How much does Washington ESD disaster unemployment assistance pay?

That's helpful! I was making about $4200 a month before this happened. Do you know roughly what that would translate to for weekly benefits?

With those earnings you'd probably be looking at somewhere around $650-750 per week, but Washington ESD will calculate the exact amount based on your full wage history from the base period.

Good to know! I should qualify for regular UI too but wasn't sure if DUA was better or worse financially.

How much did that service cost you? I'm already tight on money and don't want to pay a lot just to file a claim.

It was worth every penny to actually get through and talk to someone instead of wasting weeks trying to call. The peace of mind alone was worth it when I was stressed about losing my income.

I might have to try that if I can't get through the normal way. Did they help you understand all the DUA requirements too?

Oh no, when was the declaration made? I've been putting this off for two weeks already thinking I had plenty of time.

You'll need to check the FEMA website for the exact date of the disaster declaration for your county. Don't wait - even if you're still within the deadline, it can take time to process.

Same here! I've called probably 50 times and either get a busy signal or sit on hold for 2+ hours before getting disconnected. There has to be a better way.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - saves you from that endless calling nightmare. I was in your exact situation and it solved everything.

What do you mean by better protections? I thought they were basically the same.

Regular UI has more established appeal processes and is less likely to have funding issues. DUA is federal disaster relief so it can sometimes have delays if there are federal budget problems.

My employer said 6 months but that's not guaranteed. Should I be doing job search activities or waiting to see if they really reopen?

I'd start the job search requirements to be safe. You can always stop if your employer gives you a definite recall date, but better to be compliant from the start.

Because DUA involves federal funding and they need to verify eligibility more carefully than regular state unemployment. More fraud prevention measures.

Still doesn't excuse the terrible phone system that never lets anyone through.

I tried calling at 7:59 AM right when they open and still couldn't get through. The phone lines are completely overwhelmed.

That's why services like Claimyr exist - the regular system just can't handle the volume. Sometimes you have to invest a little to get the help you need quickly.

Good that you checked the deadline! Don't wait until the last minute though - even if you file in time, there can be processing delays that might affect your first payment.

Smart move checking the deadline. I'd honestly just go ahead and use the service now rather than waste more time calling. Time is money when you're unemployed.

That's encouraging! How long did the whole process take from filing to getting your first payment?

About 3 weeks total, but that included some back and forth to verify my employment situation. Might be faster for you if your case is more straightforward.

Yes, you can work part-time with DUA just like regular unemployment. You just have to report the earnings and they'll reduce your benefit amount accordingly. Don't work under the table - always report it.

Thanks! I'll make sure to report everything properly. Better to have some income than none while I look for a full-time job.

What kind of documentation do they want? I have my pay stubs but not sure what else I need.

Pay stubs, W-2s if you have them, any documentation from your employer about the closure or damage, photos of the workplace damage if possible. The more you have, the smoother the process.

Definitely don't wait! The sooner you apply, the sooner you can start getting benefits. Even if there are delays in processing, your effective date will be when you filed.

That sounds like exactly what I need. I'm going to check out that video demo you mentioned and probably give them a try tomorrow.

I might do the same thing. I'm tired of wasting hours every day trying to get through on the phone with no results.

Good point! I was wondering if I should apply for both or just one. Sounds like DUA is the right choice for disaster-related job loss.

Exactly. If you qualify for regular UI you might want to consider that instead, but if the job loss is directly because of the disaster, DUA is probably your best bet.

That's my biggest fear - missing the deadline and losing out on weeks of benefits. I'm definitely going to file this week one way or another.

Good plan. Even if you make mistakes on the application, they can usually be corrected. But missing the deadline is final.

Glad we could help! Hope your application goes smoothly and you start getting benefits soon.

Best of luck! Don't hesitate to use Claimyr if you run into phone issues - it really does make the whole process easier.