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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!
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Just remember that unemployment is insurance, not welfare. You paid into this system through your payroll taxes, so don't feel guilty about using it. But also don't treat it as a vacation - the job search requirements are there for a reason.
Good perspective. I definitely don't want to be on unemployment longer than necessary, but it's good to know the safety net is there.
Exactly! I treated my unemployment period like a full-time job - 8 hours a day job searching, networking, skill building. Found work in 14 weeks that way.
Last tip: if you do exhaust your 26 weeks and still haven't found work, there might be other assistance programs available through DSHS or local organizations. Don't just assume you're out of options after unemployment ends.
That's reassuring to know there are other safety nets if needed. Hopefully I won't need them but good to keep in mind.
Yeah, things like food assistance, utility help, job training programs. The social workers at WorkSource offices are actually pretty knowledgeable about what's available locally.
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One thing to remember - even if your employer contests your claim, it doesn't mean you won't get benefits. Washington ESD makes the final decision based on all the information, not just what your employer says.
That's reassuring. I keep worrying that my old boss will try to mess with my claim out of spite.
Washington ESD has heard every employer excuse in the book. They're pretty good at sorting out legitimate contests from employers just being difficult.
Just to add some perspective - I went through this exact situation last month. My employer took the full 10 business days to respond and did contest my claim, but Washington ESD still approved me after reviewing everything. The key is to make sure you have all your documentation ready (termination letter, emails, etc.) in case they need it during the review process. Don't stress too much about the pending status - it's completely normal and most claims do get approved even when contested.
This is really helpful to hear from someone who just went through it! I've been keeping all my paperwork organized just in case, but it's good to know that even contested claims can still get approved. Did the whole process take much longer once they contested it, or was it still pretty reasonable timing?
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Wow, this whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my ESD portal shows $3,200 in backpay processed on Feb 15th, but I've only received about $1,800 so far in weird random amounts. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much better that this is apparently "normal" (even though it's super stressful when you're waiting for money you desperately need). I'm definitely going to try calling ReliaCard directly tomorrow and check for any verification holds. It's crazy how many hoops we have to jump through just to get our own money! Thanks for sharing the update about your resolution - gives me hope that mine will work out too.
You're so right about all the hoops! I'm in a similar boat - been waiting 3 weeks for my full backpay to come through. The stress of not knowing when your money will actually show up is unreal, especially when you've got rent and bills due. Definitely call ReliaCard first thing - from what everyone's saying here, they seem way more helpful than trying to get through to ESD. Keep us posted on how it goes! This thread has been a lifesaver for understanding that we're not alone in dealing with this mess.
This thread has been so reassuring! I'm currently dealing with something similar - got a lump sum backpay of $5,400 showing as "paid" in my ESD portal on March 15th, but ReliaCard has been depositing it in chunks over the past two weeks. So far I've gotten $1,950, then $1,200, then nothing for 5 days, then another $850 yesterday. It's definitely stressful when you're budgeting around money that should be there but isn't! One thing I discovered that might help others - if you log into ReliaCard online and go to the "Pending Transactions" section, sometimes it shows deposits that are scheduled but haven't posted yet. Mine showed two more deposits pending for this week that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. The mobile app doesn't show pending transactions, only the website does. Also want to echo what others said about calling ReliaCard directly - their hold times are way shorter than ESD and they can actually see what's happening with your specific deposits. The agent I spoke with last week explained that they've had a lot more fraud prevention triggers lately because of increased scam activity, so larger unemployment payments get extra scrutiny.
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I'm also in manufacturing and went through this exact process about 6 months ago when my plant closed. You're doing the right thing by filing weekly claims during the review period - I almost made the mistake of stopping when I first applied. The key things that helped me: 1) Set up a simple spreadsheet to track my 3 job searches each week (employer name, position, date applied), 2) Always upload the job search log even if the system seems glitchy, and 3) Be patient with the approval timeline. Mine took about 5 weeks but once approved, I got benefits throughout my entire welding certification program. The peace of mind knowing you can focus on training without scrambling for work is worth the initial stress of the application process. Hang in there!
This is really helpful to hear from someone in the same industry! I'm definitely going to set up a spreadsheet like you suggested - that sounds like a smart way to stay organized with the job searches. It's encouraging to know that you were able to focus on your training once approved. Did you find the welding certification helped you land a better job than your previous manufacturing position? I'm hoping this training will open up some new opportunities for me too. Thanks for the practical tips and the reassurance!
I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my retail management position. The stress of not knowing if you'll have income is real! Here's what worked for me: Keep filing your weekly claims religiously - don't skip even one week thinking "oh I'll just wait until I'm approved." I made that mistake in week 2 and it caused a gap in my payments that took forever to fix. Also, keep a detailed record of every job search you do (I used a simple Google doc with columns for company, position, date, and how I applied). The ESD agents I spoke with emphasized that consistency is key - they'd rather see you doing exactly 3 searches every week than doing 10 one week and 1 the next. My Training Benefits took about 4 weeks to approve, and once they did, I got backpay for the entire period. The program was totally worth it - I'm now working in healthcare administration making 30% more than my old job. Hang in there, the system works but it's slow!
Natasha Petrova
Wishing you the best with both situations. It's a lot to handle at once but you're asking the right questions and getting good advice here.
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Liam O'Sullivan
•This community has been amazing. I feel so much better about moving forward now.
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Javier Morales
•That's what we're here for! Hope everything works out well for you.
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Yuki Kobayashi
I'm in a similar situation but haven't filed yet. This thread is incredibly helpful - I had no idea that unemployment benefits were typically protected in bankruptcy. @Liam O'Sullivan, please keep us posted on how your claim goes! It sounds like you're getting great advice here about filing immediately and keeping your attorney informed. The bankruptcy process is stressful enough without worrying about basic income support.
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