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One more thing - make sure you report ANY income during your weekly claims, even if it's just a few dollars from odd jobs. Washington ESD can cross-reference with tax records and if they find unreported income, you could face an overpayment notice.
Since everyone's giving advice, I'll add this: keep copies of EVERYTHING. Your initial application, weekly claims, any correspondence from Washington ESD, job search logs, etc. If there's ever a problem with your claim, having documentation makes resolving it much easier.
One more thing - if you have any vacation pay or severance coming, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers that earnings even if you're not working, so be honest about it on your application.
No, file right away but report the vacation pay when you do your weekly claims. They'll just delay your benefits until after the vacation pay period ends.
The whole process stressed me out too but it's really not that bad once you get started. Washington ESD's website is actually pretty user-friendly compared to some other state systems I've heard about. Just take it one step at a time.
If you want to double-check anything about your Washington ESD claim history, that Claimyr thing really does work. I was skeptical at first but it got me through to an agent when I needed to verify my benefit dates for a mortgage application.
Bottom line - you're fine. UI benefits won't affect your citizenship application at all. Just be honest about your employment history and you're good to go. Good luck with your application!
Thank you so much! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I feel so much better about moving forward with my citizenship application.
Just to add one more confirmation - I work for a nonprofit that helps people with benefits applications and we always categorize unemployment as unearned income. It's consistent across pretty much every program and form we deal with.
Malik Johnson
Just to echo everyone else - file immediately through the Washington ESD website. If you run into technical issues or need to speak with someone, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier actually works pretty well. I was skeptical too but it got me through to an agent when I couldn't get through the normal way.
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NebulaNinja
•Good to hear another confirmation about that service. I'll keep it in mind if I have issues.
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Isabella Ferreira
File today if possible. The longer you wait, the more money you lose. Washington ESD doesn't backdate claims to your separation date - your claim starts when you file, period. I learned this the hard way.
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NebulaNinja
•Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm convinced - filing tonight for sure.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•Good luck with your claim! Remember to keep track of your job search activities from day one since you'll need to report them on your weekly claims.
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