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 :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
To summarize for anyone reading this later: Yes, Washington state employees pay 0.4% of wages into unemployment insurance, up to the annual wage base. This gives you eligibility for benefits if you lose your job through no fault of your own. It's insurance you're paying for, not a government handout.
Perfect summary. Thanks everyone for helping me understand how this system works!
Great thread. I learned a lot too and feel much more informed about what I'm paying for.
This is such valuable information! I've been working in Washington for about 6 months and always wondered what that small deduction was for. It's reassuring to know that the 0.4% we pay actually builds our eligibility for future benefits. Makes me feel more secure knowing there's a safety net that I'm contributing to. Does anyone know if there's a minimum amount of time you need to work before you're eligible to file a claim with Washington ESD?
Join the conversation
Welcome to the club nobody wants to join! But seriously, you'll get through this. File your claim, stay organized, and don't hesitate to ask questions here if you run into issues. This community has helped me figure out several confusing Washington ESD situations over the years.
Thanks, I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain everything. Makes this whole situation feel less overwhelming.
That's what we're here for! Everyone's been in your shoes at some point. You've got this!
I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when my retail job cut hours drastically due to budget issues. The advice everyone's given here is spot-on, but I wanted to add one thing that really helped me - when you're doing your initial application, have a quiet space and plenty of time set aside. Don't rush through it on your phone between other things. The application asks for a lot of detail about your work history and you want to be accurate the first time. Also, once you submit, you'll get a confirmation number - write it down immediately! I almost lost mine and had to scramble to find it later. The whole process took me about 45 minutes to complete thoroughly. You're going to be okay - the benefits really do help bridge the gap while you find your next opportunity.
I had a similar experience when I first applied - definitely don't rush through it! It took about 2 weeks for me to get my determination letter after filing. The key is making sure all your employer information is exactly right because they have to verify everything. One small mistake in dates or addresses can delay the whole process. Also, start your job search activities right away even before you're approved, so you're already compliant when benefits kick in. The waiting is stressful but it's worth doing it correctly the first time rather than dealing with corrections later.
Great point about taking your time with the application! I learned this the hard way when I had to file last year. I'd also suggest having your bank account information ready if you want to set up direct deposit right from the start - it saves time later and you'll get payments faster once approved. One thing that caught me off guard was how detailed they get about your reason for separation from work. Even though it was a straightforward layoff, they asked for specific dates, whether I had any advance notice, if there were any other options offered, etc. Having those details clear in your mind before you start really helps. The application will also ask about any vacation pay or severance you might be receiving, so gather that info too if it applies to your situation.
Join the conversation
why dont u just start doing bad at ur job so they fire u lol... just saying its easier to get benefits that way than if u quit
This is actually incorrect advice. Being fired for performance issues or misconduct will also disqualify you from benefits. ESD investigates the reason for separation regardless of whether it's a quit or termination.
I'm in a very similar situation right now - been commuting 2 hours each way for 3 months and it's absolutely draining. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like you might have a stronger case than you think because of the added weekend shifts that weren't in your original agreement. That's a material change to your working conditions. Before you make any decisions, I'd definitely recommend using that Claimyr service Diego mentioned to talk to an actual ESD representative about your specific situation. The fact that your commute is 2.5 hours each way during bad traffic puts you right at that threshold they mentioned. Document everything - the schedule changes, your car repair costs, gas receipts, any attempts you've made to find alternatives. If you have any health impacts from the stress of commuting (sleep issues, back problems from sitting so long, etc.), get those documented by a doctor too. The housing cost difference you mentioned is also important - if they ask why you can't relocate, having documentation that housing near work costs 40% more on your current salary shows you explored that option but it wasn't financially viable. Hang in there - this is such a tough situation but at least you still have some time left on your benefit year if you do need to use it.
Join the conversation
Good luck with your appeal! It's definitely worth fighting if you believe you're eligible. The system makes mistakes and the appeals process exists for a reason. Stay organized and don't let them intimidate you.
Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel much better about moving forward with the appeal now.
You've got this! Come back and let us know how it goes.
I went through a similar appeal process about 6 months ago and won my case. One thing that really helped me was organizing all my documents in chronological order - termination letter, any HR communications, performance reviews, etc. The judge appreciated having everything laid out clearly. Also, practice explaining your situation out loud beforehand so you're not stumbling over words during the hearing. The judges are used to dealing with nervous people, but being prepared definitely helps your case. The whole process took about 8 weeks for me from filing to decision, but it was worth the wait when I got my back pay.
That's really helpful about organizing documents chronologically! I hadn't thought about that but it makes total sense. Did you have any trouble getting your termination paperwork from your employer? I'm worried they might not cooperate since they're probably the ones who contested my claim in the first place.
You should be able to get copies of your termination paperwork through HR even if they contested your claim. It's your employment record and they're legally required to provide it. If they give you trouble, you can also request it through the Department of Labor or mention during your appeal hearing that your former employer refused to provide documentation. That actually looks bad for them. I'd suggest calling HR and asking politely first - sometimes they'll just email you copies without any hassle.
Zara Mirza
This thread has been so helpful! I'm bookmarking it because I'm sure I'll need to reference this info when I start filing my weekly claims. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences.
0 coins
Oliver Becker
•Glad it helped! And remember, if you run into issues reaching Washington ESD by phone, Claimyr can really help speed up the process.
0 coins
Keisha Taylor
•Definitely saving this thread. So much better than trying to decipher the official Washington ESD website on my own.
0 coins
Molly Chambers
I just wanted to add something that might help with tracking your freelance income - I use a simple Google Sheet to log everything in real time. I have columns for date work completed, client name, description of work, amount earned, and date paid. This way I never forget to report something when I file my weekly claims. It's also saved me a ton of time when I needed to look back at previous weeks. The key is updating it right after you finish each project, not waiting until claim filing day!
0 coins
Selena Bautista
•That's such a smart system! I was just thinking about how I was going to keep track of everything and a Google Sheet sounds perfect. Do you also track any business expenses or just the income side? I'm wondering if deductible expenses affect what I need to report to Washington ESD or if they just want the gross amount.
0 coins
Aisha Mahmood
•@c6e79bb3a60e Great spreadsheet idea! From what I understand, Washington ESD wants gross income reported, not net after expenses. So you'd report the full amount you earned before deducting any business costs. I'd still track expenses separately though since you'll need them for taxes. Has anyone else dealt with business expense questions when reporting to ESD?
0 coins