Is it hard to get unemployment benefits approved in Washington - what should I expect?

That's reassuring! What are the earnings requirements exactly? I worked full time for about 8 months before the layoff.

You need to have earned at least $6,240 in your base year and worked in at least two quarters. With 8 months full time you should be fine.

Ugh that's what I was afraid of. What if I need help with something?

I actually found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They basically handle the calling for you and connect you when they reach someone. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Oh interesting, never heard of that before. Does it actually work?

This is good advice. I'd also recommend applying as soon as possible since there's a waiting week before benefits start anyway.

Good point about applying quickly. I'll gather all my employment info this weekend and file on Monday.

What triggered the adjudication? Most claims don't go into adjudication unless there's something that needs to be verified.

They said there were questions about my separation but my employer already confirmed it was a layoff. Makes no sense!

Have you tried using Claimyr to actually talk to someone? I was stuck in adjudication too and they helped me get connected to an agent who explained what was holding up my claim.

That's a really good point about only hearing the bad stories. My situation is pretty straightforward so hopefully it goes smoothly.

Exactly this! I got approved in 10 days last year and never had any issues with weekly claims. The system works fine when everything is normal.

Wait really? Even if I'm not getting paid yet?

Yes, you must file weekly claims starting the week after you apply. If you miss weeks you could lose those benefits permanently.

Do I need to register with WorkSourceWA before I apply for unemployment?

You should register within a week of filing your UI claim. It's a separate system but required for ongoing eligibility.

ugh the job search thing is such a pain. they want detailed info about every contact you make

How will they contact me if they need something?

Usually through your eServices account and sometimes by mail. Check your account frequently, especially in the first few weeks.

That makes me feel better! Did you have to do anything special or just fill out the online application?

Just the online application and then weekly claims. No phone calls or extra paperwork needed in my case.

That's not really accurate. Yes they're busy but most legitimate claims get approved. The issues usually come from incomplete applications or complex separation circumstances.

Tell that to the thousands of people still waiting months for their claims to be processed!

How much does something like that cost?

I'd rather not get into pricing here but check their website. For me it was worth it to avoid the stress of calling constantly.

Good plan! Feel free to come back here if you have questions during the process.

You've got this! Most people's experience is way better than the horror stories online.

Great idea! I'll make sure to document everything as I go through the process.

Agreed, they made a lot of improvements to the online systems and processing times are much better than they were in 2020-2021.

Very true! I'm going to stop worrying and just get it done. Thanks again everyone!