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One thing to keep in mind is that you'll need to be actively looking for work and able to accept suitable employment to maintain your benefits. Make sure you understand the job search requirements before you start claiming weekly benefits.
Bottom line - file your claim and let Washington ESD decide. You've got nothing to lose by applying and potentially weeks or months of benefits to gain if you're approved. Don't let the fear of denial stop you from trying.
honestly i just follow what my neighbor tells me to do. she's been on unemployment like 4 times and always knows what's going on. she said 26 weeks and file every sunday so that's what i do
Thanks everyone for all the info! This thread has been way more helpful than the Washington ESD website. I feel like I actually understand how the benefit duration works now. 26 weeks, file weekly, do job search activities. Got it!
Just remember that even if Washington ESD initially denies your claim, you can appeal within 30 days. Sometimes they're more conservative on the first review but appeals officers look more carefully at the evidence.
Last thing I'll add - while you're waiting for your claim decision, document any ongoing effects from the hostile work environment. If you're seeing a therapist or having trouble sleeping, keep records. It shows the lasting impact of what you experienced.
One last thought on the family situation - sometimes it helps to have a prepared response ready for their comments. Something like 'I'm focused on my job search right now' and then change the subject. Don't let them derail your energy when you need it for more important things.
Hope everything works out for you with both the family situation and getting your Washington ESD benefits sorted. Keep us updated on how things go with your claim processing.
Ethan Wilson
I'd recommend applying as soon as possible after you lose your job. Even if you're not sure about the exact benefit amount, you don't want to delay and miss out on weeks of potential benefits while you're figuring out the calculation.
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Oliver Weber
•That makes sense. I'll file the claim this week and can always ask questions about the amount later.
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Yuki Sato
•Yeah, you can't backdate benefits very far so it's better to file early even if you have questions.
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Carmen Flores
For what it's worth, when I had questions about my benefit calculation that the website couldn't answer, I ended up using Claimyr to get through to ESD. The rep was able to pull up my exact wage history and walk through the calculation step by step. Much better than trying to guess based on the general formula.
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Oliver Weber
•That sounds really helpful. I think I'll try the online calculator first and then use a service like that if I need more specific information.
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Andre Dubois
•Smart approach. The calculator gives you a good estimate but sometimes you need to talk to a person for the details.
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