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Good luck with your new application! Sounds like you have a much better chance this time with more work history.
Final update: I went ahead and filed my new claim online. The system accepted it and I'm now waiting for the determination. Thanks everyone for the help and encouragement!
Keep us posted on how it goes. And remember, if you need to contact them about anything, Claimyr is there to help.
The online messaging system through SecureAccess Washington sometimes works too, but responses can take a week or more.
Bottom line: there are no walk-in unemployment offices anymore. Your options are phone (good luck), online portal (limited help), online messaging (slow), or mail (very slow). That's the reality of the current system.
For anyone doing the math - if you receive the maximum weekly benefit in Washington ($929) and have 10% withheld, that's about $4,830 in federal taxes over a full year of benefits. Just to give you an idea of the scale.
Don't forget that if you receive unemployment benefits, you might also qualify for tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, depending on your total income for the year. Sometimes people focus too much on the taxes owed and forget about potential credits.
Thanks for asking this question! I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been super helpful. Going to make sure I understand all the requirements so I don't mess anything up.
One last tip - if you do run into problems with Washington ESD and can't get through by phone, that Claimyr service I mentioned really does work. Sometimes you just need to talk to an actual person to get things sorted out, and their regular phone system is basically impossible to navigate.
Miguel Herrera
Make sure he has his Social Security card and any pay stubs from the restaurant job. Washington ESD might ask for documentation to verify his wages and employment.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•Good point. I'll make sure he gathers all his paperwork before starting the application.
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Zainab Ali
•Having everything organized beforehand makes the whole process much smoother. Learned that the hard way on my first claim.
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Connor Murphy
One more thing - if his former employer contests the claim, don't panic. It's pretty common and doesn't necessarily mean he won't get benefits. Just make sure to respond to any requests for information from Washington ESD.
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Mateo Gonzalez
•The restaurant seemed pretty understanding about the layoff, so hopefully there won't be any issues there.
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Yara Nassar
•Even when employers don't contest, Washington ESD sometimes does their own review. Just be prepared to provide details about the job loss if they ask.
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