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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!
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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!
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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.
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Overall it's definitely worth applying. The worst they can say is no, and if you qualify, it can really help stretch your unemployment benefits further while you're job hunting.
You're right, I'm going to start the application today. Thanks everyone for all the helpful information!
Good luck with your application! Hope everything works out for you.
Just wanted to add that if you're struggling to get through to DSHS by phone, you can also visit a local Community Service Office in person. Sometimes it's faster than waiting on hold, and they can help you with the application right there. You can find office locations on the DSHS website. Also, many food banks don't require any paperwork and can help supplement your groceries while you're waiting for SNAP approval - just something to consider as a temporary solution.
That's really helpful advice about the Community Service Offices! I didn't even think about going in person. Do you know if they have weekend hours at any locations, or are they all weekday only? And thanks for mentioning food banks - I've been hesitant to use them but maybe I should look into it while I'm waiting for the SNAP application to process.
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Washington ESD calculates your weekly benefit using a specific formula based on your highest earning quarter in the base period. They take that quarterly amount, divide by 26, and that becomes your weekly benefit rate. Pretty straightforward once you understand the base period concept.
Thanks everyone for all the explanations! This thread really helped me understand how my benefits were calculated.
Glad it helped! The base period is really the key to understanding the whole calculation.
I went through the same confusion when I first started receiving benefits! What helped me was understanding that Washington ESD doesn't actually show you a "rate" percentage anywhere - your weekly benefit amount IS your rate. If you're getting $487/week, that's your unemployment insurance rate. The calculation behind it uses your base period wages (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed), but the end result - that $487 - is what people mean when they talk about your "rate." Hope that clears things up!
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This is such a comprehensive thread with great advice! I'm a newcomer here but have been dealing with Washington ESD for my own claim recently. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your former employer has ever had to deal with a workers' compensation claim, their ESD account number would also be on any correspondence from L&I (Labor & Industries) since the two agencies sometimes cross-reference employer information. It's a long shot, but worth checking if they have any old workers' comp paperwork lying around. Also, as someone who's currently navigating the ESD system myself, I really appreciate seeing how helpful this community is in sharing practical solutions to these bureaucratic challenges!
Welcome to the community! That's a really good point about L&I correspondence - I hadn't thought about that connection. Since workers' comp and unemployment insurance are both state labor programs, it makes sense that they'd reference each other's account numbers in their paperwork. Even if a business hasn't had recent workers' comp claims, they might have old registration documents from when they first set up their coverage that could have the ESD info. It's great to have another perspective from someone actively dealing with the ESD system right now - this whole process can feel overwhelming when you're trying to navigate it for the first time!
As someone who's been through the ESD system recently myself, I wanted to add another potential resource that might help your former employer. If they've ever had to respond to any unemployment claims from former employees (not just yours), those response forms they filled out would have their employer account number printed right on them. Many small businesses keep these in a file since they're official correspondence about personnel matters. It's worth having them check any employment-related paperwork they might have saved from the past few years. Also, echoing what others have said about taking care of your own claim - don't let helping them delay getting your own benefits sorted out. The system can be frustrating, but your financial situation matters too!
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I'm going through this nightmare right now too! Got flagged for "able and available" for the last week of February. What's driving me crazy is that I was literally sitting by my phone every day hoping someone would call for an interview, and now they want me to PROVE I was ready to work? Based on what everyone's saying here, I'm putting together a statement that covers: - Exact hours I was available (I'm doing 6 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week) - Transportation details (my 2018 Honda Accord with valid license and insurance) - No medical issues, no travel, no other commitments - Reference to my work search log showing I applied to 8 jobs that week The thing that really gets me is how they make it sound like you did something wrong when really they're just doing random audits. I've been unemployed for 3 months and have applied to over 100 jobs - if that doesn't show I'm "available" I don't know what does! Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences. At least now I know this is normal ESD bureaucracy and not just them picking on me specifically. Going to submit my documentation tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed.
I feel your frustration! Going through the same thing and it's so stressful when you're already dealing with unemployment. Your statement sounds really comprehensive - mentioning those 8 job applications for that specific week is smart since it directly shows you were actively available and seeking work during the exact period they're questioning. One thing I learned from reading everyone's responses is to be super specific about dates. Since they're asking about the last week of February, maybe include the exact dates (like "February 22-28, 2025") in your statement so they know you're addressing their specific timeframe. It really does seem like random audits based on what everyone's sharing. Hang in there - sounds like most people get approved once they submit the detailed documentation!
I just went through this exact situation two months ago and totally understand your frustration! The "able and available" review is actually pretty routine - they randomly audit claims to ensure compliance with federal requirements. Here's what worked for me: I wrote a detailed statement covering the specific weeks they questioned, including: - My exact availability hours (I put 7 AM to 8 PM, Monday-Saturday) - Transportation details (reliable vehicle with valid license) - Confirmation I had no medical restrictions, wasn't traveling, no school conflicts - Referenced my work search activities during those specific weeks The key is being very specific about the time period they're questioning. Don't just say "I was available" - give them concrete details about HOW you were available. I submitted it through the eServices portal under "Upload Document" and selected "Able and Available Issue." Got approved within 8 business days without needing to call. Your job search log showing 5 applications per week is actually great supporting evidence - make sure to reference that in your statement since it demonstrates you were actively seeking work during the questioned period. Hang in there, this usually resolves pretty quickly once you submit the documentation!
This is really helpful, thank you! I'm definitely going to reference my job search log in my statement since it shows I was actively looking during those exact weeks. Quick question - when you say you put "7 AM to 8 PM, Monday-Saturday," did you specifically avoid saying Sunday or was there a reason? I've been putting 7 days a week in my draft but wondering if being available literally every single day might seem unrealistic to them? Also, did you mention anything about being willing to work different shifts or just stick to those specific hours?
Good question about the hours! I said Monday-Saturday because that's honestly what felt realistic for my situation - I had some Sunday family commitments. But if you're truly available 7 days, definitely say that! The key is being honest about YOUR actual availability. As for shifts, I kept it simple and just stated those hours, but you could definitely add something like "available for any shift within these hours" or "flexible with scheduling" if that's true for you. The more specific and honest you can be about your real availability, the better. They're not looking for you to be a robot available 24/7 - they just want to confirm nothing was preventing you from accepting work if it was offered.
Malik Johnson
If you run into any issues during the application process, don't hesitate to reach out for help. The Washington ESD website has good FAQs, and if you need to talk to someone, that Claimyr service people mentioned actually works pretty well for getting through to agents.
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Fatima Al-Sayed
•I'll definitely check out their resources first. Hopefully the application goes smoothly.
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Malik Johnson
•It usually does. The online application is pretty user-friendly and walks you through everything step by step.
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Myles Regis
Just wanted to add my experience - I was in almost the exact same situation last year! Lived in Oregon, worked at a distribution center in Washington for about 10 months before getting laid off. Filed with Washington ESD online and it was actually pretty smooth. The whole process took about 3 weeks from application to first payment. Make sure you have your last few pay stubs handy when you apply - they'll ask for wage information and it's easier if you have everything ready. Good luck with your claim!
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Omar Zaki
•That's exactly what I needed to hear! It's so helpful to know someone went through the same situation successfully. I was worried about the timeline but 3 weeks doesn't sound too bad. I'll make sure to gather all my pay stubs before I start the application. Did you have to do anything special since you lived out of state, or was it just like applying normally?
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Miguel Ortiz
•Nothing special at all! Just applied online like normal. The only thing that was slightly different was when they asked for my address, I put my Oregon address and that was totally fine. During the weekly claim process, I never had any issues either. The system automatically handles out-of-state residents. The hardest part was just making sure I understood Washington's job search requirements, but even those weren't complicated. You should be good to go!
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