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Final thought - keep detailed records of all your interactions with Washington ESD about this overpayment. Dates, times, who you talked to, what was discussed. It can be really helpful if there are any disputes later.
This thread has been super helpful. I had no idea there were so many options for dealing with overpayments. I thought I just had to pay it all back immediately.
Based on what you described - 8 months of full-time work at $18/hour - you almost certainly qualify. That's around $23,000-$24,000 in wages which is well above the minimum requirements. Just file your claim and Washington ESD will verify your wage history.
The hardest part about unemployment isn't qualifying, it's dealing with Washington ESD's terrible customer service when you have problems. Save yourself the headache and bookmark that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. You'll probably need it at some point.
The bottom line is job abandonment makes you ineligible unless you can prove good cause that would compel a reasonable person to quit. Gather your evidence, be honest in interviews, and don't give up if initially denied.
One more thing - if you do get denied and appeal, consider getting help with the appeal hearing. Having someone who understands Washington ESD rules can make a big difference in how you present your case.
Some legal aid organizations help with unemployment appeals, and there are services like the one mentioned earlier that can at least help you reach Washington ESD agents for information.
Yeah, being able to actually talk to someone who can explain the process makes a huge difference. The Claimyr thing I mentioned earlier really helped me understand what I needed to do for my appeal.
just wanted to add that if you're thinking about filing soon, don't wait too long. you can't backdate unemployment claims in Washington very far, so you could lose potential benefits if you delay
Update: I tried that Claimyr thing and actually got through to Washington ESD in like 10 minutes. The agent confirmed my calculation was right and answered some other questions I had about job search requirements. Pretty convenient honestly.
Isaiah Sanders
I was in a similar boat last year - workers comp settlement and then filed for unemployment. The whole process took about a month from filing to getting my first payment. Had to provide some extra documentation but nothing too crazy. Main thing is just being upfront about the settlement and your work restrictions.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•A month doesn't sound too bad. Did they ask for specific documents or just general information?
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Isaiah Sanders
•They wanted a copy of my settlement agreement and a letter from my doctor about my work restrictions. Pretty standard stuff. Once I provided that, everything moved along smoothly.
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Xan Dae
If you run into problems or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific case, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I used it when I had questions about my claim after a work injury and it saved me so much time and frustration. They actually get you connected to real agents instead of just waiting on hold forever.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•That's the third mention of Claimyr in this thread. Seems like it really works for people.
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Xan Dae
•It definitely works. I was skeptical at first but after spending weeks trying to get through on my own, it was worth it to actually talk to someone who could give me real answers about my situation.
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