Washington ESD unemployment insurance system history - how did it start?

Thanks! So Washington ESD was created because of that 1935 federal law? When did Washington actually start paying out unemployment benefits?

Washington started collecting unemployment taxes in 1937 and began paying benefits in 1938. The state had to build the whole system from scratch after the federal law passed.

That explains why Washington ESD has different rules than other states I've lived in. The benefit amounts and eligibility requirements vary quite a bit.

Exactly! Washington's benefit formula and job search requirements are specific to our state's implementation of the federal framework.

Never heard of that before, but I'm desperate at this point. The regular Washington ESD phone line just hangs up on me after an hour of waiting.

Advanced maybe, but still crashes during high-volume periods! Remember when COVID hit and everyone was trying to file claims?

Fair point! No system was really designed to handle that kind of sudden volume increase. Most states struggled with the same issues.

That's really helpful context! So unemployment insurance was basically created because of the massive unemployment during the Depression?

Exactly! Unemployment hit 25% at the worst point, so there was huge public pressure to create some kind of system to help people between jobs.

Good question! Britain had unemployment insurance starting in 1911, and Germany had it even earlier. The US was definitely behind other industrialized countries in creating social insurance programs.

Makes sense why it took a massive economic crisis for the US to finally act on it then.

Wow, 30 years! You must have seen a lot of changes. What was the biggest transformation you witnessed?

Definitely the move from paper claims to online filing. We used to process everything by mail and phone. The pandemic really accelerated digital adoption too.

Since you worked there, any advice for getting through the adjudication process faster? I'm still waiting and it's been over a month.

Oh interesting! So that's why you have to register with WorkSource as part of getting unemployment benefits in Washington?

Exactly! The job search requirement connects the unemployment insurance system with the employment services. You're supposed to be actively looking for work while receiving benefits.

Standby status is actually a good example of how states customized their programs. Not every state has that option for seasonal workers.

Really? I assumed it was standard everywhere. Good to know Washington ESD has some flexibility in how they handle different situations.

Speaking of funding, does anyone know if the recent federal extensions affected how Washington ESD processes regular state claims?

The federal programs were separate systems, but they did create processing backlogs that affected everyone. That's part of why adjudication has been taking longer.

never heard of claimyr before, does it actually work?

Yeah, it worked for me. They basically call Washington ESD for you and connect you when they get through. Saved me a lot of frustration trying to get my claim resolved.

Thanks! That's exactly the kind of detail I need. So there's both state and federal involvement in unemployment insurance?

Right - it's a federal-state partnership. States run their own programs but have to meet federal standards. That's why you see similarities between state systems but also differences in benefit amounts and eligibility rules.

Hard to imagine not having unemployment insurance as an option! Even with all the current problems people complain about, at least the system exists.

Exactly! The system has flaws but it's prevented a lot of economic hardship over the past 90 years. Washington ESD processes hundreds of thousands of claims every year.

I'll look into that, thanks. Been trying to call for weeks with no luck getting through.

That's cool! Does that mean Washington ESD has been around longer than unemployment agencies in other states?

Washington ESD as we know it today was created later, but the state unemployment program started very early. The agency has been reorganized and renamed several times over the decades.

Perfect! I was looking for those specific section numbers. This has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there were so many people knowledgeable about unemployment history on here.

This forum is great for learning about Washington ESD! I've gotten more useful information here than from most official sources.