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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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I'm about 13 days into waiting after being laid off from my tech support job, and this discussion has been absolutely incredible for managing my anxiety about the process! I was definitely one of those people obsessively checking the website multiple times a day seeing "processing" status, but reading everyone's real experiences here shows that's totally normal for the 2-3 week timeline. I've been religiously filing my weekly claims even though nothing's approved yet - that seems to be the most critical piece based on what everyone keeps emphasizing. Got my direct deposit set up from day one and already knocked out my WorkSource registration after seeing all the advice about doing that proactively. Walt's recent update about getting "active" status in 10 days is really encouraging and shows some claims do move faster than the typical range! The practical tips and realistic timelines from people who've actually been through this are infinitely more helpful than anything on the official ESD website. Thanks to this whole community for sharing your experiences - it's made this stressful waiting period so much more manageable knowing others have walked this exact path successfully!
You're so close to that typical 2-3 week mark! At 13 days with everything set up properly (weekly claims, direct deposit, WorkSource registration), you should definitely see movement very soon. Tech support layoffs are usually pretty straightforward for ESD to process, so you're likely just waiting for the normal processing timeline to complete. It's really smart that you stopped the obsessive website checking - I had to force myself to do the same thing after reading all the advice here about email notifications being better for your mental health. Walt's quick 10-day approval shows the system can definitely move faster sometimes, but even if you hit the full 2-3 weeks, you're still totally on track. Keep up with those weekly filings and hang in there - you should be seeing that "active" status change any day now!
I'm about 5 days into waiting after filing my claim following a layoff from my call center job. This entire thread has been such a huge relief to read! I was starting to get really worried seeing "processing" status with no changes, but everyone's experiences show that's completely normal in the first 2-3 weeks. I've been making sure to file my weekly claims even though nothing's approved yet - seems like that's the golden rule everyone keeps mentioning. Already got direct deposit set up and planning to knock out my WorkSource registration this week after seeing all the great advice about doing that early. Walt's update about getting "active" status in just 10 days is really encouraging! It's amazing how much more helpful these real experiences are compared to the vague official timelines. Thanks to everyone for sharing - makes this whole nerve-wracking process feel so much more manageable when you know others have been in the exact same situation and made it through successfully!
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Bottom line - if you're hiring people, register with Washington ESD. The penalties for not doing it are way worse than just following the rules from the start.
Agreed. Better safe than sorry with government requirements.
As someone who just went through this process last month, I can confirm you definitely need to register if you're hiring employees. One thing that helped me was calling the Washington ESD Business Services line directly - they have a separate number for new business inquiries that's usually less busy than the general unemployment line. The registration itself is pretty straightforward once you have your federal EIN. Just don't put it off because those penalties add up fast if you're late.
That's really helpful! Do you happen to know what that separate Business Services number is? I've been trying the main line and it's always busy.
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I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences here. I was really anxious about transitioning from workers comp to unemployment, but reading all these responses has given me so much clarity. It sounds like Washington ESD is pretty reasonable about these situations as long as you're honest and have your paperwork ready. I'm planning to file my claim this week - my L&I case closed two weeks ago and I've been cleared for light duty work, but my old employer can't accommodate my lifting restrictions. Feeling much more confident about the process now thanks to all of you!
This thread has been incredibly helpful for me too! I'm in a similar boat - just finished up a 4-month workers comp claim for a shoulder injury and my employer says they can't offer me anything within my 20-pound lifting restriction. I was so worried about whether I'd qualify for unemployment benefits, but seeing everyone's experiences here has really put my mind at ease. The fact that Washington ESD adjusts job search requirements to match your restrictions makes so much sense - I was stressed about having to apply for jobs I physically can't perform. Planning to file my claim next week once I get my final paperwork from L&I. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, especially about the timeline and documentation needed. This community is amazing!
You're in great company here! A shoulder injury with a 20-pound lifting restriction is definitely something Washington ESD sees regularly - they understand that many jobs just aren't feasible with those limitations. It sounds like you're being smart about waiting for all your L&I paperwork before filing, but don't stress if you're missing a document or two. From what others have shared, you can always provide additional documentation during the review process. The key thing is getting your claim started once your workers comp case officially closes. Your employer's inability to accommodate a 20-pound restriction is clearly not voluntary unemployment on your part - that's just the reality of workplace limitations. Make sure to document that conversation with your employer about the lack of suitable positions if you haven't already. Good luck with your application next week!
I went through this exact transition about 8 months ago after a knee injury, and I wanted to share some specific tips that might help. First, when you file your claim, make sure to mention in the initial application that you're transitioning from workers comp - there's actually a specific question about this that helps route your claim to adjudicators who are familiar with these cases. Second, if your employer provided you with any written documentation about why they can't accommodate your restrictions (even just an email), save that and upload it with your application. Washington ESD really values having that employer communication documented. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, and my benefits were retroactive to when I filed, not when I was approved. One thing that surprised me was that the ESD adjudicator actually called my former employer directly to verify that no suitable positions were available - so your employer should be prepared for that call. Overall the process was much smoother than I expected, especially compared to dealing with L&I initially. Good luck with your application!
This is incredibly helpful information! I hadn't thought about the fact that they actually call the employer to verify - that's good to know so I can give my former employer a heads up that Washington ESD might be reaching out. The tip about mentioning the workers comp transition right in the initial application is gold - I definitely want to make sure my claim gets routed to someone who understands these situations. I'm also glad you mentioned that benefits are retroactive to when you file rather than when approved - that makes the timing even more important. Three weeks seems very reasonable for the whole process. Did you have any issues with the job search requirements during those first few weeks while your claim was being reviewed, or do they typically wait until after approval to start expecting job search documentation?
Great question about the job search requirements! In my experience, Washington ESD typically doesn't start requiring job search documentation until after your claim is approved and you begin receiving benefits. During the 3-week adjudication period, they're focused on verifying your eligibility rather than tracking job search activities. However, I'd still recommend keeping track of any job searching you do during that time, just in case - it shows good faith effort if they ask about it later. Once I was approved, I had to start submitting weekly job search logs showing that I was only applying for positions within my restrictions. The nice thing is that this actually made my job search more focused and less overwhelming than trying to apply for everything. One more tip - if you do give your employer a heads up about the potential call from ESD, just let them know they might be contacted to verify employment details and the accommodation situation. Most employers are pretty straightforward about these calls since it's just factual information.
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I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been on unemployment for several months now. The consensus here is absolutely correct - report ALL hours you were paid for, including holiday pay. I learned this the hard way early on when I under-reported and had to deal with weeks of back-and-forth with ESD to correct it. One thing I'd add that might help others: when you're reporting these hours, make sure your earnings match up too. So if you got paid for 24 hours total (16 worked + 8 holiday), your gross earnings should reflect the pay for all 24 hours. The ESD system cross-references hours and earnings, so they need to be consistent. Also, keep really good records of your pay stubs showing the breakdown of regular hours vs. holiday/vacation/sick pay. If ESD ever questions anything, having that documentation makes resolving issues much faster. Trust me, it's worth the extra effort to be thorough from the start rather than dealing with overpayment notices later!
This is such great advice about keeping detailed records! I'm just starting my unemployment journey and hadn't thought about the importance of documentation beyond just reporting correctly. The tip about making sure hours and earnings match up is really helpful too - I can see how the ESD system would flag inconsistencies there. It sounds like being overly thorough and organized from day one is definitely the way to go. Thanks for sharing your experience over several months of claims - it's reassuring to hear from someone who's navigated this successfully long-term!
As someone who just went through their first holiday week claim last month, I can confirm everything everyone is saying here - definitely report ALL 24 hours (your 16 worked + 8 holiday pay). I was terrified of making a mistake too, but the rule is simple: any hour your employer paid you for gets reported, period. One small tip that helped me - I actually called my HR department to confirm exactly how the holiday pay would show up on my paystub before I filed my claim. That way I knew exactly what numbers to report and had documentation if needed. The whole process was way less scary once I understood that ESD just wants to see everything you were paid for, nothing more, nothing less. You're being smart to ask questions upfront rather than guessing! Good luck with your claim.
StarStrider
I'm in the same frustrating situation - filed 4 weeks ago and still waiting on my first payment from Washington ESD. My claim shows "active" and I've been doing everything correctly with weekly certifications and job searches, but payments are just stuck at "processed" with no dates. This thread has been incredibly helpful in understanding that there are often hidden issues like identity verification holds or employer reporting errors that they don't communicate clearly. Based on all the Claimyr success stories here, I'm definitely going to try that service this week. It's ridiculous that we have to pay a third party to reach our own state agency, but I'd rather spend some money than keep waiting while bills pile up. The complete lack of transparency from Washington ESD is the most frustrating part - they just leave us guessing what's wrong instead of providing clear information about delays. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!
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Fatima Al-Hashemi
•I'm in week 2 of waiting and already getting frustrated, so I can only imagine how you feel at 4 weeks! It's really helpful to see so many people sharing similar experiences - makes me realize this isn't just bad luck but a systemic problem with Washington ESD. The hidden issues you mentioned like identity verification holds really explain a lot - no wonder we're all stuck guessing what's wrong. I'm also planning to try Claimyr this week based on all the positive outcomes people are reporting here. You're absolutely right that it's ridiculous we have to pay someone else to access our own benefits, but at this point I'd rather take action than just keep waiting and hoping. Thanks for adding your experience to this thread - it's reassuring to know we're not alone in dealing with this broken system!
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Keisha Jackson
I'm dealing with the exact same situation - filed 6 weeks ago and still haven't received a single payment despite my claim showing "active" and all my weekly certifications showing "processed." I've been doing everything by the book - 3 job searches per week logged in WorkSourceWA, filing every week on time, following all the requirements. But Washington ESD gives absolutely zero information about what's causing the delay. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both eye-opening and infuriating - I had no idea about all these hidden holds like identity verification issues, employer disputes, or system glitches that they apparently just don't tell us about. The lack of communication is the worst part - they just leave us hanging while bills pile up and we're left guessing what's wrong. Based on all the Claimyr success stories throughout this thread, I'm definitely going to try that service tomorrow. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to pay a third party just to reach our own state agency, but I'm at the point where I'd rather spend some money to get my payments flowing than keep waiting indefinitely while my rent and utilities go unpaid. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare and there are actual solutions that work!
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