Washington ESD unemployment claim for temporary layoff between jobs - which type to file?
I'm confused about what type of unemployment claim to file with Washington ESD. My situation is I got laid off last week but my employer said it's temporary and they might call me back in 2-3 months when business picks up. In the meantime, I'm also looking for other work since I can't wait around that long. Should I file for regular unemployment benefits or is there a different type for temporary layoffs? I've never dealt with this before and the Washington ESD website has so many different options.
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Alexis Renard
You should file for regular unemployment benefits (UI) through Washington ESD. There's no separate 'temporary' unemployment type - it's all the same system. Just make sure to report that you're able and available for work and actively searching for jobs when you file your weekly claims.
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Brianna Schmidt
•Thanks! Do I need to mention the possibility of being called back or just treat it like a regular layoff?
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Alexis Renard
•You can mention it when you file, but keep looking for other work. Washington ESD requires active job search regardless of potential callback.
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Camila Jordan
I was in almost the exact same situation last year. Filed regular UI benefits through Washington ESD and got approved pretty quickly. The key is staying active in your job search - you can't just wait around for your old job to call you back.
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Brianna Schmidt
•How many jobs did you have to apply to each week? I heard Washington ESD has specific requirements.
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Camila Jordan
•It's 3 job search activities per week minimum. Can be applications, networking events, job fairs, etc. Keep good records!
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Tyler Lefleur
The term you're thinking of is probably 'standby' but that's only for very specific union situations or certain industries with seasonal work patterns. For most people getting laid off temporarily, you file regular unemployment benefits and follow normal job search requirements.
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Madeline Blaze
•What's the difference between standby and regular unemployment? I keep seeing that term on the Washington ESD site.
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Tyler Lefleur
•Standby is when you have a definite return-to-work date within a few weeks and don't have to do job search activities. Most temporary layoffs don't qualify for this.
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Max Knight
I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and can never get through. The phone system is absolutely terrible - always busy or hangs up on you. Recently discovered claimyr.com which actually got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes. They have this video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Worth checking out if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD.
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Emma Swift
•Never heard of that service before. Does it actually work or is it some kind of scam?
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Max Knight
•It's legit - basically automates the calling process so you don't have to sit there redialing constantly. Was skeptical at first but it actually worked.
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Isabella Tucker
•Anything is better than spending hours trying to get through to Washington ESD. Their phone system is a nightmare.
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Jayden Hill
wait so if you get laid off temporarily you still have to look for other jobs?? that seems stupid if your employer might call you back
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Alexis Renard
•Yes, Washington ESD requires job search activities unless you qualify for standby status, which most people don't. The reason is 'might' call you back isn't guaranteed income.
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Jayden Hill
•ugh that's so annoying but I guess it makes sense
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LordCommander
I made the mistake of not filing right away because I thought my layoff was temporary. Waited 3 weeks thinking I'd get called back and then found out I could have been collecting benefits that whole time. File immediately!
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Brianna Schmidt
•Good point - I was wondering if I should wait to see if they call me back first. Definitely filing this week.
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Lucy Lam
•Yeah Washington ESD has a waiting week anyway so no reason to delay filing. Get the process started ASAP.
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Aidan Hudson
The whole system is confusing as hell. Between regular UI, standby, partial unemployment, workshare... Washington ESD should make it clearer what applies to different situations. I spent hours on their website trying to figure out what to file.
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Zoe Wang
•Totally agree. And good luck getting anyone on the phone to explain it. Their customer service is basically non-existent.
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Connor Richards
•This is why I ended up using that claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get answers.
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Grace Durand
Just to clarify for the OP - you're looking at regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. File online through the Washington ESD website, report your job separation reason as layoff, and start your weekly claims immediately. Don't overthink it.
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Brianna Schmidt
•Perfect, thanks for the clear answer. I was making this way more complicated than it needed to be.
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Steven Adams
•The Washington ESD online system is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. Just follow the prompts step by step.
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Alice Fleming
One thing to keep in mind - if your employer does call you back and you refuse the work, Washington ESD might question your benefits. Make sure any job you turn down has valid reasons (significant pay cut, different job duties, etc.
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Hassan Khoury
•Good point. What counts as a 'valid reason' to refuse work? Is distance a factor?
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Alice Fleming
•Generally yes - if the commute is significantly longer than your previous job or the pay is substantially lower than your previous wage, those can be valid reasons.
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Victoria Stark
been collecting unemployment for 8 weeks now after temporary layoff that turned permanent. The job search requirement isn't that bad - 3 activities per week is pretty manageable if you use job boards and networking
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Benjamin Kim
•What do you use to track your job search activities? I keep forgetting to write them down.
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Victoria Stark
•I just use a simple spreadsheet with date, company, position, and type of activity. Washington ESD might ask for proof so keep good records.
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Samantha Howard
Pro tip: when you file your initial claim, make sure to have your employer information handy including their Washington ESD account number if you know it. Speeds up the process significantly.
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Brianna Schmidt
•Where would I find my employer's Washington ESD account number? Is that on my paystubs?
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Samantha Howard
•Sometimes it's on paystubs but not always. You can file without it - Washington ESD will look it up based on your employer's name and address.
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Megan D'Acosta
The Washington ESD system worked great for me during my temporary layoff last year. Got my first payment within 2 weeks of filing. Just stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements.
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Sarah Ali
•2 weeks is pretty fast! I've heard some people wait months for their first payment.
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Megan D'Acosta
•If there are no issues with your claim and your employer doesn't contest it, payments usually start pretty quickly. Problems arise when there's confusion about your separation reason.
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Ryan Vasquez
Whatever you do, don't wait to file thinking the layoff might be short. I learned this the hard way - Washington ESD doesn't backdate benefits to when you became unemployed, only to when you actually filed your claim.
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Avery Saint
•Wait, they don't backdate at all? So if you wait a month to file you lose a month of benefits?
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Ryan Vasquez
•Exactly. Your claim effective date is when you file, not when you lost your job. File immediately even if you think the layoff might be temporary.
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Taylor Chen
Had a similar situation where I thought my layoff was temporary. Ended up lasting 4 months. The key is treating it like any other unemployment claim - file immediately, do your job search, and if you get called back that's just a bonus.
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Brianna Schmidt
•That's exactly what I'm worried about - what if the 'temporary' layoff lasts way longer than expected. Better to be safe and file now.
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Keith Davidson
•Smart thinking. You can always stop claiming benefits if you get called back, but you can't get back the weeks you didn't file for.
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Ezra Bates
The hardest part about unemployment isn't the filing process, it's actually getting through to someone at Washington ESD when you have questions. I probably spent 40+ hours on hold before finding claimyr. Now I can actually get answers when I need them.
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Ana Erdoğan
•How much does that claimyr thing cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay extra just to talk to a government agency.
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Ezra Bates
•You're right that we shouldn't have to, but the reality is Washington ESD's phone system is broken. Sometimes you just need to get through and get answers.
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Sophia Carson
UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for the advice. Filed my regular UI claim yesterday and it was much easier than I expected. Now just waiting for the determination letter to see if I'm approved.
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Elijah Knight
•Awesome! Hope everything goes smoothly. Keep checking your online account for updates.
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Brooklyn Foley
•Good luck with your claim! Remember to keep doing those job search activities even while waiting for approval.
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Brianna Schmidt
•Thanks everyone! This thread was super helpful. Will definitely keep up with the job search requirements.
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