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Bottom line - the UI fund is designed to handle periods of high unemployment. That's literally its purpose. Yes it gets strained, yes processing gets backed up, but the money is there. Been through this cycle before and it always works out.
Just to add one more data point - I work in payroll and can confirm our company's UI tax rate did go up this year after we had layoffs in 2023. But it's still a relatively small percentage of overall payroll costs. The system spreads the burden around pretty effectively.
For anyone still having trouble getting through to Washington ESD - I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked. Got connected to an agent who explained exactly how my benefit amount was calculated. Worth checking out if you're stuck.
Also keep in mind that if you do any freelance or gig work while collecting unemployment, you need to report those earnings on your weekly claims. Even if it's just a one-time job, report it honestly.
The job search requirement is 3 contacts per week but they want quality over quantity. Applying to jobs you're actually qualified for looks better than just submitting random applications to meet the number.
Also remember that even while your claim is being adjudicated, you should continue filing your weekly claims. If you're eventually approved, you'll get back pay for those weeks.
If you need to talk to Washington ESD during this process and can't get through normally, that claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is actually pretty good. I was skeptical at first but it really does work better than calling on your own.
Victoria Jones
Last piece of advice - if your payment doesn't show up when expected, don't panic right away. Check your claim status online first to see if there are any issues. Sometimes there are processing delays or system maintenance that can cause short delays.
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Sophia Rodriguez
•Thanks for that tip! I'll check my account status first before worrying if something seems off.
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Cameron Black
•yeah and remember that Claimyr thing if you need to actually talk to someone at ESD. way better than trying to call them yourself
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Jessica Nguyen
Glad we could help! The unemployment system can be confusing at first but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty straightforward. File on Sunday, get paid on Wednesday, keep up with your job search, and you should be all set.
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Sophia Rodriguez
•This has been so helpful! I feel much more confident about the whole process now. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences.
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Isaiah Thompson
•happy to help! we've all been through the same confusion when starting out
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