Washington ESD unemployment insurance mandatory - employer not paying into system?

How do I report this to Washington ESD? Do I need to provide proof that I worked there?

You'll need pay stubs, W-2 forms, or any documentation showing you worked there. Washington ESD will investigate and can require the employer to pay back contributions.

What did he do about it? Did he eventually get his benefits?

It took months to resolve but he did get his benefits backdated. The employer got in trouble with the state too.

Really? I've been trying to call for days with no luck. How does Claimyr work exactly?

It's basically a service that handles the calling and waiting for you. You go to claimyr.com and they'll get you connected to an actual ESD representative. Way better than spending hours on hold.

I'm skeptical of paying for something I should be able to do myself, but if it actually works...

I was working in retail at a clothing store. Definitely not agricultural or domestic work.

Then your employer was absolutely required to pay into the UI system. This sounds like they were either not reporting wages properly or trying to avoid their tax obligations.

While it's frustrating, Washington ESD does take these violations seriously. They have enforcement mechanisms in place.

yeah right, tell that to all the people who never get their benefits because of employer mistakes

How long does a wage protest usually take to process?

It can take several weeks to a few months depending on how cooperative the employer is and how much investigation is needed.

Did you eventually get it resolved? I'm worried this will take months.

yeah but only after using that claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. saved me weeks of trying to get through on the phone

But how can I file weekly claims if my initial claim was denied due to no wage records?

You'll need to appeal the denial first, then continue filing while the wage protest is being investigated.

I really hope it doesn't come to that. Did she eventually win?

Yes but it took over a year and a lot of stress. Hopefully yours gets resolved faster.

I have most of my pay stubs but not all of them. Will that be a problem?

Get whatever you can. Bank deposits, W-2 forms, anything that shows you were paid by this employer will help your case.

No, I was definitely an employee. I had taxes withheld from my paychecks and everything.

ok then yeah, they were definitely supposed to be paying UI taxes. this is on them

How much does it cost though? I'm already struggling financially.

I don't want to give wrong info on pricing, but for me it was worth it to actually get my issues resolved instead of spending weeks trying to get through.

Thanks! I'll look for that form right now.

Easy to say after the fact. Most people don't think to check this stuff when they're just trying to get a job.

What kind of penalties do employers face for not paying UI taxes?

They can face back taxes, interest, penalties, and in severe cases criminal charges. The state takes this seriously.

Would that help with my unemployment claim though?

It might not directly help your UI claim but it could pressure the employer to cooperate with the wage protest.

I worked there for 8 months full-time, so it should definitely count.

Yeah that should be plenty to establish eligibility. The employer definitely messed up.

Thanks for all the support everyone. I'm going to start with filing the wage protest and see where it goes.

It's good to hear from people who actually resolved this kind of issue. Gives me hope.

You'll get through it. Just don't give up and make sure you meet all the deadlines for appeals and protests.