


Ask the community...
Been dealing with Washington ESD for months now and honestly the whole experience has been frustrating. Between the confusing website, long hold times, and constantly changing requirements, it's exhausting.
I feel you. The system definitely isn't user-friendly. Hang in there though - once you get through the initial setup it gets easier.
This is exactly why services like Claimyr exist. Sometimes paying for help is worth it to avoid the stress of dealing with the bureaucracy yourself.
Bottom line - your weekly benefit amount depends on your past wages and will be somewhere between $295-$999 per week. The exact calculation is complex but Washington ESD will figure it out for you when you file your claim.
Watch out for scams too. There are fake unemployment websites that look official but are trying to steal your information. Always make sure you're on the real Washington ESD website (esd.wa.gov) and never give your login information to anyone claiming to help you with your claim.
This thread is super helpful! I'm bookmarking it in case I ever need to file for unemployment. Hopefully I won't but it's good to know what to expect just in case.
Just to follow up on calling ESD - definitely worth doing even if it seems like there's nothing they can help with. Sometimes there are local programs or resources they can point you toward that you wouldn't find otherwise. The key is actually getting through to talk to someone, which is where services like Claimyr really help.
OK you've convinced me to try calling them. If I can't get through the regular way I'll check out that Claimyr thing.
Also don't forget to keep documenting your job search activities even though you're not filing weekly claims anymore. If any new programs become available or if you end up eligible for anything else later, having that documentation could be important.
Try calling on Wednesday mornings - that's when I've had the most success getting through to Washington ESD. Avoid Mondays and Fridays completely.
UPDATE: Finally got through using Claimyr! Spoke with an adjudicator and got my wage records issue resolved. Thanks to everyone who suggested it. Would definitely recommend for anyone struggling to get through on the phone.
StarSurfer
One last thing - if you do get disqualified for any reason, don't just accept it. You have the right to appeal most Washington ESD decisions. The appeal deadline is usually 30 days from when you get the notice, so don't wait too long.
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StarSurfer
•It depends on your situation and how well you can document your case. Having representation or at least good advice about what evidence to present definitely helps your chances.
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Freya Christensen
•This is another area where getting through to Washington ESD is crucial. If you can't explain your situation to someone who understands the system, it's hard to know if you have a good case for appeal. That Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth it just to get proper guidance on whether an appeal makes sense.
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Omar Hassan
Great thread everyone. Bookmarking this for future reference. The unemployment system is complicated enough without having to guess at all these rules.
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Chloe Robinson
•Agreed. Wish Washington ESD would just put all this information in one clear place instead of making us hunt for answers.
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Diego Chavez
•Maybe they should hire some of the people in this thread to rewrite their website. Y'all explained more in a few hours than I learned from months of trying to navigate their system.
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