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One last thing - if you find any part-time or temporary work while collecting benefits, make sure you report it accurately on your weekly claims. You can often still collect partial benefits, but failing to report work is considered fraud and will cause way bigger problems down the road.
Best of luck with your application! The system has its flaws but most people get through the process without major issues. Stay organized, be patient, and keep looking for work. You'll get through this rough patch.
Remember to keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still being processed. You don't want to miss out on benefits for weeks you were eligible just because you forgot to file.
The UI system can be really overwhelming at first but once you get the hang of the routine it becomes pretty automatic. File your weekly claim, do your job searches, keep records. Just stay on top of it.
When I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD about my documentation questions, someone recommended trying Claimyr. It connects you directly to ESD agents without the usual hold times. Really helped me get clarity on what I needed to provide for my specific work situation.
That's the third mention of Claimyr in this thread. Seems like people have had good experiences with it.
Final reminder - file as soon as possible after you become unemployed. There's a waiting period before benefits start, and you can't get benefits for weeks before you file, even if you were unemployed.
Anyone else notice how hard it is to get straight answers about this stuff from Washington ESD directly? Their website has all this info but it's scattered across like 50 different pages.
Yeah their website organization is terrible. I usually end up having to call or use something like Claimyr to talk to an actual person who can give me a clear answer.
Bottom line - you need $4,128 total wages in your base period (first 4 of last 5 completed quarters) AND wages in at least 2 of those quarters. Your 8 months plus previous part-time work might be enough depending on when you worked and how much you earned.
Diego Vargas
so basically the four types are just academic classifications and don't affect your actual benefits or requirements?
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Chloe Anderson
•That's right. Washington ESD processes your claim based on your work history, reason for separation, and current availability - not which economic category of unemployment you represent.
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GalacticGuru
•Thanks everyone for helping clear this up! I feel much better about just focusing on my weekly claims and job search instead of worrying about categories.
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Zara Rashid
final thought - if you're having trouble with your claim or need clarification about your benefits, don't stress about unemployment types. focus on the basics: file weekly, search for jobs, report any earnings, and respond to any requests from washington esd promptly
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GalacticGuru
•Perfect advice. I'm going to stop overthinking this and just follow the standard process. Really appreciate everyone's help!
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Omar Fawaz
•good luck with your claim! the system is pretty straightforward once you understand the actual requirements vs the economic theory
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