD, I second the recommendation for Claimyr. It's frustrating that we need a third-party service to access government benefits, but sometimes you have to work with the system as it exists.
Quick tip - when you do your phone interview with Washington ESD (if they schedule one), be prepared to explain your side of the story clearly and calmly. They want to understand what really happened.
Final thought - even if your initial claim gets denied, don't give up. The appeal process exists for a reason and many people win on appeal, especially in termination cases where the employer can't prove actual misconduct occurred.
Don't forget that eligibility can change week to week. Even if you're initially approved, you need to meet the eligibility requirements every week you claim benefits. If you become unavailable for work, stop looking for jobs, or refuse suitable work, you could lose eligibility for future weeks even if your initial claim was approved.
That makes sense. So it's not just about getting approved initially, but maintaining eligibility throughout your claim period.
Based on everything you've described - being laid off due to downsizing, having 18 months of work history at $45k annually - you should definitely qualify for Washington ESD unemployment benefits. Your earnings will easily meet the base period wage requirements, and being downsized clearly qualifies as unemployed through no fault of your own. I'd recommend applying as soon as possible since there's a waiting period anyway, and the sooner you apply, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.
Thank you everyone for all this detailed information! I feel much more confident about applying now that I understand the requirements better.
Raul Neal
One more thing - make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while appealing. If you win the appeal, you can get backpay, but only for weeks you filed claims.
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Freya Ross
•I didn't know that! I stopped filing claims after the denial. I'll start filing again immediately.
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Raul Neal
•Yes, always keep filing even during appeals. It's one of the most important things people forget to do.
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Jenna Sloan
just went through this whole mess myself. turned out washington esd had wrong information from my employer and once i got that corrected everything went through fine. the key is finding out exactly what they think happened vs what actually happened
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Freya Ross
•That's probably exactly what happened to me. Now I just need to figure out how to get through to someone to find out what information they have.
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Savanna Franklin
•Seriously consider the Claimyr callback service. It's specifically designed for this kind of situation where you need to reach Washington ESD but can't get through the regular phone lines.
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