Washington ESD unemployment rate 4 years ago - wondering about claim approval chances
I'm trying to figure out what the unemployment situation was like 4 years ago in Washington state because I'm worried about getting my current claim approved. Back in 2021 it seemed like everyone was getting benefits but now I'm hearing it's much harder. My friend said Washington ESD was approving almost everyone during COVID but now they're being super strict. I filed last week and I'm stressed about whether they'll approve me since I was laid off from a temp job. Does anyone know what the unemployment rate was like in 2021 compared to now? I'm trying to gauge if my chances are good or if I should prepare for a long wait.
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Nia Thompson
unemployment was crazy high in 2021, like over 10% at some points. now its back down to normal levels around 4-5%. but that doesn't really affect your individual claim approval
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Luca Greco
•Really? So they're not automatically denying people now just because unemployment is lower?
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Nia Thompson
•no your eligibility is based on your work history and reason for separation, not the overall rate
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Mateo Rodriguez
The unemployment rate in Washington was around 12% in April 2021 during the peak of COVID layoffs. It's currently sitting around 4.2% which is actually pretty normal. However, your claim approval depends on whether you meet the base period earnings requirements and if you were separated from work through no fault of your own. Temp job layoffs are usually approved as long as you earned enough wages during your base period.
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Luca Greco
•Thanks, that's reassuring. I worked the temp job for 8 months so hopefully that's enough earnings.
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Aisha Hussain
•8 months should definitely meet the base period requirements. You needed to earn at least $5,265 during your base period and at least $405 in your highest quarter.
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GalacticGladiator
I've been trying to call Washington ESD for 3 days straight to check on my claim status and can't get through to anyone! The phone system just hangs up on me after being on hold forever. This is so frustrating - how is anyone supposed to get help?
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Ethan Brown
•I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out their website claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.
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GalacticGladiator
•Is that legit? I'm desperate at this point but don't want to get scammed.
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Ethan Brown
•Yeah it's real, they just handle the calling and waiting for you. Way better than spending hours trying to get through yourself.
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Yuki Yamamoto
The whole system is rigged anyway. Back in 2021 they threw money at everyone but now they're looking for any excuse to deny claims. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my adjudication to complete!
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Adjudication times have definitely increased since pandemic programs ended, but 6 weeks isn't unusual if there are complex issues to review.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•COMPLEX ISSUES? I got laid off, that's it! There's nothing complex about it.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Sometimes employers contest claims or there are discrepancies in reported wages that trigger additional review. It's frustrating but not necessarily malicious.
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Carmen Ruiz
just file your weekly claims on time and wait it out, thats all you can do
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Luca Greco
•I am filing weekly but I'm worried they'll deny my initial claim and then I'll have wasted all this time.
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Aisha Hussain
•You should keep filing even if your claim is pending. If it gets approved, you'll get backpay for all the weeks you filed.
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Andre Lefebvre
Man this brings back memories of 2021 when I was laid off from my restaurant job. Unemployment was like 14% here and Washington ESD was overwhelmed with claims. But they approved mine pretty quickly because it was obviously COVID related. Now my brother just got denied because they said he quit voluntarily even though he was basically forced out. The standards are definitely different now.
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Luca Greco
•That's exactly what I'm worried about. Did your brother appeal the decision?
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Andre Lefebvre
•Yeah he's appealing but it's taking forever. He should have gotten help reaching Washington ESD sooner to explain his situation.
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Aisha Hussain
To answer your original question more specifically - Washington's unemployment rate peaked at around 16.3% in April 2020 and was still elevated around 8-12% throughout 2021. Currently we're at about 4.2% which is actually below the national average. But remember, your individual claim eligibility hasn't changed - you still need to meet the same wage and separation requirements that have been in place for years.
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Luca Greco
•Thank you for the specific numbers! That helps put things in perspective.
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Zoe Dimitriou
•Those are good stats. I was wondering the same thing because my cousin got benefits so easily in 2021 but I'm struggling now.
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Nia Thompson
the pandemic unemployment programs like PUA and PEUC made it seem like everyone was getting approved but those don't exist anymore. regular UI has always had the same requirements
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Luca Greco
•Oh that makes sense. I didn't realize there were different programs back then.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Exactly. PUA covered people who normally wouldn't qualify for regular unemployment, like gig workers and self-employed people. Now it's back to traditional UI rules.
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QuantumQuest
I'm in the same boat - filed two weeks ago after being laid off from my temp job and haven't heard anything. Should I be worried if I don't hear back soon?
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Aisha Hussain
•Two weeks is still within normal processing time, especially if your claim doesn't require adjudication. Keep filing your weekly claims.
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QuantumQuest
•OK thanks, I was starting to panic thinking they automatically deny temp workers now.
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Jamal Anderson
I used Claimyr last month when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about my job search requirements. They got me connected to an agent in like 20 minutes when I had been trying for days. Totally worth it when you're stressed about your claim.
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GalacticGladiator
•How much does it cost though? I'm already unemployed so money is tight.
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Jamal Anderson
•It's not expensive and honestly saved me so much time and stress. Way cheaper than missing out on benefits because you can't get answers.
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Mei Zhang
The job market is so different now compared to 2021. Back then everyone was hiring because of labor shortages, now it's much more competitive. That affects how seriously you need to take the job search requirements.
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Luca Greco
•Good point. I need to make sure I'm doing enough job search activities each week.
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Aisha Hussain
•You need 3 job search activities per week in Washington. Make sure you're logging them in your WorkSourceWA account.
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Liam McGuire
ugh why does everything have to be so complicated? just want to know if i'll get my money
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Mateo Rodriguez
•I understand the frustration. The good news is that temp job layoffs are usually straightforward approvals if you meet the wage requirements.
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Amara Eze
Check your account on Washington ESD's website regularly. Sometimes they post updates there before sending mail notifications. And make sure your address is current so you don't miss anything important.
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Luca Greco
•Good advice, I'll check my online account more frequently.
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Amara Eze
•Yeah and if you see any issues or requests for information, respond quickly. Delays in responding can slow down your claim.
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Giovanni Ricci
My claim got approved last month after a temp job layoff so don't stress too much. As long as you worked enough hours and didn't quit, you should be fine. The unemployment rate doesn't really matter for individual claims.
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Luca Greco
•That's really encouraging to hear! How long did it take for your approval?
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Giovanni Ricci
•About 3 weeks from when I filed. No adjudication needed since the layoff was clear cut.
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NeonNomad
I remember 2021 being crazy with unemployment claims. The offices were completely overwhelmed and everything took forever. At least now the processing times are more normal even if the approval standards feel stricter.
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Fatima Al-Hashemi
•Yeah the wait times were insane back then. I waited 2 months for my first payment in 2021.
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Luca Greco
•Wow, 2 months? I can't afford to wait that long now.
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Dylan Mitchell
The key thing is making sure you file your initial claim correctly and provide all the required information upfront. Missing information is what causes most delays and adjudication issues. Double check everything before submitting.
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Luca Greco
•I think I filled everything out correctly but now I'm second-guessing myself. Is there a way to check what information they have on file?
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Dylan Mitchell
•You can see some details in your online account, but if you need to verify specific information or add missing details, you'd need to call Washington ESD.
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Sofia Martinez
Another success story for Claimyr here - used them when my claim got stuck in adjudication and needed to speak with someone about documentation I had submitted. The agent was able to review my file immediately and explain exactly what was happening. Saved me weeks of waiting and wondering.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Maybe I should try that for my adjudication issue. Been waiting forever and getting nowhere with the regular phone system.
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Sofia Martinez
•Definitely worth it if you've been waiting weeks. They handle all the calling and hold time so you don't have to stress about it.
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Dmitry Volkov
Bottom line - unemployment rates were much higher 4 years ago but your individual claim is evaluated the same way now as it was then. Focus on meeting the basic requirements rather than worrying about overall economic conditions.
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Luca Greco
•Thank you, that's exactly what I needed to hear. I was overthinking the bigger picture when I should focus on my specific situation.
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Dmitry Volkov
•Exactly. As long as you were laid off through no fault of your own and earned enough wages, you should be approved regardless of what unemployment rates look like.
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