Washington ESD claim filed after robot replaced my job - what type of unemployment is this?

This would be classified as regular unemployment insurance (UI) through Washington ESD. The reason for your job loss doesn't change the benefit type - whether you're replaced by automation, laid off due to budget cuts, or your position is eliminated, it's all processed the same way as long as you weren't terminated for misconduct.

Sorry to hear about your situation. Same thing happened to me 2 years ago at a warehouse - they brought in these huge automated sorting machines and cut 40% of the workforce. Washington ESD processed my claim normally, took about 2 weeks to get approved.

I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and can't get through their phone system. If you need to talk to someone about your specific situation, I recently discovered claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you actually connect with ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

THE ROBOTS ARE TAKING OVER AND NOBODY CARES!! This is happening everywhere and Washington ESD isn't doing anything to help retrain workers. We need special programs for automation displacement but all they do is treat us like regular layoffs.

From Washington ESD's perspective, this is standard unemployment. However, you might qualify for additional services through WorkSource since your job was eliminated due to technological changes. They often have specialized programs for workers affected by automation, including extended training opportunities.

this is happening to everyone now, my brother lost his job to some AI thing last month and he had to file regular unemployment too. Washington ESD doesn't really care why you lost your job as long as it wasn't your fault

One thing to watch out for - make sure your former employer reports the separation correctly to Washington ESD. Sometimes companies try to classify automation layoffs as 'voluntary resignation' or something weird to avoid their unemployment tax rates going up.

Dude I feel for you. Lost my manufacturing job to robots 3 years ago and it was devastating. But Washington ESD was actually pretty helpful once I got through to them. The hardest part is just dealing with their phone system when you have questions.

Update: My claim just got approved! Took exactly 10 business days from when I filed. The Washington ESD letter confirms it's regular UI benefits, nothing special about the automation aspect. Weekly benefit amount is $687 which seems right based on my previous wages.

That's awesome that your claim went through so quickly. For anyone else reading this who might need to contact Washington ESD about automation-related layoffs or any other claim issues, I can't recommend claimyr.com enough. It's been a game-changer for actually getting through to speak with agents instead of sitting on hold for hours.

Just to clarify for anyone else in similar situations - technological displacement, automation, AI replacement, or any form of job elimination due to efficiency improvements all fall under regular unemployment insurance in Washington state. The key factor is that the separation was involuntary and not due to misconduct.

For what it's worth, I ended up getting into HVAC repair after losing my factory job to automation. Turns out robots can't crawl through attics and basements yet! The transition was rough but WorkSource helped with the training costs.

just remember to do your job search requirements every week, Washington ESD is really strict about that stuff now. you need to apply to like 3 jobs per week and keep track of everything

One more tip - if you're looking for work in a field that's being automated, consider looking into roles that work alongside the new technology rather than trying to compete with it. Like maintenance, programming, or oversight positions for the automated systems.

This whole thread is depressing but helpful. I work in data entry and I can see the writing on the wall with AI getting better. At least now I know what to expect with Washington ESD if it happens to me.