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
The system is actually pretty straightforward for seasonal workers once you understand it. The confusion usually comes from people not knowing about the base period earnings requirements.
Agreed! A lot of seasonal workers think they can't get benefits because they only worked a few months, but as long as you earned enough in the right quarters you qualify.
That was exactly my confusion - I thought seasonal work somehow didn't count the same way. Good to know it's treated like any other job for UI purposes.
One last tip - if your seasonal job was through a temp agency make sure you understand who your 'employer' was for Washington ESD purposes. Sometimes it's the agency, sometimes it's the actual worksite.
Good point though - temp agency situations can definitely complicate the wage reporting aspect of seasonal claims.
I had a temp agency situation with my seasonal warehouse job last year and it was such a headache! The agency wasn't reporting wages correctly to Washington ESD and I had to get them to fix their records before my claim could be processed. Make sure to keep all your paystubs if you're working through an agency.
Join the conversation
Update: I called ESD this morning after failing to get through for 3 days straight. Finally got through and they confirmed I need to indicate I'm no longer available for work on my next weekly claim. The agent said this will automatically close my claim and I can apply for PFMLA the next day. Thanks everyone for your help! Now to figure out the PFMLA application process...
Congrats on getting through! One tip for the PFMLA application - make sure you have a clear medical certification form from your doctor. They're REALLY picky about how that form is filled out. My application was delayed by 3 weeks because the doctor left one field blank.
Congratulations on your new baby! I just went through this exact same transition 3 months ago when my daughter was born. The process is actually pretty straightforward once you know the steps: 1. File your final weekly unemployment claim and select "no longer available for work" - there will be a dropdown asking why, and you can select something like "caring for family member" 2. Wait 1-2 business days for the system to process the closure 3. Apply for PFMLA at paidleave.wa.gov (totally separate system) 4. Make sure your PFMLA start date is AFTER your final UI week ends The key thing I learned is to keep screenshots of everything - your final UI claim confirmation AND your PFMLA application. ESD systems don't always communicate well with each other, so having your own documentation is crucial if any issues come up later. Also, start gathering your paperwork for PFMLA now - you'll need the baby's birth certificate and a medical certification form from your doctor. The sooner you get those ready, the smoother the application process will be. Good luck and enjoy those precious newborn days!
@Aisha Mahmood Thanks for sharing your experience! I m'in a similar boat - been on UI for about 6 weeks after a layoff and my partner is due next month. Your step-by-step breakdown is really reassuring. One thing I m'worried about though - did you have any income gap between when your UI ended and when PFMLA payments started? I keep hearing horror stories about people waiting weeks or even months for their first PFMLA check, and with a new baby on the way I m'stressed about covering expenses during any gap period.
@Aisha Mahmood This is incredibly helpful - thank you for laying out the process so clearly! I m'actually in almost the exact same situation new (dad, been on UI for 2 months and) was getting overwhelmed by all the conflicting information online. Your point about keeping screenshots is really smart - I never would have thought of that but it makes total sense given how these government systems can be unreliable. One follow-up question: when you selected no "longer available for work on" your final UI claim, did the system immediately show that your claim was closed, or did you have to wait to see the status change? I m'just trying to figure out how I ll'know for sure that the UI side is properly closed before I submit the PFMLA application. The last thing I want is to accidentally have both claims active at the same time! Also, did you run into any issues with the birth certificate requirement? Our baby was just born last week so I m'not sure how long it takes to get the official certificate from the state.
Join the conversation
Final thought - even if your claim gets approved, remember that partial unemployment benefits are usually much less than full unemployment. But every little bit helps when your hours are inconsistent.
Absolutely. Even a couple hundred dollars would make a huge difference during slow weeks.
I work PRN at a surgical center and went through this exact process about 6 months ago when my hours dropped to almost nothing. One thing that really helped was keeping a detailed log of when I was available for shifts vs when shifts were actually offered. Washington ESD asked me about this during my phone interview - they wanted to make sure I wasn't turning down available work. Also, don't be discouraged if your first application gets flagged for review. PRN status can be confusing for the initial processing system, but once you talk to an actual person they usually understand the situation better. The partial benefits I received weren't huge but definitely helped bridge the gap during the really slow months.
This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about keeping a log of availability vs actual shifts offered. That's a smart way to document that you're not turning down work. Did you have to provide that log during your phone interview, or was it just helpful to have for reference when answering their questions?
Join the conversation
btw make sure u start doing ur job search activities ASAP. u need 3 job search activities EVERY week or they'll deny benefits. and keep good records of everything!!
Thanks for the reminder! I'll start applying for jobs right away. Do the job search requirements apply to the waiting week too?
Yes, you need to complete and document 3 job search activities even during your waiting week. The only exception would be if you're on approved standby status (which doesn't sound like your situation).
Just wanted to add - since you're in construction, you might want to check if your union has any specific guidance about filing unemployment claims. Some construction workers have different rules or considerations, especially if you're typically seasonal or expect to be called back when work picks up. Also, Washington allows you to file claims online through the ESD website, but if you run into any technical issues or have questions about your specific situation, don't hesitate to call their customer service line (though as others mentioned, it can be tough to get through). The key thing is to stay consistent with filing your weekly claims even if you don't get paid for the waiting week.
That's a great point about checking with the union! I'm not union but I appreciate the reminder about staying consistent with weekly claims. I was worried about filing for the waiting week if I wasn't going to get paid, but it sounds like I need to do it anyway to keep my claim active. The construction industry can be so unpredictable with layoffs and callbacks - good to know there might be different considerations for seasonal work too.
Mateo Silva
Last thought - if you're really struggling while waiting, some employers offer emergency hardship assistance even after layoffs. Might be worth reaching out to HR to ask. Also, local churches and community organizations often have emergency assistance funds available.
0 coins
Daniela Rossi
•Community resources are often underutilized. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help - that's what they're there for.
0 coins
Aria Washington
•Hope your claim processes smoothly! Come back and update us when you get your first payment.
0 coins
Nasira Ibanez
Based on my recent experience with Washington ESD, I'd plan for 3-4 weeks realistically. Mine took exactly 22 days from initial filing to first direct deposit. The key things that helped speed it up: having all my employment docs ready upfront, setting up direct deposit immediately, and making sure my WorkSourceWA registration was complete before filing my first weekly claim. The waiting week plus processing time is unavoidable, but being prepared with all the paperwork definitely prevents delays. Stay on top of your weekly claims even while the initial claim is pending - that's crucial!
0 coins