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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!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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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!
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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.
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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 :)
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So glad you got it sorted out! This thread is gold - I've been bookmarking all these tips for future reference. The technical support line number is especially useful since I had no idea that existed. It's crazy how many hoops we have to jump through just to access our own accounts, but at least there are workarounds. Thanks for updating us on the resolution!
Totally agree! This whole thread should be pinned or something - so many useful solutions in one place. I'm definitely saving that technical support number too. It's ridiculous that we have to become IT experts just to file for unemployment, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people actually help each other out instead of just complaining. Really shows the power of crowdsourced problem-solving!
This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with similar login issues right now and was getting so frustrated. The technical support line number is a game changer - I had no idea there was a separate line for technical issues vs. claims. Also really appreciate the tip about using Firefox instead of Chrome and trying to access the site during off-peak hours. It's reassuring to know that even if calls get dropped, the agents might still complete the processing on their end. Definitely going to try these solutions before I lose my mind with this system!
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One more thing to add: during your WorkSource appointment, ask them specifically about the job search requirements for your industry. Construction often has different considerations because of its seasonal nature. If you already have a return-to-work date, bring documentation from your employer stating when you'll return (exact date is important). This can help you qualify for standby status, which would exempt you from job search requirements for a specific period. The maximum standby period in Washington is normally 8 weeks, but there are sometimes extensions for certain industries like construction.
Thank you! I just texted my foreman and he's going to email me something on company letterhead with my return date. Fingers crossed for standby status!
Hey Sophia! I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago when I was between construction jobs. The WorkSource appointment is really nothing to stress about - it's basically just them explaining the system and resources available to you. Since you mentioned you're in construction and have work lined up in May, definitely bring documentation of your return-to-work date like others have mentioned. That standby status can be a game changer! Also, don't worry too much about not having done job searches yet - they usually give you a grace period right after approval, but definitely start doing them now just to be safe. The 3 activities per week sounds scary but it can be as simple as creating/updating profiles on job sites, attending virtual job fairs, or even networking contacts. You've got this!
Thanks Ava! That's really reassuring to hear from someone who's been through the same situation in construction. I'm feeling way less anxious about it now. Good to know about the networking counting as job search activities too - I have a bunch of contacts in the industry so that should help me meet the requirements if I don't get standby status. Really appreciate everyone's advice on this thread!
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One last thing - if you're ever dealing with Washington ESD as an employer or employee and need to get through their phone system, that Claimyr service someone mentioned really does work. Used it myself when I had questions about a contested claim.
Good to know there are options for actually reaching someone at Washington ESD when needed.
Yeah the regular phone system is pretty much impossible during busy periods. Having a service handle the waiting makes a huge difference.
Bottom line - don't feel guilty about filing for unemployment if you're eligible. It's an insurance system that both you and your employer paid into.
That's exactly what I needed to hear. Filing my claim tomorrow. Thanks everyone!
Good luck with your claim! The whole process can seem intimidating at first, but you've clearly done your research and understand how it all works now.
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Final update for anyone finding this thread later: I got my closure form submitted and received confirmation 5 weeks later. The process worked exactly like everyone described. Thanks for all the help!
Awesome, glad it worked out! I'm going to start gathering my paperwork this week.
Good luck! Just make sure everything is current before you submit and you should be fine.
Thanks for all the detailed info everyone! I'm in a similar situation - closing my small consulting firm and need to shut down the employer account. Sounds like the key steps are: 1) Make sure all quarterly reports are filed and current, 2) Pay any outstanding UI taxes, 3) File Form EMS-8050 through SecureAccess Washington, and 4) Keep confirmation documentation. Going to start gathering everything this week. Really appreciate this thread - saved me a lot of confusion!
That's exactly right Sophie! Just went through this myself a few months ago and that checklist would have saved me so much time. One more tip - if you run into any issues getting through to ESD on the phone (which seems pretty common based on this thread), don't hesitate to use that Claimyr service Roger mentioned. I was skeptical at first but it really does work better than sitting on hold forever. The whole process took about 6 weeks from submission to getting my official closure confirmation letter.
Perfect checklist Sophie! I'd also recommend calling to confirm they received your form about a week after submitting online. I submitted mine through the portal but never got an email confirmation, so I called to double-check it went through. Turns out there was a technical glitch and I had to resubmit. Better to catch that early than wait months wondering why you haven't heard back.
Zoe Gonzalez
Just wanted to add something important that I learned the hard way - if you're planning to apply for PFML, make sure you get all your medical documentation ready BEFORE your surgery. You'll need forms filled out by your doctor, and it's much easier to get these done during your pre-op appointment than trying to chase down paperwork while you're recovering. Also, PFML benefits are only about 90% of your average weekly wage (with caps), so it might be less than your UI benefits depending on your situation. Budget accordingly! The good news is that stopping and restarting UI claims is pretty straightforward once you know the process.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
•This is such great advice about getting the paperwork ready beforehand! I hadn't thought about how difficult it would be to deal with forms while recovering from surgery. Quick question - do you know if the PFML application needs to be submitted before the surgery date, or can it be filed after as long as it's within 30 days? I want to make sure I time everything correctly with my surgery in 2 weeks.
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Dominique Adams
•You can file the PFML application after your surgery starts, as long as it's within 30 days of when your leave begins. So if your surgery is in 2 weeks, you could technically wait until after the procedure to submit the application. However, I'd strongly recommend getting all the paperwork ready beforehand like Zoe suggested - you'll want your doctor to complete the medical certification form during your pre-op visit. That way, once your leave starts, you can submit everything quickly without having to coordinate with your doctor's office while you're recovering. The application itself just needs to be submitted within that 30-day window from when your leave period begins.
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Ashley Adams
One more thing to consider - make sure you understand how PFML benefits are calculated versus your UI benefits. PFML pays up to 90% of your average weekly wage (capped at about $1,327/week for 2024), while UI has different benefit amounts. You might want to calculate which would pay more in your situation. Also, if you've been on UI for 4 months already, your PFML benefits will be based on wages from before your unemployment period, not your UI benefit amount. This could actually work in your favor if your previous wages were higher than your current UI benefits! Just another factor to consider when planning your finances during recovery.
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Finnegan Gunn
•That's a really good point about the wage calculation difference! I hadn't considered that PFML would be based on my pre-unemployment wages rather than my current UI benefit amount. Since I was making decent money at my previous job before getting laid off, the PFML benefits might actually be higher than what I'm getting from UI right now. Definitely going to run those numbers tonight to see which option works better financially. Thanks for pointing that out - it could make a significant difference in my recovery planning!
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