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
Just wanted to add that when you're logging your job search activities, make sure to save screenshots or confirmations when you submit online applications. I learned this the hard way when Washington ESD asked for proof of my job search activities and I only had my handwritten log. Having that extra documentation really helped verify my records. Also, if you apply through job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn, those platforms usually keep a record of your applications that you can reference later if needed.
That's excellent advice about saving screenshots! I wish I had known that from the beginning. Do you know if there's a specific format they prefer for documentation or is just having the screenshots enough?
From my experience, screenshots are usually enough as long as they clearly show the date, company name, position, and that you submitted an application. I keep mine in a folder organized by week. Washington ESD doesn't seem to require any specific format - they just want to see proof that you actually did the job search activities you logged. The key is making sure the screenshot matches what you wrote in your job search log.
One thing that helped me stay organized is creating a simple template for logging each activity. I write down: Date, Company Name, Position Title, Method (online app/phone/email/in-person), Contact Person (if any), and Follow-up needed. This way I'm consistent and don't forget important details. Also, if you're struggling to find 3 activities per week, remember that things like attending online career workshops, updating your resume for specific positions, or even calling companies to inquire about unadvertised openings can count as valid job search activities. The important thing is that you're making genuine efforts to find work and can document those efforts clearly.
This template idea is fantastic! I've been keeping pretty basic records but having a consistent format like this would definitely help me stay more organized. The point about calling companies directly is really helpful too - I hadn't considered that phone inquiries could count as job search activities. Does anyone know if there's a minimum amount of time you need to spend on each activity for it to count, or is it more about the effort you put in regardless of how long it takes?
Join the conversation
This is exactly why the system is so frustrating. Simple cases sitting in queues for weeks while people can't get through to get them resolved.
That's really encouraging to hear! I've been stuck in adjudication limbo for over a month too and getting nowhere with the phone system. Definitely going to check out Claimyr - sounds like it's worth trying if it actually gets results. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I had a similar situation last year - needed to get to the office but work schedule made it impossible. Ended up taking a half day off only to find out they couldn't help with my specific issue anyway. The staff was nice but basically said "you need to call the main number" which is exactly what I was trying to avoid. Save yourself the trip and the time off work - for adjudication issues you really are stuck with the phone system or online options.
Join the conversation
Wow, this thread is amazing! I've been on unemployment for about 6 weeks and have been so anxious about whether I'm doing the work search requirements correctly. Reading through everyone's detailed experiences and tips has been incredibly reassuring and educational. I especially appreciate the emphasis on specific documentation - I realize I've been way too vague in my WorkSourceWA entries. The spreadsheet backup idea is brilliant, and I'm definitely going to start implementing that this week. One quick question - I've been participating in online coding bootcamp prep courses to update my skills for tech positions. These aren't through WorkSourceWA but are directly related to improving my qualifications for jobs I'm applying to. Would these count as work search activities? They're usually 2-3 hour sessions and I can get certificates of completion. Also, thank you to everyone who mentioned Claimyr - I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about a specific question and this might be exactly what I need!
Hi Sean! Those coding bootcamp prep courses absolutely count as work search activities! Since they're directly related to improving your qualifications for tech positions you're targeting, they fall under the skills training/professional development category. The fact that you get certificates of completion is perfect for documentation - save those certificates and log each session as something like "Completed coding bootcamp prep course session on [specific topic] - [X] hours, certificate earned" with the date and course provider. Even though they're not through WorkSourceWA, they're clearly aimed at making you more employable in your field. I've been counting similar online courses and haven't had any issues. Just make sure to document how each course relates to your job search goals. And yes, definitely try Claimyr if you've been struggling to reach Washington ESD - so many people in this thread have had success with it when the regular phone lines are impossible to get through!
This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I just filed my first unemployment claim last week and was completely lost on the work search requirements. Everyone's detailed experiences and practical tips have made this so much clearer. I'm particularly grateful for the advice about keeping detailed documentation with specific job titles, position IDs, and company names - I had no idea that level of detail was important for potential audits. The spreadsheet backup system that several people mentioned is genius, and I'm setting that up today. One thing I'm curious about - I've been doing informational interviews with people in my network to learn about their companies and potential opportunities. These are genuine conversations about exploring career paths, not just trying to check boxes. Do these count as work search activities? Also, how specific do I need to be when documenting them - should I include what we discussed or just the basic details like name, company, and date? Thanks again everyone for sharing your real-world knowledge - this has been so much more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone!
Hi Zainab! Informational interviews absolutely count as work search activities - they're actually one of the best types of networking activities you can do! Since these are genuine conversations about exploring career opportunities and learning about companies, they definitely qualify. For documentation, I'd include the person's name, their company/title, date of the conversation, and a brief note about what you discussed - something like "Informational interview with [Name], [Title] at [Company] - discussed career paths in [field], company culture, and potential future opportunities." You don't need to write a novel, but having enough detail to show it was a substantive conversation is helpful. The fact that you're being intentional about these conversations rather than just trying to check boxes is exactly what Washington ESD wants to see. Keep doing what you're doing - informational interviews often lead to the best job opportunities because you're building real relationships!
Join the conversation
This has been such an educational thread! I'm bookmarking this for future reference. As someone who works in tech and has seen multiple rounds of layoffs at various companies, understanding the severance reporting process is crucial knowledge to have. What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's experiences have been once they followed the correct reporting steps. It seems like the key is really just being upfront about the lump sum payment from day one and maintaining those weekly claims during the waiting period. For anyone else who might be facing this situation, I'd also recommend checking if your company offers any career transition services or outplacement support alongside the severance. Many larger companies provide these services, and they can be really valuable during the job search process - especially during those initial weeks when you're not receiving unemployment benefits yet. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. This kind of peer support and real-world guidance is invaluable when you're trying to navigate these systems for the first time!
This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm actually facing a potential layoff situation myself and had no idea about any of these severance reporting requirements. The consistency in everyone's experiences is really reassuring - it shows that if you follow the process correctly from the start, things work out as expected. The point about career transition services is excellent too. I'll definitely look into what my company offers if/when the time comes. It's smart to take advantage of every resource available, especially during that initial severance period when you're not getting unemployment benefits yet. One thing I'm curious about - for those who went through this process, did you find it helpful to connect with others who were laid off from the same company? I imagine there might be some company-specific nuances to how severance is structured or reported that could be useful to share with colleagues in the same boat. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing your experiences and timelines. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes difficult transitions more manageable!
As someone who's been through several layoffs in my career, this thread is absolutely golden! The consistency in everyone's experiences really highlights how important it is to report that lump sum severance correctly from day one. One additional tip I'd share: when you're in that severance waiting period, consider using the time to update your LinkedIn profile, refresh your resume, and maybe even take some online courses relevant to your field. Since you're technically still receiving "wages" (through the severance calculation), you have a bit more breathing room to invest in professional development activities that might not be as feasible once you're actively collecting unemployment benefits. Also, for anyone dealing with the anxiety of this process - remember that this waiting period is completely normal and expected. ESD isn't trying to make things difficult; they're just following state law that treats severance as deferred wages. Once you understand the logic behind it, the whole system makes much more sense. Keep filing those weekly claims religiously, even when it feels pointless. That consistency is what allows your benefits to kick in seamlessly when the severance period ends!
Nathaniel Mikhaylov
Just wanted to share another resource that helped me when I was in your exact situation last year - Catholic Community Services and other faith-based organizations often have rapid response emergency assistance programs. I'm not religious but they helped me with a $300 grocery voucher and paid my phone bill for two months while I was between jobs. No religious requirements, just proof that you're actively job searching. Also, if you're a veteran, make sure to check with the VA - they have specific programs for veterans facing financial hardship during job transitions that are separate from regular unemployment benefits. The application process is usually much faster than DSHS. Hang in there - I know how scary this situation feels but there are more safety net options than most people realize.
0 coins
Natasha Petrova
•Thanks for mentioning Catholic Community Services - I had heard of them but wasn't sure if they helped non-members. That's really encouraging to know they don't have religious requirements. The veteran resources are a good callout too, even though it doesn't apply to me personally. It's amazing how many programs exist that people just don't know about when they're in crisis mode. I'm definitely going to look into faith-based organizations in my area. Did you have to provide a lot of documentation to get help, or was the process pretty straightforward?
0 coins
Giovanni Mancini
I'm going through this exact same situation right now - just got the exhausted benefits notice yesterday and I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed. This thread has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea about some of these resources like 211 or that WorkSource had emergency assistance programs beyond just job search help. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if you have any skills in high-demand areas, some of the community colleges offer really short-term certification programs (like 2-4 weeks) that are specifically designed to get people back to work quickly. I just found out about a forklift certification program at my local community college that's only 3 days and they help with job placement afterward. Might be worth checking if there are any quick certifications in your area that could open up more opportunities while you're searching. Thanks to everyone who shared resources - I'm going to start making calls tomorrow to some of these programs. It helps so much to know other people have gotten through this situation.
0 coins
Emma Anderson
•That's a really smart point about the short-term certification programs! I hadn't thought about that approach. Manufacturing has been changing so much with automation and new technologies, so having some updated certifications could definitely help stand out in interviews. I'm going to check what my local community college offers - even if it means taking out a small student loan, it might be worth it if it leads to better job prospects faster. Thanks for sharing that idea and good luck with your own situation. It does help knowing we're not alone in dealing with this stress.
0 coins