Can you get unemployment if you were fired for attendance in Washington ESD?
I got terminated last month for attendance issues - basically I was late a bunch of times and missed some days due to car trouble and childcare problems. My supervisor documented everything and said it was job abandonment. I know I messed up but I'm wondering if I can still file for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD? Has anyone been in a similar situation? I'm really stressed about making rent next month.
108 comments


Dylan Baskin
You can definitely file, but whether you'll get approved depends on the specific circumstances. Washington ESD will look at whether your attendance issues were within your control. Car trouble and childcare are considered external factors, so you might have a case. Did you communicate with your employer about these issues beforehand?
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Hunter Brighton
•I did tell them about the car problems but probably not soon enough. The childcare thing was more recent when my babysitter quit suddenly.
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Dylan Baskin
•That documentation of communication will help your case. Make sure to mention all of this when you file your claim.
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Lauren Wood
same thing happened to my cousin, she got fired for attendance but still got UI benefits because it was medical related. you should definitely apply, worst case they deny it and you can appeal
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Hunter Brighton
•Did she have to go through adjudication? I've heard that can take forever.
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Lauren Wood
•yeah it took like 6 weeks but she got backpay for everything
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Sofia Perez
You can still apply for unemployment benefits even if you were fired for attendance. Washington ESD will review your case to determine if your termination was due to misconduct or not. Attendance issues don't automatically disqualify you - it depends on the specific circumstances and whether your employer can prove willful misconduct.
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Dylan Cooper
•That's encouraging to hear. Do you know what they consider when determining misconduct vs non-misconduct?
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Sofia Perez
•They look at factors like whether you were warned, if you had valid reasons for the absences, whether you tried to notify your employer, and if there's a pattern of willful disregard for company policy.
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Dmitry Smirnov
I was fired for attendance issues last year and still got my benefits approved. The key is that you need to file your claim right away and be honest about the reason for your termination. Washington ESD will likely put your claim into adjudication to investigate both sides.
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Dylan Cooper
•How long did the adjudication process take for you? I'm worried about how I'll pay bills while they investigate.
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Dmitry Smirnov
•Mine took about 3 weeks, but I've heard it can vary. Keep filing your weekly claims even during adjudication.
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ElectricDreamer
•Three weeks isn't too bad. Some people wait months for adjudication decisions these days.
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Ellie Lopez
I had success getting through to Washington ESD using a service called Claimyr when I was dealing with a similar misconduct determination. They help you actually reach an agent instead of getting stuck in that endless phone loop. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Really helped me explain my situation properly.
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Hunter Brighton
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money.
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Ellie Lopez
•It's worth it if you're facing a denial. Getting through to explain your side of the story can make all the difference in these attendance cases.
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Chad Winthrope
•Never heard of this but honestly anything is better than calling Washington ESD directly. I've been trying to reach them for 2 weeks about my adjudication.
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Ava Johnson
If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to check on your claim status or get answers about the adjudication process, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that helps people get through to ESD agents by phone. They handle the calling and waiting for you - check out claimyr.com. There's even a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Miguel Diaz
•Is that service legit? Sounds too good to be true given how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD.
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Ava Johnson
•Yeah, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Paige Cantoni
The key thing Washington ESD looks at is whether the attendance issues constitute 'misconduct.' If you were genuinely trying to get to work but had legitimate obstacles, that's different from just not showing up. Document everything - repair receipts, childcare communications, any medical appointments, etc.
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Hunter Brighton
•I kept most of the receipts from the car repairs. Should I upload those when I file?
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Paige Cantoni
•Absolutely. Any evidence that shows your attendance issues were due to circumstances beyond your control will strengthen your case.
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Kylo Ren
ATTENDANCE FIRINGS ARE THE WORST! I got canned for being late 3 times in 6 months because of bus delays. Washington ESD initially denied me but I appealed and won. The system is so backwards - they expect you to control everything perfectly.
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Hunter Brighton
•How long did the appeal process take? I'm worried about the timing.
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Kylo Ren
•About 8 weeks total but I got all the backpay. It was worth fighting for sure.
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Zainab Ahmed
ATTENDANCE ISSUES ARE STILL MISCONDUCT! The system is rigged against workers. They'll find any excuse to deny your claim and save money. I got denied for being 5 minutes late too many times even though I had good reasons.
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Sofia Perez
•That's not necessarily true. Each case is evaluated individually. Chronic tardiness might be viewed differently than isolated incidents due to health issues.
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Zainab Ahmed
•Tell that to all the people who get denied every day. The deck is stacked against us regular workers.
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Connor Byrne
Health issues definitely matter in these cases. If you had legitimate medical reasons for your attendance problems, make sure to document that when you file your claim. Washington ESD should consider those circumstances.
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Dylan Cooper
•I do have some medical documentation. Should I submit that with my initial application or wait until they ask for it?
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Connor Byrne
•Submit it with your application if you can. Better to provide too much information upfront than have delays later.
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Dylan Baskin
One important thing - make sure you're honest about the circumstances when you file. Washington ESD will contact your employer, so if there are discrepancies between your story and theirs, it could hurt your case. But legitimate reasons like transportation and childcare issues are often considered qualifying circumstances.
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Hunter Brighton
•Should I mention that I was looking for a new babysitter but hadn't found one yet when I got fired?
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Dylan Baskin
•Yes, that shows you were actively trying to resolve the childcare issue. That's exactly the kind of detail that helps.
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Yara Abboud
my friend got fired for attendance and still got unemployment so its definitely possible. just apply and see what happens, worst they can do is say no
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Dylan Cooper
•You're right, I should just apply and not overthink it. Thanks for the encouragement.
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Lauren Wood
also don't forget to keep filing your weekly claims even if you're in adjudication. I made that mistake and lost like 3 weeks of benefits
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Hunter Brighton
•Good point, I'll make sure to do that. The whole process is so confusing.
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Ellie Lopez
If you do end up needing to speak with Washington ESD about your case, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. When I was dealing with my attendance-related denial, I spent weeks trying to get through their regular phone lines. Claimyr got me connected to an actual person who could review my case details and explain exactly what documentation they needed.
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Nina Fitzgerald
•I'm skeptical of services like this but honestly Washington ESD's phone system is so broken I might try anything at this point.
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Ellie Lopez
•I was skeptical too but it literally saved my claim. Sometimes you need to invest a little to protect a lot more in benefits.
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Sofia Perez
One important thing to remember - if Washington ESD initially denies your claim, you have the right to appeal that decision. Many people don't realize they can fight a denial, especially in cases involving attendance issues where the circumstances matter.
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Dylan Cooper
•Good to know about the appeal option. How long do you have to file an appeal if needed?
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Sofia Perez
•You have 30 days from the date of the determination to file an appeal. Don't wait - file as soon as possible if you disagree with their decision.
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Paige Cantoni
Another consideration - if Washington ESD determines it was misconduct, you might be disqualified for a certain number of weeks rather than permanently. The severity of the attendance issues matters. Missing work without notice repeatedly is treated differently than being late due to documented transportation problems.
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Hunter Brighton
•Most of my issues were being late rather than complete no-shows. Does that make a difference?
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Paige Cantoni
•Yes, that's generally viewed more favorably than job abandonment. Especially if you can show the lateness was due to circumstances beyond your control.
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Chad Winthrope
Wait, how do you even start the filing process? I've been putting it off because the Washington ESD website is confusing and I'm worried I'll mess something up.
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Dylan Baskin
•You file online through the Washington ESD website. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months. It's not as scary as it looks.
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Chad Winthrope
•Thanks, I'll try to tackle it this weekend when I have more time to focus.
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Hunter Brighton
Update: I filed my claim yesterday and it's showing as 'pending' with a note about adjudication. I guess now I wait and see what happens. Thanks everyone for the advice about documenting everything.
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Dylan Baskin
•Good job filing! Remember to keep doing your weekly claims even during adjudication.
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Kylo Ren
•Hang in there! The waiting is the hardest part but you did the right thing by applying.
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ElectricDreamer
I'm dealing with something similar right now. Filed my claim two weeks ago after being terminated for attendance and it's still in adjudication. The waiting is killing me financially.
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Ava Johnson
•That's exactly when I used Claimyr to try to get some answers about my claim status. The uncertainty is the worst part of this whole process.
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ElectricDreamer
•I might have to look into that service. I've tried calling Washington ESD probably 50 times with no luck.
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PixelPioneer
The important thing is that attendance issues fall into a gray area. It's not automatically misconduct like stealing or violence would be. Washington ESD has to prove you were willfully violating policy, not just having problems getting to work.
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Dylan Cooper
•That makes sense. My situation was more about struggling with health issues than just not caring about showing up.
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PixelPioneer
•Exactly. That distinction could make all the difference in your case. Be sure to explain the health circumstances clearly.
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Dmitry Smirnov
Also worth noting that even if you're approved for benefits, your former employer might appeal the decision. That's pretty common in attendance-related cases, so don't be surprised if that happens.
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Dylan Cooper
•Oh great, something else to worry about. How does that process work if the employer appeals?
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Dmitry Smirnov
•You'd get a notice about the appeal and have a chance to respond. The decision would be reviewed again, but you'd keep getting benefits during the appeal process.
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Keisha Williams
whatever you do dont lie about why you were fired. washington esd will find out anyway and then you'll be in much worse trouble for fraud
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Dylan Cooper
•Definitely planning to be completely honest. Not worth the risk of making things worse.
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Lauren Wood
adjudication for attendance stuff usually takes 3-4 weeks in my experience. they have to contact your employer and review everything
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Hunter Brighton
•That's actually not as long as I thought it would be. Hopefully it goes smoothly.
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Connor Byrne
When you file your claim, you'll need to provide your employer's information and details about your termination. Washington ESD will contact your employer for their side of the story, so make sure your version is accurate and complete.
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Dylan Cooper
•Should I be worried about what my employer might say about me during their investigation?
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Connor Byrne
•Just stick to the facts. If your employer exaggerates or provides inaccurate information, you'll have a chance to respond during the adjudication process.
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Paolo Rizzo
I had a coworker who got fired for attendance issues and was initially denied unemployment. She appealed and won because she could prove her absences were due to a family emergency that wasn't covered under FMLA. Don't give up if you get an initial denial.
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Dylan Cooper
•That's encouraging. It sounds like having documentation of legitimate reasons really helps your case.
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Paolo Rizzo
•Exactly. The more documentation you can provide to support your side of the story, the better your chances.
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Ava Johnson
If anyone needs help getting through to Washington ESD during this process, seriously consider using Claimyr. I was skeptical at first but it saved me so much frustration trying to get updates on my adjudication status.
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ElectricDreamer
•I looked into Claimyr after you mentioned it earlier. Might be worth it just for the peace of mind of actually talking to someone.
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Sofia Perez
Remember that Washington ESD looks at the totality of circumstances in attendance cases. Factors like whether you had transportation issues, health problems, childcare emergencies, or other legitimate reasons all matter in their determination.
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Dylan Cooper
•This is really helpful. I had some of these issues contributing to my attendance problems, so I'll make sure to document everything clearly.
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Amina Sy
Bottom line - file your claim ASAP. Every week you wait is a week of potential benefits you're losing. Even if there's uncertainty about your eligibility, it's better to apply and find out than assume you can't get benefits.
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Dylan Cooper
•You're absolutely right. I'll file my claim this week. Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouragement!
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Sofia Perez
•Good luck with your claim! Feel free to come back and update us on how it goes.
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Oliver Fischer
Just wanted to add that if you do get approved for benefits, make sure you understand the job search requirements. You'll need to log your job search activities and may need to register with WorkSource Washington.
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Dylan Cooper
•Thanks for the reminder. I'll make sure to read up on all the requirements if my claim gets approved.
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Natasha Ivanova
been through this whole process myself and the most important thing is patience. the adjudication can take forever but keep filing your weekly claims and eventually you'll get an answer
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Dylan Cooper
•Patience is definitely going to be key. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this.
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Ava Johnson
For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD for updates or questions, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. The service connects you directly with ESD agents without the endless hold times. Worth checking out at claimyr.com if you're at your wit's end with the phone system.
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NebulaNomad
•I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through about my overpayment issue. Worked great and the agent was actually helpful.
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Javier Garcia
Update us when you hear back from Washington ESD! These threads are so helpful for people going through similar situations. Wishing you the best with your claim.
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Dylan Cooper
•Will definitely update when I know more. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to share advice and experiences!
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Ellie Lopez
If you need to follow up on your adjudication status or provide additional documentation, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through to someone. During my case, I had to clarify some details about my attendance issues and having a real conversation with an ESD agent made all the difference.
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Hunter Brighton
•I'll keep that in mind if I need to provide more information. Right now I'm just hoping what I submitted is enough.
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Nina Fitzgerald
Just want to say this thread has been super helpful. I'm in a similar situation with a firing for attendance and was afraid to even apply. Good to know there's hope.
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Hunter Brighton
•Definitely apply! Even if you're not sure, it's better to try than to assume you won't qualify.
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Dylan Baskin
•Exactly. The worst they can do is say no, but you might be surprised by the outcome.
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Paige Cantoni
For anyone else reading this thread, remember that each attendance case is unique. Factors like: length of employment, previous attendance record, communication with employer, reasons for absences, and efforts to resolve issues all play a role in Washington ESD's determination.
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Chad Winthrope
•This is really detailed, thanks. I had no idea they looked at so many different factors.
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Kylo Ren
One more thing - if you do get denied initially, DON'T GIVE UP! The appeal process exists for a reason and attendance cases are often overturned when you can present your full story to a hearing officer.
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Hunter Brighton
•Good to know. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that but it's reassuring to know there are options.
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Nina Fitzgerald
•How do you prepare for an appeal hearing? That sounds intimidating.
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Kylo Ren
•You present your evidence and explain your side. It's less formal than court but you want to be organized with your documentation.
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Dylan Baskin
Final thought: while you're waiting for your adjudication decision, make sure you're actively job searching and keeping records. Washington ESD requires job search activities and you'll need to report them on your weekly claims.
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Hunter Brighton
•How many job contacts do I need per week? I've been applying but not really tracking it systematically.
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Dylan Baskin
•You need 3 job search activities per week. Keep detailed records of where you applied, when, and any follow-up contacts.
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Ellie Lopez
Really glad this thread helped so many people! Remember, if you need to speak with Washington ESD about your specific situation, services like Claimyr can save you hours of frustration trying to get through their phone system. The demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ shows exactly how it works - super straightforward.
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Hunter Brighton
•I bookmarked that for later just in case. Thanks for all the help everyone!
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Lauren Wood
good luck with your claim! keep us updated on how it goes
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Hunter Brighton
•Will do! This community has been amazing.
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Chad Winthrope
This whole thread convinced me to finally file my own claim. Been putting it off for weeks but reading everyone's experiences gave me the confidence to try.
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Dylan Baskin
•That's great! The sooner you file, the sooner you can start the process. Good luck!
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