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Don't let them intimidate you during the process. Employers sometimes try to make terminations sound worse than they were to avoid paying unemployment taxes.
Bottom line - file as soon as you can, be honest about everything, and keep good records. The system works if you follow the rules, even though it can be frustrating to navigate.
For anyone still worried about this process - I've helped several friends close their claims and it's really not complicated. The Washington ESD online system handles most of the work for you once you report your return to work date accurately.
Just to close the loop on the Claimyr discussion - I used them last month for a different issue and they were legit. Sometimes it's worth paying for help when you need to talk to Washington ESD quickly, especially if you have time-sensitive questions about your claim.
The waiting week is gone now which is nice. You used to have to wait a week before benefits started but they eliminated that. So you can get paid for your first week of unemployment.
Last thing - if you have questions about your specific situation, the ESD website has a lot of good information. Start there before trying to call. But if you do need to talk to someone and can't get through, that Claimyr service people mentioned actually works.
Grace Thomas
The confusion might come from the fact that some states have small employee contributions to disability insurance or family leave programs. But unemployment insurance is always employer-funded.
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Hunter Brighton
•Right, in Washington we have the WA Cares Act where employees pay a small amount for long-term care insurance. But that's completely separate from unemployment.
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Brooklyn Foley
OP you should double check your W-2 or pay stubs to see what taxes were actually taken out. You'll see Social Security, Medicare, federal income tax, but no unemployment tax deduction for employees.
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Sophia Carson
•Good idea! I'll look at my last pay stub from before I got laid off. Thanks for all the help everyone.
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