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Final reminder that getting through to Washington ESD by phone can be really challenging during busy periods. If you're having trouble connecting, that Claimyr service at claimyr.com can save you hours of calling and redialing. Worth considering if you need answers quickly.
For anyone struggling to reach Washington ESD about payment delays or other issues, I had success with Claimyr after trying to call for weeks on my own. They helped me get through when I had an overpayment question that was holding up my benefits.
The weekly schedule is nice once you get used to it but man those first few weeks waiting for everything to process are stressful. Hang in there OP, it gets more predictable.
The benefit amount can also change if you go back to work part-time while collecting. They have this formula where they reduce your benefits based on what you earn, but you can still collect something as long as you're under a certain threshold.
Bottom line - there's no simple percentage answer because Washington ESD uses a complex calculation based on your work history. Your best bet is to use their online calculator or call them directly for an accurate estimate. Just be prepared for long hold times if you call!
Good luck with your claim! The process can be confusing but once you get through the initial filing it's pretty straightforward.
If you run into any issues getting through to Washington ESD, definitely check out that Claimyr thing. Wish I'd known about it sooner - would have saved me so much time on hold.
Been following this thread and wanted to mention that I also had success with Claimyr when I was having trouble reaching Washington ESD about my weekly claim certification issues. The regular phone lines were impossible but their service got me connected pretty quickly.
Final thought - make sure you understand the difference between your base period and benefit year. These are different time periods and it can affect when you're eligible to file a new claim versus continuing an existing one.
Zainab Mahmoud
One thing to keep in mind is that disaster unemployment typically has a 7-day waiting period just like regular UI, so don't expect payments immediately even if you get approved quickly. Plan accordingly for that gap.
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Jamal Brown
•Good to know about the waiting period. Every piece of timeline information helps with planning finances right now.
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Yeah it's frustrating when you need money immediately, but at least knowing the timeline helps you plan for other assistance in the meantime.
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Ava Williams
Thanks everyone for all this information! This thread has been way more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website on my own. I'm going to start a regular unemployment application today while keeping an eye out for disaster unemployment announcements.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•Smart approach! Starting with regular UI gives you the best chance of getting some income flowing while you wait to see what disaster options become available.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Good luck with everything! The process can be overwhelming but having some income coming in makes a huge difference while you're dealing with disaster recovery.
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