I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned above after struggling to get through to ESD for weeks. It actually worked! Got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. Just wanted to report back that it's legit if anyone else is facing the same frustration with the phone lines.

Just wanted to add my experience to help others in similar situations. I moved from Washington to Colorado mid-2024 while collecting unemployment benefits from WA ESD. Colorado also has state income tax, and yes, I had to pay Colorado state taxes on all my WA unemployment benefits. The key thing to understand is that unemployment benefits are taxed as regular income in your state of residence, not the state that issues them. I learned this the hard way when I didn't set aside enough money for state taxes. My advice: immediately start setting aside at least 5-7% of each payment for state taxes (depending on your state's tax rate), and definitely try to get federal withholding set up through ESD to avoid a big tax bill come filing time. Also keep detailed records of your move date and all correspondence with both states' tax agencies - you'll need it for filing.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! This community is amazing. I was stressed about fees but now I know exactly where to go for free withdrawals.

Just wanted to add that some credit unions are part of the CO-OP network which allows free ATM access, but not all of them. You can check if your local credit union participates by looking for the CO-OP logo on their ATMs or asking them directly. I use BECU and their ATMs work with my Washington ESD card without fees.

If you have questions about your specific rate calculation, you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD directly. The online account system doesn't give you enough detail to understand how they calculated everything.

As a new business owner myself, I found that Washington ESD's rate calculation becomes clearer once you understand the basic components. Your rate starts with a base percentage determined by your industry classification, then gets adjusted by your experience rating (which considers unemployment claims filed by your former employees), plus additional factors like the social cost component and any solvency surcharges. Since you've been operating for 3 years, you're likely transitioning from the standard new employer rate to your individualized experience rating. The key is that fewer claims against your account generally mean a lower rate over time.

Technical support can sometimes help, but they typically won't have access to adjudication details. They can confirm if identity verification has been processed in the system though, which might be useful information. Just be prepared that they'll likely refer you back to regular ESD agents for claim-specific questions.

I feel your pain - I went through something similar last year and it's absolutely maddening. The identity verification process is broken and they know it. What helped me was creating a detailed timeline document with every interaction, phone call, and submission date. When I finally got through to a supervisor, having that documentation made all the difference. Also, don't let them keep sending you the same forms over and over - if you've already submitted something, tell them explicitly that it's a duplicate and reference your original submission date. Sometimes the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing over there. You're closer than you think - the fact that your adjudication items are getting date changes means someone is actively working on your file. Hang in there!

Final thought - even if your application gets denied initially, you can appeal the decision if you think Washington ESD missed something about your work history or eligibility. Don't give up after the first response.

Just wanted to share my recent experience as another data point - I'm a freelance web developer and was surprised to discover I qualified for benefits because I had done some contract work through a staffing agency about 8 months ago. They had classified me as a W2 employee even though it was temporary project work. The key was that unemployment taxes were actually deducted from those paychecks. I almost didn't apply because I assumed being primarily self-employed would disqualify me, but I'm glad I did. The Washington ESD agent I spoke with said they see this situation fairly often with freelancers who have mixed income sources. So definitely worth applying even if you think you might not qualify!