Do apartments accept Washington ESD unemployment as income when applying?

That's really helpful! I didn't know I could get an official letter. Is that different from just printing out my payment history?

Yes, the verification letter is more official looking and includes Washington ESD letterhead. Much better than just screenshots of payments.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Does it actually work for getting through to Washington ESD?

Yeah it worked great for me. Way better than sitting on hold for hours or getting disconnected.

I'm skeptical of these third party services but honestly calling Washington ESD directly is impossible most days.

Good point about the job search records. I've been keeping track through WorkSource WA like required.

wait do you have to use worksource for job searches? I've just been applying on indeed

@profile3 You need to log your job search activities somewhere that Washington ESD can verify. WorkSource is the easiest way to do it automatically.

I understand the frustration, but you can actually get the verification letter online without calling. It's in your Washington ESD account dashboard.

Yeah well MY account was locked for some reason and I couldn't get in without calling them.

That could be an issue. You might want to wait until you have a job lined up or see if you qualify for extended benefits.

How do I know if I qualify for extended benefits? My regular UI claim is almost done.

You'd need to contact Washington ESD about extended benefits. That's another situation where Claimyr might help you actually get through to ask questions.

That's encouraging! Did you have to pay a higher deposit or anything?

nah same deposit as anyone else. think they were just slow processing applications

Good advice. Did you mention it in your initial application or wait until they asked?

I mentioned it in the application under employment status. Most applications have an 'other' option where you can explain.

This is smart. Transparency builds trust with property managers.

That's exactly what I'm worried about. What if something happens with my claim while I'm apartment hunting?

That's when having a service like Claimyr becomes really valuable. You can actually get status updates instead of wondering what's happening with your claim.

I don't really have anyone who could co-sign. Hopefully I can find someone who'll accept just the unemployment income.

Try looking at places where the rent is no more than 30% of your weekly UI payment times 4. That shows you're not overextending.

That's a great idea! I do have a few interviews lined up so I'll definitely mention that.

Yes, anything that shows forward progress helps your case with property managers.

Good catch! I should double check all my account info is current.

Yeah, small details like that can delay your application approval.

Rental assistance usually doesn't need to be reported as income for UI purposes, but double check with Washington ESD to be sure.

Thanks, I'll ask when I file my next weekly claim.

That's really helpful! I'll start gathering all that documentation now.

Yeah, being prepared made my application process much smoother. Landlords like seeing you're on top of things.

Credit definitely matters, but steady income (even unemployment) can offset a lower score. Some landlords are more flexible if you can explain the circumstances.

That makes sense. At least unemployment shows I have regular income coming in.

I didn't know that was a thing! I'll look into what protections Washington state has.

Yeah, worth researching your local laws. Could give you more options.

Good strategy. I'll cast a wide net and see what happens.

Exactly. Better to have options than get stuck with one rejection.

The standard verification letter shows your weekly amount and benefit year dates. It doesn't typically show remaining balance, but landlords could calculate it.

Hmm, that's what I was afraid of. Might need to find a job quickly.

That's the second mention of Claimyr. Sounds like it really works for getting through to Washington ESD.

Yeah it's been a lifesaver. Especially when you need quick responses for time-sensitive stuff like housing applications.

Will do! Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice. Feeling much more confident about the process now.

Good luck with your search! Having all the right documentation ready will definitely help.