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Any updates? Did you make any progress with your claim? I'm curious because I have a friend PCSing to JBLM next month and I want to give her realistic expectations.
Yes! Finally got through using Claimyr yesterday. Turns out my claim was actually approved 2 weeks ago but got stuck in their payment processing system because they needed to verify my new Washington address (I still had my California ID when I applied). The agent pushed it through and I should see all my backpay next week. So relieved! Tell your friend to make sure she has a WA ID or at least utility bills in her name at her new address to avoid the same delay.
That's such great news that you finally got it resolved! I'm going through something similar right now - military spouse PCS from Fort Carson to JBLM, been waiting 3 weeks in adjudication. Your tip about the Washington address verification is super helpful. I just moved here last week and still have my Colorado ID, so I should probably get that changed ASAP. Did the Claimyr service cost anything, and how long did it actually take to get through to someone? I've been calling ESD directly for weeks with no luck.
Hey! Yes, Claimyr does cost a small fee (I think it was around $20) but honestly it was worth every penny after weeks of frustration. It took about 25 minutes to get connected to an actual ESD agent, which is amazing compared to the hours I spent on hold getting nowhere. Definitely get that WA ID changed ASAP - that seems to be a common hangup for military families. The agent told me they see this address verification issue a lot with PCS moves. Good luck with your claim!
I'm really sorry to hear about your health struggles, Michael. As others have mentioned, regular unemployment benefits unfortunately don't cover independent contractors like Instacart shoppers. However, I wanted to add a few more resources that might help: 1. Contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) - they can connect you with local emergency assistance programs for utilities, food, and rent 2. Check if your area has a Community Action Agency - they often have emergency assistance funds 3. Look into local food banks to help reduce your grocery expenses while you recover 4. Some churches and community organizations also have emergency assistance funds, even if you're not a member Also, don't forget to reach out to Instacart directly - while they don't provide traditional benefits, they sometimes have hardship programs or resources for shoppers facing emergencies. It's worth asking. Hope you get the help you need and recover quickly!
This is such comprehensive advice, thank you Anastasia! I hadn't heard of 211 before - that sounds like exactly what I need right now. And you're right about reaching out to Instacart directly, I didn't even think they might have any kind of hardship programs. I'll definitely give them a call along with all these other resources. It's really overwhelming trying to figure out where to start, but this gives me a clear action plan. Really grateful for this community helping me navigate this mess!
Hey Michael, I went through something similar about 6 months ago when I was doing DoorDash and had to stop working due to a back injury. The reality is tough - as gig workers we really don't have the same safety net as traditional employees. One thing that really helped me was applying for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) if you don't already have it - at least that covered my medical expenses while I was out of work. Also, many counties have emergency cash assistance programs that aren't well-publicized but can help with immediate needs like rent and utilities. I'd also suggest checking with local churches and nonprofits even if you're not religious - many have discretionary funds for people in crisis situations, no questions asked. The Salvation Army and Catholic Community Services often have emergency assistance programs too. Hang in there, and definitely pursue all the resources Jessica and others mentioned. It's a frustrating system but there are people and programs out there to help bridge the gap while you recover.
Thank you so much Jessica, this is exactly the kind of real-world advice I needed to hear from someone who's actually been through this. I'm definitely going to apply for Washington Apple Health right away - I've been avoiding dealing with my medical bills because I'm so stressed about money, but getting that coverage would be huge. I never would have thought to reach out to churches since I'm not particularly religious, but you're right that it's worth asking. At this point I need to swallow my pride and explore every option available. It's scary how quickly you can go from having steady income to being completely financially vulnerable when you're self-employed. Really appreciate you sharing your experience and giving me hope that there's a path through this mess. Did you end up going back to gig work after you recovered, or did you find something with better benefits?
Anyone else notice the Washington ESD website is slower on Sunday mornings? Takes forever to load sometimes.
I just started filing last week and was so confused about the timing too! From what I've learned reading everyone's responses, it sounds like you can file any day of the week as long as it's for the week that already ended. I'm going to try filing on Wednesday mornings to avoid the Sunday rush that some people mentioned. Also going to start taking screenshots of my confirmation pages like Ian suggested - that's really smart advice!
Welcome to the unemployment filing club! Wednesday mornings sound like a solid plan to avoid the weekend rush. I've been filing for a few months now and definitely recommend keeping good records of everything. Also don't stress too much about the timing - as long as you file sometime during the week for the previous week, you're good. The main thing is just being consistent and not skipping weeks even if you think you might not qualify that week.
Summary for OP: File immediately after your last day of work, file online at secure.esd.wa.gov, keep filing weekly claims even during processing, and have all your employer info ready. Good luck!
Just wanted to add one more timing tip that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're filing right before a holiday weekend, be aware that processing might be delayed. Washington ESD doesn't process claims on holidays, so if you can file a day or two before a long weekend, that might help avoid any delays in getting your claim started. Also, their online system sometimes gets overloaded on Sundays when everyone is filing their weekly claims, so filing your initial claim on a weekday might be smoother.
That's really helpful timing advice! I hadn't thought about holiday processing delays. My last day is Friday and there's no holiday weekend coming up, so I should be able to file over the weekend without any issues. Thanks for the tip about weekday filing too - I might try to get it done during the week if I can manage it around job searching.
GalacticGladiator
Don't stress too much about the process. Most people who file get approved eventually, especially if they were fired for performance rather than misconduct.
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Dylan Mitchell
•That's reassuring. I was really worried I wouldn't qualify at all. Thanks for the perspective.
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Mason Davis
Dylan, I went through almost the exact same situation about 8 months ago - fired for "performance issues" with no prior warnings or write-ups. I was terrified I wouldn't qualify but ended up getting approved after about 3 weeks of adjudication. The key thing Washington ESD looks for is whether it was misconduct (willful wrongdoing) versus just not meeting expectations. From what you described, it sounds like you have a solid case. File as soon as possible and be completely honest about the termination reason - they'll find out anyway when they contact your employer. Also, start your job search activities right away even while waiting for approval, because you'll need to report 3 per week once benefits kick in. Don't let your former employer discourage you from filing - that's between you and ESD to determine, not them. Good luck!
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Emma Garcia
•Thanks Mason, that's incredibly helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing! It's such a relief to know that others have been approved in similar situations. I was really doubting myself and wondering if I should even bother applying. Your advice about being honest upfront makes total sense - better to be transparent from the start than have it come out later. I'm definitely going to file tonight and start documenting my job search activities immediately. Really appreciate you sharing your experience and the encouragement!
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Grace Patel
•Mason, this is exactly what I needed to hear! Your experience gives me so much confidence to move forward with filing. The fact that you were approved after 3 weeks of adjudication shows the system does work when you're honest about the situation. I really appreciate the reminder about starting job search activities right away - I hadn't thought about needing to track those from the beginning. Going to file my claim tonight and start building that documentation trail immediately. Thanks for taking the time to share such detailed advice!
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