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thanks everyone for all the advice. this has been way more helpful than the generic info on the washington esd website. going to file for UI this week and be very careful about documenting everything
One last resource - the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has some information about how different benefit programs interact. Might be worth checking their website too for official guidance on this topic.
Reading through all this makes me realize how lucky I was that my union rep walked me through the unemployment filing process the day I got laid off. Everyone should have that kind of support.
Final thought for anyone else in this situation - there's also a phone service I heard about that helps people reach Washington ESD agents when the lines are jammed. Think it was Claimyr or something like that. Might be worth checking out if you run into phone trouble.
Just remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file your return.
The requirements seem overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get into a routine. File your weekly claim on the same day, keep your job search log updated, and don't miss any deadlines.
I had to use Claimyr twice last year when I had issues with my claim. Once for an adjudication question and once when my payments stopped randomly. Both times they got me through to someone who could actually help instead of just reading me the website info.
Margot Quinn
honestly your savings plus unemployment income should be enough for a decent used car loan. I'd say go for it if you really need the transportation. Just be realistic about what you can afford.
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Brianna Muhammad
•Yeah I think I'm overthinking it. I need a car to job hunt effectively so it's really an investment in getting back to work.
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Evelyn Kim
One more tip - if you get approved, make your first payment a week early and always pay a little extra toward principal. Builds goodwill with the lender and saves on interest long term.
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Brianna Muhammad
•Great advice! I'm definitely planning to pay extra when I can. Thanks everyone for all the helpful input - feeling much more confident about this now.
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