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I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been dealing with Washington ESD for a while now - these website outages unfortunately happen more often than they should, especially during busy periods like holidays or when there are system updates. The good news is that Washington ESD is generally understanding about late filings when it's due to their technical issues. I've learned to always try filing during off-peak hours first (early morning or late evening), and if that doesn't work, I document everything with screenshots showing the error messages and timestamps. It's also worth signing up for their email alerts if you haven't already - they sometimes send notifications about planned maintenance or known issues. Hang in there, and don't stress too much about missing the deadline when it's clearly on their end!
This is really helpful advice! I didn't know about the email alerts - I'm definitely going to sign up for those. The screenshot documentation tip is something I'll remember for next time too. It's good to hear from someone with experience that they're understanding about these technical issues. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I've been through this exact situation multiple times over the past year. What I've found that works best is trying to access the site very early in the morning (like 5-6 AM) when traffic is lowest. Also, if you're using Chrome, try switching to Firefox or Edge - sometimes different browsers handle their server load better. One more tip: if you get partway through filing and the site crashes, don't start over immediately. Wait about 10-15 minutes and try to resume where you left off, as sometimes the system saves your progress even when it appears to have failed. The stress is real, but I've never actually lost benefits due to their technical problems - they do track when the issues are on their end.
These are excellent practical tips! I especially appreciate the advice about waiting 10-15 minutes before trying again instead of starting over right away - I definitely would have just kept restarting the process immediately. The early morning timing makes a lot of sense too since most people probably try to file during normal business hours. It's such a relief to hear from multiple people that Washington ESD actually does track when the problems are on their end. Thank you for sharing your experience!
One last tip - if you ever have problems with your weekly claim or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about claim issues, don't waste time trying to call them directly. The wait times are ridiculous and they hang up constantly. Services like Claimyr are worth it when you need actual help.
Just wanted to add that you should also make sure your bank account information is up to date in your Washington ESD profile before filing your first weekly claim. If your direct deposit info is wrong, your payments will get delayed or sent to the wrong account. I had to wait an extra 2 weeks for my first payment because my old bank account was still on file. You can update it in the "Payment Method" section of your account dashboard.
That's such an important point! I didn't even think about checking my bank info. I opened a new account last month so I better make sure it's updated before I file my first claim. Do you know if there's a delay when you change your direct deposit info or does it take effect right away?
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. I learned a lot and feel much more confident about reapplying for benefits.
Just wanted to add my experience - I reapplied in October after working temp jobs for a few months and it was pretty smooth. The key thing is making sure you have enough wages from work AFTER your previous claim ended. I had to wait an extra month because my first temp job didn't pay enough to meet the requirements, but once I had sufficient earnings it went through without any issues. The online application took about 30 minutes and I got my first payment two weeks later.
One last tip - keep detailed records of everything. All your medical clearance paperwork, disability end dates, job search activities, everything. Washington ESD loves documentation.
Just wanted to add that when you do file your claim, make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months ready. Washington ESD will ask for specific details about your last employer including dates of employment, reason for separation, and wages earned. Since your job was eliminated while you were on disability, that should actually work in your favor - involuntary job loss is typically straightforward for unemployment eligibility. The fact that you're medically cleared to return to work is the key piece that will help your case.
Dylan Mitchell
Just remember to check your SecureAccess Washington account regularly for updates on your claim status. Washington ESD will post their determination there first, and you'll get a written notice in the mail with the full explanation of their decision.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•I've been checking daily! Hopefully I'll see good news soon. Thanks again everyone for all the support and information.
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Olivia Harris
I went through a similar misconduct review with Washington ESD about 8 months ago. My employer claimed I was fired for poor attitude and insubordination, but it was really just disagreements about unrealistic deadlines and understaffing issues. Washington ESD approved my benefits after about 3 weeks of review. They seemed to understand that workplace conflict doesn't automatically equal misconduct. The key thing that helped my case was showing that I tried to resolve issues through proper channels first - like emailing HR about my concerns. Do you have any documentation of trying to address the childcare/scheduling issues with your employer before they escalated?
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CosmicCruiser
•That's really helpful to know! I do have some text messages with my supervisor about the childcare situation affecting my schedule, and I sent an email to HR once asking about flexible start times. I didn't think to save those but I might still have them in my phone. Should I gather all that documentation in case Washington ESD asks for it during their review?
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