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honestly the hardest part is the emotional stress of not knowing if you'll have income. the actual filing process isn't that complicated once you get started
Final advice - document everything from your termination meeting, keep all emails and performance reviews, and file your claim as soon as possible. Washington ESD looks at the totality of circumstances, not just the fact that you were fired. Good luck!
And remember, if you need to speak with Washington ESD directly about your claim, services like Claimyr can help you get through faster than calling repeatedly.
Just remember you only get benefits for 26 weeks normally, so don't treat it like a permanent solution. Use the time to actively job search and maybe upgrade your skills.
The whole process seems overwhelming but this thread has been super helpful. Going to file my claim tomorrow and see what my weekly benefit amount ends up being.
Honestly the hardest part isn't knowing when to certify - it's keeping up with the job search requirements week after week. Make sure you're staying on top of that because they can audit your claim at any time and ask for proof of your job search activities.
If anyone else is struggling to get through to Washington ESD for certification questions, definitely try Claimyr. I was stuck in phone hell for days trying to ask about my claim status and they got me connected in minutes. Really takes the stress out of dealing with the bureaucracy.
Don't forget about taxes! Your unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return. I learned this the hard way last year.
Last piece of advice - be 100% honest on your application. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers and if they find any discrepancies it can result in benefit fraud charges. Not worth the risk to lie about anything.
Romeo Quest
This has been a really informative thread! I learned a lot about Washington state unemployment requirements that I didn't know before.
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Destiny Bryant
•Same here! Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their knowledge and experiences.
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Val Rossi
•Yeah this community is great for getting real answers to unemployment questions.
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Eve Freeman
Final tip from someone who's been through this process - don't overthink it too much. If you've been working and paying into the system, just apply and let ESD determine if you qualify. You won't know for sure until you try!
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Clarissa Flair
•Exactly! The worst case scenario is they say no and you're in the same position you're in now.
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Caden Turner
•Plus if you get denied initially, you can always appeal or reapply later with more information.
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