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The approval process has gotten more efficient over the years but there are still delays sometimes. If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth looking into. I used it when I had a complex situation and needed to speak with an actual person.
I might need that if I run into issues. Good to know there's an option to actually talk to someone without spending all day on hold.
Bottom line: be honest, file quickly, keep good records, and don't panic if there are delays. The system works but it takes patience. Most people who qualify do get approved eventually.
Try calling multiple numbers at the same time if you have access to different phones. I use my cell phone and landline simultaneously to double my chances.
Honestly at this point I'm considering that Claimyr service too. I've wasted so many hours trying to call that it would probably save me time and stress in the long run.
One more thing - if you do get laid off, file your claim immediately. Benefits can be backdated but only for a limited time, and there's usually a waiting week before payments start.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! This thread has been really educational. Hopefully I won't need to use any of this knowledge, but at least now I know what to expect if layoffs do happen.
Dylan Mitchell
Another thing to check - if you received any severance pay or vacation payout when you were laid off, that might affect when your unemployment benefits start or how they're calculated.
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StarStrider
•I got 2 weeks severance. Does that mean I have to wait 2 weeks before I can collect unemployment?
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Dylan Mitchell
•It depends on how the severance was structured. Some severance delays when you can start collecting, others are just added income. You'd need to check with Washington ESD about your specific situation.
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Sofia Morales
Has anyone had success appealing their benefit calculation? Mine seems way too low based on what I was earning but I don't know if it's worth the hassle to appeal.
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Andre Dupont
•I didn't appeal but I did get mine corrected when I provided additional wage documentation. If you think there's an error it's definitely worth pursuing.
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Mateo Hernandez
•Before appealing, I'd suggest calling Washington ESD to understand exactly how they calculated your benefits. That's where Claimyr really helped me - I was able to get a detailed explanation of my calculation and it turned out to be correct.
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