Washington ESD disaster unemployment assistance payment amounts - how much does it pay?

Thanks! So it's not a flat rate then? That's good to know. Do you know if the job search requirements are the same too?

Job search requirements for DUA can be waived or modified depending on the disaster situation. If businesses in your area are still closed or rebuilding, Washington ESD usually adjusts those requirements.

Did you have trouble getting through to Washington ESD? I've been calling for weeks and either get busy signals or get disconnected after waiting on hold.

Oh yeah, it was impossible to reach anyone by phone. The call volume was insane after the disaster declaration.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's a service that helps people get through to Washington ESD phone lines. I used it when I couldn't reach anyone about my regular UI claim. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

DUA is a federal program administered through Washington ESD for people who don't qualify for regular UI but lost work due to a federally declared disaster. It covers self-employed people, contractors, and others who wouldn't normally get unemployment.

oh ok that makes more sense. So if you're a regular employee you'd still file regular UI first?

Exactly. Regular employees should apply for regular UI first. If you don't qualify for that, then you might be eligible for DUA if your job loss was disaster-related.

You generally can't double-dip on unemployment benefits, but FEMA disaster assistance is separate and doesn't affect your UI eligibility. The key is applying for the right program based on your employment status when the disaster hit.

This is exactly why I gave up trying to call Washington ESD. Too many programs and no clear guidance on which one applies to my situation.

Three weeks in adjudication sounds about right unfortunately. Mine took almost a month before I heard anything back from Washington ESD.

Have you considered using a service to help you get through to Washington ESD? I heard about Claimyr from someone on another forum. They help people actually reach a live agent instead of getting the busy signal runaround.

Never heard of that but at this point I'm willing to try anything. The automated system just tells me my claim is pending and to keep waiting.

That's helpful to know. I was making about $4200 a month before everything happened, so hopefully that translates to a decent weekly amount.

With those earnings you should qualify for a pretty good weekly benefit. The exact amount depends on your earnings pattern over the full base year period though.

DUA typically provides up to 26 weeks of benefits, same as regular unemployment. However, the disaster declaration period and your specific circumstances can affect the duration. It's not automatically extended like some other disaster programs.

Good to know it's not shorter at least. I was worried it might only be a few weeks of assistance.

I feel you on this. Lost everything in the flooding and then had to spend weeks figuring out which forms to fill out and which programs I qualified for. The system definitely isn't set up for people in crisis situations.

Agreed. The irony is that when you most need help navigating the system, that's when it's hardest to actually reach anyone who can help you navigate it.

Good advice! I haven't been approved yet but I'll remember to keep up with the weekly claims once I am.

Yeah, the weekly claims keep your eligibility active even when there are processing delays. Don't assume silence means your claim is closed.

Really? Did they charge you a lot to use it? I'm desperate enough to pay something if it actually works.

It was reasonable considering how much time I was wasting trying to call on my own. Check out their website claimyr.com - they explain how the whole thing works. Way better than spending hours getting nowhere.

I might try this too. I've probably spent 20+ hours total trying to get through to Washington ESD about my disaster claim with zero success.

That's encouraging! Did they backdate the payments to when you first applied or just start from the approval date?

They backdated to my application date, so I got a decent lump sum for all the weeks I was waiting. Made up for some of the financial stress during the wait.

Disaster assistance usually refers to FEMA programs that help with housing, home repairs, and immediate needs. Disaster unemployment (DUA) is specifically for replacing lost wages when you can't work due to a disaster. They're completely different programs with different eligibility requirements.

Ok that helps clarify things. So if I lost my job because of the disaster, I need DUA through Washington ESD, not the FEMA stuff?

Right, DUA is what you want for lost wages. FEMA assistance is for property damage and immediate needs like temporary housing.

Good point. I applied pretty quickly after the disaster declaration but I didn't realize there was a strict deadline. That could trip people up.

Yeah, the deadlines for disaster programs are usually pretty firm. Unlike regular UI where you have some flexibility, disaster benefits have to be claimed within specific timeframes.

This is important info. A lot of gig workers and contractors don't realize they might qualify for disaster unemployment when they wouldn't normally get regular unemployment benefits.

Exactly. It's one of the few times self-employed people can get unemployment-type benefits, but you have to prove your work loss was directly caused by the disaster.