


Ask the community...
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.
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.
Washington state benefits are actually pretty decent compared to some other states. My sister lives in Florida and gets way less there.
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.
Just to summarize for anyone else reading this: Unemployment = for people who lost their job and are looking for work. Paid Family Leave = for people who need time off but plan to return to their job. Two totally different programs through Washington ESD.
Liam Cortez
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.
0 coins
Jessica Suarez
•Same here! Really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain everything. Makes the whole thing seem less scary.
0 coins
Savannah Vin
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.
0 coins
Jessica Suarez
•That's exactly what I'm hoping for - just enough breathing room to find something good instead of panicking. Thanks for the encouragement!
0 coins