When was FUTA passed and how does it affect my Washington ESD benefits?

That makes sense! So Washington ESD follows federal guidelines but runs the actual program?

Exactly. FUTA sets the framework and provides some funding, but Washington state determines benefit amounts, eligibility requirements, and duration within federal guidelines.

Yes, though the benefits were much smaller and the system wasn't as developed as today's Washington ESD program.

The system has definitely evolved a lot since the 1930s. Washington ESD's online claim system and job search requirements are much more sophisticated now.

Is that legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my claim and keep getting busy signals.

Yeah, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They somehow get you connected to real ESD agents instead of just sitting on hold forever.

I've heard of services like this but wasn't sure if they were worth it. How much does it cost?

Interesting! So Washington wasn't one of the first states to have unemployment insurance?

No, Washington implemented their program after FUTA passed, like most states. The federal law incentivized all states to create their own programs.

6 weeks?? that's terrible. have you tried calling?

Called probably 200 times. Either busy signal or they hang up after 2 hours on hold. This system needs a complete overhaul.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier. They specialize in getting through to Washington ESD when normal calling doesn't work. Might be worth checking out for your adjudication issue.

Do you know what the original benefit amounts were compared to what Washington ESD pays now?

The original benefits were much lower as a percentage of wages. Washington ESD's current maximum weekly benefit amount is much more generous than what was available in the 1940s and 1950s.

THREE MONTHS for an appeal hearing? That's insane. I thought my 6 week adjudication wait was bad.

Appeal hearings are backed up right now. Washington ESD is required to schedule them within a certain timeframe but they're struggling with the volume.

Have you tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned? If you can actually talk to an ESD agent, they might be able to give you a timeline for your hearing.

Really? You actually talked to a real ESD person that quickly?

Yeah, I was surprised too. They somehow bypass the regular phone system congestion. The agent was able to clarify my job search log requirements right away.

So these programs are almost 90 years old now. Wild to think about.

And they're still essential today. Without FUTA, there wouldn't be Washington ESD or unemployment benefits in any state.

That explains why I hear different stories from friends in other states about their unemployment experiences.

Right, Washington ESD might have different job search requirements or benefit calculations than other states, but the basic structure is the same everywhere.

Makes sense that they created these programs during the worst economic crisis in US history.

Exactly. Before FUTA, there was no systematic way to help unemployed workers. Now we have Washington ESD and similar agencies in every state.

The law has been updated many times, but you're right that the basic structure is old. Washington ESD tries to modernize their systems but they're still working within that 1930s framework.

I guess that explains why everything feels so bureaucratic and slow when you're trying to file a claim.

So my benefits come from taxes my employer and previous employers paid? I didn't realize that.

Right, it's insurance that employers pay for. You earned those benefits through your work history, which is why Washington ESD looks at your past wages to determine your benefit amount.

Try calling right at 8am when they open. Sometimes you can get through then.

I've tried that dozens of times. Still get busy signals or disconnected after hours on hold.

This is why services like Claimyr exist. When the regular phone system is overwhelmed, they have ways to actually get you connected to speak with Washington ESD agents about your specific claim issues.

That's probably why their website crashes so often and the phone system can't handle the call volume.

Exactly. They're trying to run a 21st century service on a 1930s foundation. It's impressive it works as well as it does, honestly.

Perfect, thank you! That's exactly what I was trying to understand. Appreciate everyone's help explaining how this connects to Washington ESD.

Glad we could help! Understanding the history definitely makes the current system make more sense.

Yeah, it's actually kind of reassuring that this system has been around so long and helped so many people over the years.

Definitely. Even with all the frustrations of dealing with Washington ESD, it's still an essential safety net that wouldn't exist without FUTA.

Right? It's easy to complain about Washington ESD when you're waiting for benefits, but the alternative would be no safety net at all.

True! Thanks everyone for all the great information. Really helped me understand the bigger picture behind my unemployment claim.

That's encouraging! Hopefully they keep improving the system while maintaining the solid foundation that FUTA established back in the 1930s.