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Just wanted to say this thread has been super helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was dreading the whole process but now I feel like I have a better idea of what to expect. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.
Good luck OP! The process can be frustrating but stick with it. Having that safety net while you job hunt makes a huge difference in reducing stress and giving you time to find the right opportunity instead of just taking the first thing that comes along.
One thing to keep in mind is that you have to keep certifying every week and meet the job search requirements to keep getting benefits. It's not just free money - you have to show you're actively looking for work.
Remember that your weekly claim certification is basically you swearing under penalty of perjury that all your answers are true. Take it seriously and answer honestly. The consequences for unemployment fraud can be severe including having to pay back benefits plus penalties.
Good luck with your claim! The process seems overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine of filing weekly it becomes second nature. Just stay on top of the job search requirements and keep good records of everything.
One more thing - if you move to a different state while collecting Washington unemployment, you might owe state income tax in your new state even though Washington doesn't have one. Just something to consider.
Just to close this out - I successfully changed my tax withholding election online through the Washington ESD website. Took about 5 minutes once I logged into SecureAccess Washington. The change will take effect with my next payment.
Zoe Papadakis
Washington state benefits are actually pretty decent compared to some other states. My sister lives in Florida and gets way less there.
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ThunderBolt7
•Yeah Washington has one of the higher maximum benefits in the country. We're lucky here.
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Jamal Edwards
One last thing - if anyone runs into issues with their claim or has questions about their benefit amount, that Claimyr service really does work. I was skeptical at first but it beat spending hours on hold. They called me back within a few hours and I got connected to an actual Washington ESD representative who could look up my account.
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Ravi Patel
•Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into any problems.
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Mei Chen
•Same here - was way better than trying to get through the regular way. Wish I'd known about it sooner.
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