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Also be aware that Washington ESD might contact your former employer to verify the reason for your separation. This is normal and doesn't mean there's a problem with your claim, it's just part of their process.
One last thing - if your claim gets denied for any reason, you can appeal within 30 days. Don't just give up if you get a denial letter, especially if you think it's wrong. The appeal process exists for a reason.
For anyone else reading this thread - the teleclaim option is definitely worth knowing about. Good backup when the website is down or you don't have computer access.
Just remember that even though you filed by phone, you'll still need to do your job search activities and report them when you file weekly claims. That part can't be skipped.
The key is making sure Washington ESD has accurate wage records from all your employers. I had to contact them because one of my previous jobs wasn't showing up and it was affecting my benefit calculation.
Bottom line - if you made good money in your base period quarters, you'll probably get close to the maximum. Just file as soon as you're unemployed and be patient with the system. It works eventually, even if it's frustrating.
I went through this 2 years ago and honestly the hardest part was the job searching while visibly pregnant. But I kept good records and Washington ESD never gave me trouble about it.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I feel much better about filing my claim now. Going to apply for UI tomorrow and start researching PFML for later.
Anastasia Smirnova
honestly the hardest part isnt figuring out how much youll get, its actually getting through to someone when you have questions or problems. the phone system is terrible and the online messaging never gets responses
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Connor Gallagher
•Yeah I've heard the customer service is pretty bad. Hopefully I won't need to contact them much.
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CosmicCowboy
•That's the reality unfortunately. Cross your fingers that your claim goes smoothly because getting help when there are issues is a real challenge.
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Sean O'Brien
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! Sounds like with my income level I should expect somewhere around $480-500 per week, which would definitely help while I'm job hunting. Going to use the online calculator to get a better estimate and then file my claim this weekend.
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Yara Sayegh
•Good luck with your claim! Feel free to come back here if you run into any issues during the process.
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Oliver Schulz
•Hope it goes smoothly for you. Having your wage information organized beforehand will definitely help speed things up.
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