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Just want to add that once you get your first payment, things usually go pretty smoothly from there. The hardest part is getting through the initial approval and setup process.
UPDATE: I got my direct deposit set up and received my first payment yesterday! Thanks everyone for the help. For anyone else in the same situation - definitely go with direct deposit over the debit card.
One last thing - if you ever have trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, there are services like Claimyr that can help you get through. I used them when I had questions about my claim that I couldn't get answered through the website.
Hope this all helped clear things up! The unemployment system in Washington is actually pretty straightforward once you understand that it's funded by employer taxes going into a state insurance fund, not direct payments from individual employers.
I work part-time at two different jobs. Does that change anything about qualifying for unemployment if I lose one of them?
Thanks everyone for all this information! I feel much more confident about applying now. The Washington ESD website really is confusing but this thread cleared up most of my questions.
Just filed my claim yesterday and used the benefit estimator. With my wages from tech job should get around $850/week. Now just waiting for adjudication to complete so payments can start.
If adjudication is taking too long, that's another good time to use something like Claimyr to reach an agent and check on status
One more thing - if you work part-time while collecting unemployment, Washington ESD has a formula for how that affects your weekly benefit. You can earn up to about $200 without any reduction, then they start deducting from your benefit amount.
Luca Russo
Bottom line - the max is $999 per week plus $25 per dependent kid, but most people don't qualify for the full amount. The calculation is based on your highest earning quarter in your base period.
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Amina Bah
•Perfect summary, thanks! That gives me a good idea of what to expect.
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Nia Harris
One last thing - make sure you keep good records of your job search activities and any correspondence with Washington ESD. You never know when you might need to prove something later.
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Amina Bah
•Great advice! I'll start keeping track of everything from the beginning.
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Nia Harris
•Smart move. It's much easier to keep records as you go than to try to recreate them later if there's an issue.
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