Washington ESD unemployment benefits not enough to cover bills - what are my options?
I've been getting my weekly unemployment payments from Washington ESD for about 6 weeks now, but the amount just isn't cutting it. My weekly benefit is $487 but my rent alone is $1,400/month. I'm behind on everything - utilities, car payment, groceries. I know unemployment isn't supposed to replace your full salary but I'm drowning here. Are there any supplemental programs or ways to increase the benefit amount? I've been applying to jobs constantly but nothing's coming through yet. Has anyone else dealt with this situation?
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Anastasia Kozlov
Unfortunately your weekly benefit amount is locked in based on your base year wages. Washington ESD calculates it as roughly 50% of your average weekly wage up to the state maximum. You can't increase the UI amount itself, but there are other resources - SNAP for food assistance, utility assistance programs, local food banks.
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NeonNebula
•I figured that was the case but was hoping there might be something I missed. I'll look into SNAP, thanks for the suggestion.
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Sean Kelly
•Also check with 211 - they can connect you with local assistance programs for rent and utilities. Some churches and nonprofits have emergency funds too.
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Zara Mirza
Been there! The unemployment amount is definitely not livable on its own. I had to pick up some gig work - DoorDash, Instacart etc. Just make sure you report ALL earnings on your weekly claims or Washington ESD will come after you for overpayment.
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NeonNebula
•That's a good idea about gig work. Do you know if there's a limit to how much I can earn before it affects my unemployment?
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Zara Mirza
•In Washington you can earn up to your weekly benefit amount before they start reducing your UI payment. So if you get $487/week you can earn $487 before any deduction kicks in.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•Actually that's not quite right - Washington has a partial earnings deduction formula. You can earn 1.25 times your weekly benefit before you lose ALL unemployment, but they start reducing it after you earn more than 1/4 of your benefit amount.
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Luca Russo
Ugh I feel this so hard. My unemployment barely covers half my expenses. I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD to ask about workshare programs or if there's anything else available but their phone system is impossible. Anyone had luck actually talking to someone there recently?
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Nia Harris
•I was struggling with the same thing until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents by handling the phone calls. I used it last month when I had questions about my claim and actually got connected to someone in like 20 minutes. Way better than sitting on hold for hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ and the site is claimyr.com if you want to check it out.
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Luca Russo
•Never heard of that but anything has to be better than the current system. How much does it cost though?
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Nia Harris
•It's definitely worth it compared to wasting entire days trying to get through yourself. Much cheaper than missing work to make phone calls that go nowhere.
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GalaxyGazer
The whole system is broken honestly. Unemployment should be enough to actually live on but instead it's designed to keep you desperate so you'll take any crappy job. Meanwhile politicians get full salary and benefits when they're not even working half the time.
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Mateo Sanchez
•I mean... unemployment isn't supposed to be permanent income replacement. It's meant to be temporary assistance while you find new work.
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GalaxyGazer
•Temporary doesn't mean it should force you into homelessness. Other countries do way better at this.
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NeonNebula
•I get both sides but right now I just need to figure out how to pay my bills
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Sean Kelly
Are you eligible for any pandemic assistance still? I know some of the federal programs ended but there might be state extensions or other programs I'm not aware of.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•All the pandemic unemployment programs (PUA, PEUC, etc.) ended in 2021. Right now it's just regular state unemployment benefits available.
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Sean Kelly
•Ah ok, wasn't sure if there were any lingering programs. Thanks for clarifying.
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Aisha Mahmood
Have you looked into whether you qualify for any training programs? Washington has some workforce development stuff that might give you extra support while you're learning new skills.
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NeonNebula
•I hadn't thought about that. Do you know where I'd find information about those programs?
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Aisha Mahmood
•Check WorkSource Washington - they have info about training programs that can extend your benefits in some cases.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•Training benefits are good but they have pretty specific requirements. You usually need to be in an approved program and it has to be for a high-demand occupation.
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Ethan Moore
Same boat here. I'm doing plasma donation twice a week for extra cash - it's not much but every little bit helps when you're this tight on money.
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NeonNebula
•How much do you typically get for plasma donation?
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Ethan Moore
•Around $50-70 per donation depending on the center. Takes about an hour each time.
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Yuki Kobayashi
Check if your county has emergency rental assistance - a lot of places still have COVID relief money available for people who are unemployed or underemployed. Also community action agencies often have utility assistance.
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NeonNebula
•I'll definitely look into rental assistance. My landlord has been understanding so far but I can't keep being late on rent.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Most programs require you to be behind on payments to qualify, so the fact that you're late might actually help you get assistance.
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Carmen Vega
One thing to watch out for - if you do get a part time job while on unemployment, make sure you understand how it affects your job search requirements. You still have to be looking for full time work and available for work.
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NeonNebula
•Good point. I've been keeping up with my job search log on WorkSource but haven't thought about how part time work might complicate things.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•As long as you're still available for full time work and actively searching, part time work is fine. Just report it accurately on your weekly claims.
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QuantumQuester
This is exactly why I went back to Claimyr when I needed to ask Washington ESD about partial unemployment while working part time. The regular phone system would have taken forever and I needed answers fast. Got through to an agent who explained exactly how the earnings deduction works.
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Andre Moreau
•Was it easy to use? I'm not great with technology.
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QuantumQuester
•Super simple - you just tell them what you need help with and they handle getting you connected to the right person at Washington ESD.
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Zoe Stavros
Food banks are your friend right now. I was embarrassed to use them at first but honestly they saved me during my unemployment period. Most don't even ask questions, you just show up.
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NeonNebula
•I've been thinking about that but wasn't sure how it works. Do I need to prove I'm unemployed or anything?
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Zoe Stavros
•Depends on the food bank but most just ask for basic info like how many people in your household. Way less paperwork than government programs.
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Jamal Harris
Another option is to see if you can get your hours reduced at a job instead of being fully unemployed - that way you might qualify for partial unemployment benefits while still having some steady income. Obviously only works if you have an employer willing to work with you.
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NeonNebula
•I was laid off completely so that's not an option for me, but good advice for others who might have that possibility.
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Mei Chen
The key is stacking multiple small income sources - gig work, plasma donation, food assistance, utility help, maybe some freelance work if you have skills. None of it alone will solve the problem but together it can help bridge the gap.
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NeonNebula
•That makes sense. I need to think creatively about this instead of just hoping unemployment alone will work.
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Liam Sullivan
•Exactly! And don't feel bad about using assistance programs - you paid into these systems when you were working.
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Amara Okafor
One more thing - if you end up needing to appeal any decisions or have complex questions, services like Claimyr can be worth their weight in gold. I used them when Washington ESD made an error on my claim determination and needed to get it fixed quickly.
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CosmicCommander
•How did that work out? I'm always skeptical of paying for something I feel like I should be able to do myself.
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Amara Okafor
•I felt the same way initially, but after wasting weeks trying to get through myself, it was totally worth it. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to resolve things.
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Giovanni Colombo
Hang in there OP. The job market is tough right now but it will get better. In the meantime, use every resource available to you - there's no shame in needing help during unemployment.
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NeonNebula
•Thanks for the encouragement. This thread has given me a lot of good ideas to pursue.
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Esmeralda Gómez
I'm in a similar situation and what's helped me is creating a monthly budget breakdown to see exactly where I can cut expenses. Also, check if your city has any emergency assistance programs - many have one-time rental help or utility credits specifically for unemployed residents. The United Way website (dial 211) has a search tool where you can enter your zip code and find local resources. Don't overlook things like WIC if you qualify, discounted internet programs, and even asking your utility companies about low-income rate plans. Every little bit adds up when you're stretching unemployment benefits.
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