Can't reach Washington Unemployment? Claimyr connects you to a live ESD agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the ESD
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the ESD drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
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!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
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!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
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.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Join the conversation
For those filing new claims with severance, make sure you answer the severance question accurately on your initial application. It's one of the first things they ask about.
Good point. I'll have all my severance paperwork ready when I file online.
And if you're not sure about any part of it, better to call and ask rather than guess. Wrong information can really mess up your claim.
Just to clarify for anyone reading this - severance creates a waiting period, not a disqualification. You will still get your full unemployment benefits, just delayed until the severance period ends.
Nope, you're still fully eligible. The severance just acts like you're still employed during that period, then your benefits kick in normally.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info. Going to file my claim this week and get everything started.
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The frustrating part is that Washington ESD knows their phone system is broken but they don't seem to be doing anything to fix it. Meanwhile people are struggling to pay rent and bills.
Exactly! They act like it's our fault for not being able to get through when their system is clearly overwhelmed.
It's a systemic problem that needs more funding and staff to fix properly.
I work in tech and the Washington ESD online system is honestly pretty outdated. It's not surprising that their phone system is having issues too. The whole infrastructure needs an overhaul.
That makes sense. It feels like they're still using systems from the 1990s sometimes.
Great, so we're stuck dealing with ancient technology when we need help the most.
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To summarize for anyone reading this later: Yes, you can potentially file for both unemployment and disability simultaneously in Washington, but you must genuinely meet the requirements for both programs. Key points: 1) You must be able to perform some type of work for unemployment, 2) Document all medical limitations and job search activities, 3) Be prepared for extra scrutiny from Washington ESD, 4) Consider timing of when disability vs. unemployment situations arose, 5) Keep detailed records of everything.
This is exactly the kind of summary I needed. Thank you everyone for all the advice and information!
Great summary! This should help a lot of people in similar situations.
UPDATE: I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned and finally got through to a Washington ESD agent. They explained that I can file for unemployment now while my disability application is pending, as long as I'm honest about my work limitations and only apply for jobs I can actually do with my back injury. Going to start my UI claim tomorrow and document everything carefully. Thanks everyone for the help!
Perfect approach. You're being honest about your limitations while still meeting the available for work requirement. Good luck with both applications!
Nice! It's refreshing to hear about someone actually getting helpful information from Washington ESD instead of getting the runaround.
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The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Just take it step by step and don't overthink it.
Thanks for the encouragement. I think I'm ready to start the application now that I understand the process better.
You've got this! The hardest part is just getting started. Once you're in the system, the weekly claims become routine.
Good luck with your application! Most people get approved without any issues if they were laid off. The key is being thorough and honest on your application.
Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel much more confident about applying now.
Happy to help! Feel free to ask if you run into any questions during the process.
Lia Quinn
The bottom line is yes, you do pay into unemployment insurance as an employee in Washington state. It's a small percentage of your paycheck that gives you the right to collect benefits if you become unemployed through no fault of your own.
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Daniel White
•Perfect summary! Thanks everyone for helping me understand how this works.
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Haley Stokes
•Glad this thread helped clarify things. It's important for workers to understand their benefits and contributions.
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Asher Levin
One more thing - if you ever switch jobs or have gaps in employment, your prior contributions still count toward your benefit eligibility. The system tracks your wage history across different employers.
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Daniel White
•Good to know! I was wondering about that since I've had a few different jobs.
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Serene Snow
•Yeah, Washington ESD looks at your wage history over a specific base period to determine your benefit amount and eligibility.
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