Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
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
If I could give 10 stars I would
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!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
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!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
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!
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 :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
Don't forget about taxes on your unemployment benefits. Washington doesn't tax unemployment but the federal government does. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later when you file your tax return.
Should I have taxes withheld or pay them later?
Depends on your situation, but having them withheld saves you from a big tax bill later. You can always change the election if your circumstances change.
File your claim this week if possible. Benefits are backdated to when you first became unemployed, but only if you file within a reasonable time. Don't wait thinking you'll find a job quickly - you can always stop claiming if you find work.
That's good advice. I was thinking about waiting to see if I could find something quickly, but you're right that I can always stop if I find work.
Exactly. And if you do find work while collecting benefits, just make sure to report any wages on your weekly claims. Working part-time while on unemployment is allowed as long as you report it.
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One thing to remember is that if you do get denied for any reason, you can appeal the decision. Don't just accept a denial if you think you qualify - fight it.
How long do you have to file an appeal if you get denied?
I think it's 30 days from the date of the determination letter. Don't wait though - file as soon as you can if you disagree with their decision.
The Washington ESD online system is actually pretty good for checking your claim status once you file. Much better than trying to call for updates on routine stuff.
Good to know! Hopefully I won't need to use it but it's nice to know the online system works well.
Yeah, you can see your payment history, claim status, upload documents, all that stuff online. Makes the process much easier than it used to be.
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One last thing - after you file your initial claim, you'll need to complete an eligibility interview either online or by phone. Don't ignore those notifications or your claim could be delayed.
Thanks for mentioning that! I'll make sure to stay on top of any follow-up requirements.
The eligibility interview is usually pretty quick, just basic questions about why you lost your job and your availability to work.
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Just remember that if she runs into issues with her claim or has questions, getting through to Washington ESD can be really frustrating. I ended up using Claimyr to help me get connected when I had problems with my claim status. Way easier than trying to call directly.
Several people have mentioned Claimyr now. I'll keep that in mind if she runs into problems.
Yeah, it's pretty common for people to have trouble reaching Washington ESD. The call volume is always high.
Bottom line: unemployment benefits are earned insurance that provides temporary income replacement while you search for work. Nothing more complicated than that. Your sister earned this benefit by working and paying into the system.
Thanks everyone. I think I have enough good explanations now to help her understand it properly.
Good luck to your sister. Hope she finds something new soon!
Daniel Rogers
Make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and what you actually receive. The weekly benefit amount is the maximum you can get, but if you have any earnings or other deductions it will be less.
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Alexis Robinson
•That makes sense. So the number they give me is like the ceiling, not necessarily what I'll get every week.
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Daniel Rogers
•Exactly. And remember to report any income honestly - they will catch it eventually if you don't.
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Aaliyah Reed
Bottom line - your weekly benefit amount depends on your earnings in the highest quarter of your base year. For most people it ends up being around 40-50% of what they were making per week when they were working. Not great but better than nothing.
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Alexis Robinson
•Thanks everyone for all the info! This has been super helpful. I feel like I actually understand how this works now.
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Aaliyah Reed
•No problem! Good luck with your claim and job search. Hope you get back to work soon.
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