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Based on everyone's responses, it sounds like the sweet spot is somewhere between doing the bare minimum and what you're doing now. Maybe aim for 3-4 hours of quality job searching per day instead of 6-8?
One last thing - if you do need to call Washington ESD about anything, definitely try that Claimyr service people mentioned. I used it last week and actually got through to someone in like 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours.
Just wanted to add that even if you think you might not qualify, it's worth applying anyway. The worst they can do is say no, and you might be surprised. I thought I hadn't worked long enough but ended up qualifying for partial benefits.
Good luck with your claim! The restaurant industry has been rough lately so hopefully you can get back on your feet soon with some unemployment assistance while you look for your next job.
The whole wage credit system needs an overhaul. Too many people get caught in these timing gaps where their recent wages don't count. It's especially hard on people who are just starting their careers or changing jobs.
One last tip - when you do talk to Washington ESD, ask them to walk through your wage history quarter by quarter. Sometimes there are wages from previous jobs that you forgot about that could help you qualify even under the standard base period.
Bottom line: 2-4 weeks is normal for approval, make sure you're filing weekly claims, and don't stress too much if you're still within that timeframe. The system works, it just takes time.
Update: I went ahead and filed my weekly claims for the past two weeks. The system let me backdate them without any issues. Thanks everyone for the advice - I'll stop checking my account obsessively now and just wait for the determination letter!
You should be all set now. Keep filing those weekly claims and your approval should come through soon.
Sounds like you're on the right track! Remember that Claimyr option is there if you need to speak with someone directly about your claim.
Keisha Taylor
thanks for breaking it all down. the Washington ESD website is so confusing but this makes way more sense
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Yara Khoury
•The website has all the official info but it's definitely not user-friendly. That's why forums like this are helpful for real-world explanations.
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Connor Gallagher
•Agreed. Getting info from people who've actually been through the process is way more helpful than trying to decode government websites.
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Paolo Longo
Hope this helps everyone understand the basics. Remember the key requirements: sufficient work history, unemployed through no fault of your own, able and available for work, actively searching for jobs, and filing your weekly claims on time. Follow those rules and you should be fine.
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Connor Gallagher
•Perfect summary. I feel much more confident about applying now.
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Amina Bah
•Those really are the core requirements. Everything else is just details about how to meet those main criteria.
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