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If anyone's still struggling to reach Washington ESD about work history verification, I had success with Claimyr recently. They got me connected within an hour to an agent who could access my wage records. Much better than spending days trying to get through the regular phone lines.
Bottom line: if you earned at least $3,850 in wages during your base year and worked in at least 2 quarters, you should qualify. The gaps between jobs don't matter as long as you meet those thresholds. File your claim and let Washington ESD make the determination.
UPDATE: Payment just hit my account this morning (Wednesday)! Right on schedule like everyone said. Thanks for helping me not panic. Going to set up those bank alerts now so I don't stress about it next week.
Great to see a successful resolution! For anyone else reading this thread later, the key takeaways are: expect 1-2 business days after filing your weekly claim, first payments take longer, and don't panic if it's within the normal timeframe.
And remember Claimyr is there if you need to actually talk to Washington ESD about any issues.
One more vote for filing immediately! I was laid off on a Friday and filed that same day. Had my first payment within 10 days. The key is not to overthink it - just file as soon as you're eligible.
Last thing I'll add - if you run into any problems during the application process or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD afterward, don't give up after a few failed phone calls. Keep trying different times of day, or look into services like Claimyr that can help you get through to an actual person.
For anyone else reading this - if you need to contact Washington ESD about any of these programs and can't get through on the phone, I've had good luck with Claimyr too. Much easier than trying to call repeatedly throughout the day.
Bottom line: paid family leave = you have a job, taking time off for family reasons. Unemployment = you don't have a job, looking for work. Completely different situations and benefit programs.
Jamal Brown
Don't feel bad about using a service like Claimyr if you need to. The Washington ESD phone system is designed to discourage people from calling. Getting actual answers about your benefits is worth the cost.
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McKenzie Shade
•You're probably right. I've already wasted so much time trying to call on my own.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
•Exactly, time is money and this is affecting your livelihood. Get the answers you need.
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Fatima Al-Rashid
Hope you get this figured out soon! Benefit reductions are scary when you're depending on that income. Keep us updated on what you find out.
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McKenzie Shade
•Thanks, I will. Appreciate everyone's help and suggestions in this thread.
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Daryl Bright
•Good luck! Once you get through to an agent they should be able to explain everything clearly.
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