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One more tip - set up direct deposit as soon as possible. Paper checks take forever to arrive and can get lost in the mail. The direct deposit option is in your Washington ESD account under payment methods.
The most important thing honestly is just to start the process. I spent days researching and overthinking everything when I should have just filed the claim. You can always ask questions and get help along the way, but you can't get benefits until you actually apply.
For future reference, the Washington ESD website has pretty detailed instructions about work search requirements. Might be worth bookmarking the job search section.
Quick tip - when you apply, have your Social Security card, driver's license, and information about your last employer ready. The application will ask for specific dates and addresses. Also, if you have direct deposit info that speeds up getting your payments.
Been there, done that. Manufacturing layoffs are pretty common and Washington ESD sees them all the time. Your benefit amount will depend on your exact wage history, but with steady work for 2 years you should qualify for a decent weekly amount. Just be patient with the system and don't panic if it takes a few weeks to get your first payment.
One thing nobody mentioned - if you have wages in another state during your base period, you might need to file a combined wage claim. Washington ESD can use wages from other states to establish your claim if needed.
The base period calculation seems straightforward but there are so many edge cases and exceptions. Military service, federal employment, out-of-state wages - it gets complicated fast.
That's exactly why services like Claimyr exist - to get around that phone system bottleneck and actually reach a knowledgeable agent.
Rajiv Kumar
This thread is making me realize how screwed contractors are in the unemployment system. We pay taxes but can't get benefits when we need them. It's completely unfair.
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Aria Washington
•Yep, it's one of the downsides of contractor work that people don't think about until it's too late.
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Ryder Ross
•I definitely didn't consider this when I started freelancing. Live and learn I guess.
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Liam O'Reilly
Bottom line - if you think you were misclassified as a contractor, it's worth fighting for. Washington ESD has specific criteria for determining employee vs contractor status. Don't let them dismiss your claim without a proper review.
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Chloe Delgado
•Good luck! Hope it works out for you.
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Olivia Kay
•Definitely try calling Washington ESD if you get denied. Use Claimyr if you need help getting through - it's worth it to talk to someone who can review your specific situation.
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