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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
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- 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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If anyone is still having issues getting their UI number sorted out, I'd definitely recommend trying Claimyr. Used it last week when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about a different issue and it saved me so much time and frustration. The video demo on their site shows exactly how it works too.
If you've been trying to call for days and can't get through, absolutely. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to get things straightened out.
Makes sense. The phone system is definitely the worst part of dealing with Washington ESD.
I just went through this same confusion last month! Your UI number should be on your monetary determination letter - it's the one that starts with "UI" followed by numbers. But here's a tip that helped me: if you can't find any paperwork, log into your SecureAccess Washington account and go to your unemployment services dashboard. Your UI number is displayed right there at the top of your claim summary. Way easier than digging through emails and letters. Once you find it, definitely save it somewhere safe because you'll need it every single week for filing claims.
Thanks for the tip about the SecureAccess Washington account! I didn't even think to check there. That sounds way more convenient than hunting through all my paperwork every time I need the number.
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Bottom line: go to your sister's wedding! Just keep your phone on, stay on top of your job search, and file your weekly claim like normal. Life is too short to miss important family moments because of unemployment anxiety.
You're absolutely right. Thanks everyone for all the advice and reassurance! I'm booking my hotel tonight.
Have an amazing time at your sister's wedding! Just remember to keep your phone charged and check it regularly in case any potential employers reach out. I always screenshot my job applications when I travel so I have everything documented if needed. The consensus here is pretty clear - short family trips are totally acceptable as long as you maintain your availability. Don't let unemployment stress rob you of these precious family moments!
This is such helpful advice! The screenshot tip is brilliant - I never thought about having backup documentation of my applications when traveling. It's really reassuring to see so many people confirming that family events are okay. I was getting so stressed about potentially losing benefits over attending important life events. Thanks for emphasizing that we shouldn't let unemployment anxiety control our lives!
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Also, WATCH OUT for the fact that employers often bring up TOTALLY NEW ALLEGATIONS during the hearing that weren't in their original appeal!!! My employer suddenly claimed I had been warned multiple times when that NEVER HAPPENED. Be prepared for them to make stuff up on the spot!
This is actually a good point. If the employer brings up new allegations that weren't in the original notice, you can object and request that those issues not be considered since you weren't given proper notice to prepare a response. The ALJ should sustain that objection.
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My employer also waited until after I was approved and receiving benefits to file their appeal. It's so stressful but the advice here is really reassuring. One thing I wanted to add - when you're preparing for the hearing, if you have any witnesses (like coworkers who knew about the restructuring), make sure to ask them ASAP if they'd be willing to testify. Some people are hesitant to get involved, but others are happy to help if they know the truth. Even if they can't participate in the hearing, they might be willing to write a brief statement about what they witnessed. Also, keep all your job search records organized during this time. Sometimes they ask about your work search efforts during the hearing, and having that documentation ready shows you're taking the process seriously. You've got this! The fact that ESD initially approved you after reviewing the case is definitely in your favor.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I hadn't thought about asking coworkers for witness statements - that's a really smart idea. I do have a couple former colleagues who were also affected by the same restructuring, so I'll reach out to them to see if they'd be willing to help. And you're absolutely right about keeping job search records organized. I've been tracking everything already but will make sure it's all in order just in case. It's reassuring to hear from someone going through the same thing - we'll both get through this!
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Bottom line - yes you have to pay federal taxes on unemployment benefits. Start setting aside money now if you're still collecting. The 10% withholding option is your friend. And if you're confused about anything, talk to a tax professional or find a way to reach someone at Washington ESD who can clarify.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I feel much more prepared to deal with this now.
You're welcome! Tax season is stressful enough without surprises. Good luck with everything.
I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been collecting unemployment for about 4 months and had no idea about the tax implications. Just logged into my Washington ESD account and found the tax withholding option - it was buried in the account settings under "Manage Tax Withholding" like someone mentioned. Set it to 10% federal withholding starting with my next payment. Better late than never! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who was caught off guard by this.
Ethan Wilson
Update: I tried calling at 7:59am this morning and after redaling about 20 times, I actually got through! Was on hold for 1.5 hours but finally spoke to someone who resolved my issue. For anyone else struggling - keep trying the early morning calls and just keep redialing if you get the busy message. Persistence eventually paid off for me!
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Ethan Wilson
•There was an employer response that triggered adjudication, but they never sent me the questionnaire I needed to complete. The agent was able to resend it and actually processed it while I was on the phone. My payments should start processing in 48 hours she said!
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Yuki Sato
•congrats! still trying on my end... maybe tomorrow will be my lucky day
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Maria Gonzalez
Just wanted to share another option that worked for me - I contacted my local state senator's office (found through leg.wa.gov) and their constituent services person was amazing. She contacted ESD directly and got my claim moving within 3 business days after I'd been stuck for over a month. I was honestly skeptical about bothering elected officials with this, but she said unemployment issues are one of their most common requests and they have dedicated staff for exactly this purpose. All I had to do was fill out a simple form with my claim details and sign a release allowing them to inquire on my behalf. For anyone who's been waiting weeks like I was - don't hesitate to reach out to your representatives. It's literally part of their job to help constituents navigate state agencies. Way less stressful than the phone marathon!
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Anna Kerber
•This is really helpful advice! I had no idea that contacting state representatives was even an option for unemployment issues. I've been struggling to get through to ESD for weeks now and feeling pretty hopeless about it. How long did the whole process take from when you first contacted your senator's office to when your claim actually got resolved? And did they ask for any specific documentation beyond the basic claim details?
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