Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
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Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the ESD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the ESD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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For anyone still confused, here's the simple version: Washington unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks (about 6 months) per benefit year. Your specific number of weeks and benefit year dates are on your monetary determination letter. If you exhaust benefits and still need help, you have to wait until your benefit year ends to potentially qualify for a new claim.
Yes this helps a lot! I was overthinking it but 26 weeks is straightforward enough.
Don't forget you also have to meet job search requirements and file weekly claims to keep getting benefits during those 26 weeks!
One more thing - if you're worried about running out of benefits, start planning early. Don't wait until week 25 to think about what happens next. Look into job training, other assistance programs, whatever you need to bridge the gap.
WorkSource Washington has planning resources for this exact situation. They can help you figure out next steps before your benefits run out.
I'll definitely keep this in mind. Better to plan ahead than scramble at the end.
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Wait, I thought I read somewhere that you can get up to 30 weeks in some cases? Was I wrong about that?
You might be thinking of other states or special programs. In Washington, regular unemployment insurance is capped at 26 weeks. The only way to get more is if extended benefits are triggered, which hasn't happened recently.
Must have been confusing it with another state. Good thing I asked!
Pro tip: keep track of your weeks manually. The Washington ESD website isn't always clear about how many you have left, and you don't want to be surprised when you hit 26.
This is great advice. I made a simple spreadsheet to track my weekly claims and remaining balance. Helps with budgeting too.
That's smart. I'm definitely going to start tracking mine better after reading all this.
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Just remember that unemployment tax is just one of many payroll taxes you'll be dealing with as an employer. Factor in Social Security, Medicare, state income tax withholding, and workers comp when budgeting for labor costs.
For a small business, a payroll service can definitely be worth it. They handle all the tax calculations, filing, and compliance issues so you can focus on running your business.
Agreed. The peace of mind alone is worth the cost when you're just starting out.
Final tip: Washington ESD employers have to report new hires within 20 days. It's part of the child support enforcement program but it's required for all employers regardless of whether your employees have child support obligations.
Thanks for all the advice everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I feel like I have a much better understanding of what I'm getting into.
Good luck with your new business! The tax stuff seems complicated at first but it becomes routine once you get the hang of it.
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Final thought: I've helped several older relatives with their unemployment claims over the years. The process is exactly the same regardless of age. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If you've worked and paid into the system, you've earned these benefits.
Thank you so much to everyone who responded. I'm filing my claim tomorrow morning. You've all been incredibly helpful and reassuring.
Good luck with your claim! You'll do fine. The system is designed to help people like you who are genuinely looking for work.
One last piece of advice: when you file, make sure you have all your employment information ready including dates, wages, and reason for separation. The more accurate information you provide upfront, the smoother your claim process will be. Age won't be a factor at all.
I've been gathering all my paperwork. I have 12 years of employment history with this company so it should be straightforward. Thanks again everyone!
You're going to do great. Don't let your former supervisor's misinformation discourage you. You have every right to these benefits.
Mateo Lopez
One last thing - be prepared for identity verification. Washington ESD has gotten stricter about that lately. You might need to upload documents or go through additional verification steps.
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Mateo Lopez
•Driver's license, Social Security card, sometimes pay stubs or tax documents. Just have them ready in case.
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Aisha Abdullah
•The ID verification can add time to your claim processing, so don't panic if it takes a few extra days.
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Ethan Davis
You're in good shape based on everything you've said. File online this week, keep good job search records, and don't stress too much about the process. Washington ESD processes most straightforward claims pretty efficiently once you get through the initial application.
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Ava Thompson
•Perfect! Thanks to everyone who responded. This community is amazing - I feel so much better about the whole process now.
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Yuki Tanaka
•We've all been there! Unemployment can be stressful enough without worrying about eligibility. You've got this!
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