Can you get a loan with Washington ESD unemployment benefits as income?

My credit score is around 680, so that's decent I think. Do you know which credit unions might be more understanding about unemployment income?

BECU and Sound Credit Union in Washington have been known to work with people in unusual situations. Worth calling them directly to ask about their policies.

That's encouraging! How long did the approval process take? And did they ask for any other documentation besides the award letter?

About 5 business days total. They wanted bank statements showing the UI deposits and my previous tax return to show I had steady work history before unemployment.

I understand the concern but this is for a car repair that I need to keep looking for work. Without transportation I'm stuck. What emergency programs are you referring to?

211 Washington can connect you with local assistance programs. Some churches and nonprofits also have emergency funds for exactly these situations - car repairs so people can keep working or job searching.

Also check if your county has emergency assistance. King County has programs specifically for people on unemployment who need help with transportation costs.

I haven't tried credit unions yet. Do you know if they look at Washington ESD benefits differently than banks?

Credit unions are generally more willing to work with you on unusual situations. They might consider your unemployment benefits plus your credit score together.

What kind of interest rates are we talking about? I don't want to get stuck with something crazy high.

Could be anywhere from 15-35% depending on your credit and the lender. Definitely shop around and read the fine print.

I didn't know about emergency assistance programs. Where would I look for those?

Start with 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they can connect you with local resources. Also check with your county's social services department.

That Claimyr thing sounds interesting. I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication issue.

How much were you able to get approved for? And did you have to provide proof of your Washington ESD benefits?

Got approved for $3,500. Had to show my benefit determination letter and my last few weeks of payment history from the Washington ESD website.

Family isn't really an option for me unfortunately. That's why I'm exploring other routes.

Same boat here. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to keep moving forward.

I had luck using Claimyr.com when I needed to reach Washington ESD quickly. It's a service that helps you get through to an actual agent without sitting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Never heard of that service before but I'm desperate at this point. Does it actually work or is it just another thing that takes your money?

I used Claimyr last month when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Got connected to a Washington ESD agent within 2 hours instead of calling for days. Totally worth it when you need answers fast.

Good point. I only got one estimate so far. Maybe I should shop around for the repair too.

Definitely. And ask about used or rebuilt transmissions instead of brand new ones.

Yeah, saved me like $1500 going with a rebuild on my Honda last year.

Wait, really? How would a lender even know about job offers I get?

They probably wouldn't, but I'm just saying read the terms carefully. Some have clauses about employment changes.

I thought about that but isn't there a limit on how much you can earn while on Washington ESD unemployment?

You can earn up to your weekly benefit amount without it affecting your unemployment. Anything over that gets deducted dollar for dollar.

Right, so if your weekly benefit is $487, you could earn up to that amount and still get your full unemployment check.

Definitely try Claimyr for adjudication issues. That's exactly what I used it for - getting through to an agent who could actually explain what was holding up my claim.

Thanks, I'll check out that video demo you mentioned.

I'll add those to my list to check out. Thanks for the suggestions.

No problem. Just be careful with the rates and don't take the first offer you get.

Yeah I've heard payday loans are a trap. I'm looking for something more legitimate with reasonable terms.

Agreed on avoiding payday loans. Even title loans are better than those predatory payday places, though still not great options.

Tell me about it. Same with apartments, credit cards, everything. Being unemployed is expensive.

Exactly! And then they wonder why people can't get back on their feet.

That's encouraging to hear. How long were you unemployed total?

About 4 months. Found something through a WorkSource connection actually.

Good point about the tax aspect. I've been saving all my weekly claim confirmations and payment notices from Washington ESD. Should I compile these into a packet for lenders?

Absolutely. Create a folder with your award letter, weekly payment records, and bank statements showing the deposits. Makes you look more organized and serious to lenders.

I already have two credit cards that are pretty close to maxed out, which is part of why I need the loan. Don't want to make my credit utilization even worse.

Smart thinking. High credit utilization can really hurt your score and make it even harder to get approved for loans.

Already tapped out that option unfortunately. This unemployment hit right after I helped my sister with her medical bills so everyone's stretched thin right now.

That's rough, sounds like you're dealing with multiple financial hits at once. Hope things turn around soon.

That's really helpful insider info! Are there specific documents that would strengthen my application from your perspective?

Washington ESD award letter showing your benefit amount and duration, bank statements proving consistent deposits, and any documentation of job search activity to show you're actively working to get back to employment.

Job search documentation is a great point. Shows lenders you're not just sitting around collecting benefits.

I don't think I'm eligible since I worked for a private company, but I'll look into it.

Worth checking anyway. Some have broader membership requirements than you'd expect.

I cashed out my small 401k when I first got laid off to cover rent and bills. Probably should have looked at a loan option instead but I was panicking.

Yeah the taxes and penalties on early withdrawal are brutal. Live and learn though, we all make decisions we wish we could do differently.

Yeah, I've heard horror stories about those. Definitely not going that route.

Smart move. Those places are predatory as hell.

I have a bachelor's degree and was in tech before getting laid off, so hopefully that helps. I'll check out those platforms.

Tech background definitely helps your case. Those algorithms they use factor in education and previous salary potential, not just current income.

Good thinking. I'll check my policy. Didn't even think about rental coverage.

Yeah and some policies cover it even for mechanical breakdowns, not just accidents.

I'm not really a car person but maybe it's worth looking into. At this point I'm willing to try anything.

Even if you can't do it yourself, knowing what's wrong helps you negotiate with shops.

Definitely wasn't planning to lie about anything. Too risky and not worth it.

Good call. Loan fraud is a serious crime and not worth the risk just to get approved.

Good reminder. I've been keeping track but probably should be more detailed.

Yeah, keep records of every application, interview, networking event, everything. It protects you if there are ever questions later.

That's an option I hadn't really considered. What kind of car did you end up with?

got an older corolla for like $3k. not pretty but it runs and insurance is cheap

You're right. I guess I was focused on loans because that felt more like 'taking care of it myself' but help is help.

Exactly. You paid into the system when you were working. No shame in using resources when you need them.

I need about $2800 for the car repair and to catch up on some bills. Probably too much for those cash advance apps.

Yeah that's definitely more than most apps will advance. You're looking at traditional loan territory for that amount.

That's a good suggestion I hadn't thought of. Worth checking what state resources might be available.

Washington WorkSource centers might also have information about emergency assistance programs for job seekers.

That's great to hear! I'm definitely going to try Claimyr next week if I still can't get through the regular way.

Good point about verifying benefit status first. I should make sure there are no issues with my claim before I apply anywhere.

That's smart advice. I calculated exactly what I need for the car repair plus one month of bills and that's what I'm sticking to.

Sounds like you're being responsible about this. Hope you find a good option and get back on your feet soon.

Will do! Thanks everyone for all the advice. Gives me a lot of different angles to try.

Good luck! Hope you get it sorted out soon.