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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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Just to follow up on my earlier comment - I ended up needing to use Claimyr again when I had questions about my benefit amount calculation. Still works great for getting through to actual Washington ESD staff when you need real answers.
How much does that service cost? Might be worth it if it saves time.
It's definitely worth it when you're stuck and need to talk to someone. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.
Don't stress too much about the timeline - it varies but most straightforward claims get processed within 1-2 weeks. Since you mentioned you were laid off due to company downsizing, that should be pretty clear-cut for them to approve. The key things to remember: start filing your weekly claims the week after you filed (don't wait for approval), keep track of your job search activities for the work search requirements, and make sure you respond quickly to any requests for additional information they might send you. The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it gets routine pretty quickly once you're in the swing of it.
This is really helpful advice! I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain the process. It does seem less scary now that I understand what to expect. I'll definitely start filing weekly claims right away and keep good records of everything. Hopefully my case will be straightforward since it was a clear layoff situation.
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This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm a retired Army veteran (22 years of service) and just got laid off from my government contracting job last Friday. I've been incredibly anxious about filing for unemployment because I wasn't sure how my $2,650/month military retirement pay would affect my eligibility. Reading through everyone's experiences and the specific legal references (especially that RCW 50.20.050 statute) has completely put my mind at ease. It's incredible how much more helpful this community discussion has been compared to spending hours trying to navigate the Washington ESD website. The fact that they actually have a specific dropdown menu for military retirement pay shows they really do understand our situation as veterans. I'm planning to file my claim this weekend now that I know my retirement pay won't interfere with my unemployment benefits. Thank you all for your service and for taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences - this kind of veteran-to-veteran support is invaluable when dealing with these complex government systems!
Thank you for your 22 years of Army service! I completely understand that anxiety you were feeling - it's such a stressful situation to be dealing with job loss while worrying about how different income sources might affect your benefits. This thread has really become an incredible resource for all of us veterans navigating this same situation. Your weekend filing plan sounds perfect, and with a retirement amount similar to what others have shared, you can feel completely confident that it won't impact your unemployment benefits at all. It's really reassuring to see how Washington state has set up their system to properly handle military retirees - that dropdown menu option shows they've thought this through. The government contracting experience you have should be valuable in your job search too. Best of luck with filing your claim, and please let us know how it goes! This community support has been so helpful for everyone.
I'm a retired Marine (20 years) and this entire discussion has been such a relief! I got laid off from my logistics job three weeks ago and have been dreading filing for unemployment because I thought my $2,200/month retirement pay might disqualify me or reduce my benefits. After reading through all these real experiences from fellow veterans and seeing the specific RCW reference, I finally understand that Washington state treats military retirement pay completely separately from employment income. It's frustrating that this information isn't clearer on the official ESD website, but this community has provided exactly the clarity I needed. I'm filing my claim first thing Monday morning now that I know my retirement pay won't be an issue. Thank you all for your service and for sharing your knowledge - this veteran-to-veteran support makes navigating these bureaucratic systems so much easier!
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I'm 66 and have been collecting social security for about a year now. My part-time job at a local nonprofit just ended due to funding cuts, and I was really hesitant to file for unemployment because I wasn't sure if it would affect my social security benefits. After reading through all these experiences, I feel so much more confident about applying! It's incredibly reassuring to see that Washington state really does keep these programs completely separate. I had no idea that unemployment benefits don't count as earnings for social security purposes either - that was one of my biggest concerns. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice. I'm going to file my claim tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed for a smooth process like so many of you have had. This community has been such a valuable resource during a stressful time!
Amara, I'm in almost exactly the same situation! I'm 65 and lost my part-time position at a community center when their grant funding got cut last month. I've been on social security for about 8 months now and was so worried that filing for unemployment would somehow mess things up. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - it's amazing how much clearer things become when you hear from people who've actually been through the process. The separation between these programs in Washington state seems really well designed. I'm planning to file my claim this week too after seeing how smoothly it's gone for others. Good luck with your application, and thanks to everyone who's shared their stories - this thread should be bookmarked for anyone dealing with this situation!
Amara, your situation with the nonprofit funding cuts really resonates with me! I'm 68 and just went through something similar when the senior center where I worked part-time had to eliminate my position due to budget constraints. I was already collecting social security and was terrified that applying for unemployment would somehow create problems or reduce my benefits. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - seeing so many real experiences from people who've successfully navigated this exact situation in Washington state has given me the confidence to move forward. The fact that these programs are truly kept separate here makes such a difference compared to the horror stories you sometimes hear about benefit complications. I filed my claim last week and it's been processing smoothly so far. Your nonprofit experience will definitely be an asset in your job search - there are always organizations looking for people with that background. Wishing you the best with your filing!
I'm 63 and just started collecting social security a few months ago. My employer just announced they're eliminating my part-time position next week due to restructuring. Reading through all these experiences has been so helpful - I was really worried that being on social security would complicate things if I tried to file for unemployment. It's incredibly reassuring to learn that Washington state keeps these programs completely separate and that unemployment benefits won't affect my social security payments. The clarity everyone has provided about not needing to report social security income on weekly claims is especially valuable. I feel much more prepared to file my claim when the layoff happens. Thank you to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - it makes such a difference when you're facing this situation for the first time!
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I'm in a very similar situation - 61 years old and just got my layoff notice from my manufacturing job after 18 years. I've been really stressed about whether I could collect my 401k distributions and unemployment at the same time. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring! It's good to know that Washington state treats retirement income differently than work wages. I'm also glad to see the advice about tax withholding - I definitely need to factor that in since I'll have income from multiple sources. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the specific regulation reference (WAC 192-110-015). This gives me confidence to move forward with filing my claim.
I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you too! It's reassuring to know there are others in similar situations navigating these same concerns. One thing I'd add based on what I've learned here - make sure you understand the difference between 401k distributions and pension payments when you're filling out your application. From what I've read, both should be fine with unemployment benefits in Washington, but they might ask for different documentation. Also, since you mentioned being 61, you might want to be extra careful about any early retirement penalty implications for your 401k if you haven't already factored those in. The peace of mind from getting accurate information really makes all the difference during an already stressful time like a layoff.
I'm 65 and went through this exact situation last year when I got laid off from my engineering job. Can confirm that collecting both pension and Washington unemployment is absolutely allowed - they're treated as completely separate income streams. The key is just being upfront about everything during your application. One tip I'd add is to keep good records of all your pension statements and layoff paperwork, as they may ask for documentation later. Also, don't stress too much about the online application process - it walks you through everything step by step. The hardest part for me was actually getting through on the phone when I had questions, but the online system handled most of what I needed. You should be fine collecting both!
This is exactly the kind of real-world experience I needed to hear! Thank you for confirming that the process worked smoothly for you. I'm definitely going to start gathering all my pension and layoff documentation now so I have everything organized before I apply. It's encouraging to know that the online system is manageable - I was worried about having to navigate something overly complicated. Your point about keeping good records is really smart too, especially if they need to verify information later. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience!
Nasira Ibanez
Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more confident about the move now. I'm going to try to get through to Washington ESD to confirm everything, and if I can't reach them I'll try that Claimyr service. Really appreciate all the help!
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Brian Downey
•Good luck with everything! Hope the move goes smoothly.
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Khalil Urso
•Sounds like you have a good plan. Just remember to update your address as soon as you move and keep documenting your job search activities.
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Chad Winthrope
I went through this exact situation when I moved from Seattle to Portland in 2023 while collecting benefits. Here's what I learned: You absolutely can continue collecting Washington unemployment after moving out of state, but you need to be proactive about it. First, update your address in eServices immediately - don't wait. Second, make sure you understand that your job search requirements don't change just because you moved. You still need to complete 3 job search activities per week, but now they should be for positions in your new location where you can actually accept work. The key thing Washington ESD cares about is whether you're "able and available" for work. Moving to Oregon actually worked in my favor because there were more opportunities in my field than where I was living in Washington. I never had any issues with my benefits, but I was very careful to document everything and kept detailed records of all my job applications. One tip: if you do need to speak with someone at ESD about your specific situation, don't waste time trying to call during peak hours. The phone system is brutal, but getting clarity on your situation before you move is definitely worth the effort.
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Rachel Clark
•This is really helpful to hear from someone who's been through it! I'm a newcomer to this whole unemployment system and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the rules and requirements. Your experience gives me hope that moving out of state while collecting benefits is actually doable if you're careful about it. I'm curious about one thing though - when you say you kept detailed records beyond what ESD requires, what exactly did that look like? Did you create your own spreadsheet or just save confirmation emails from job applications? I want to make sure I'm protecting myself but don't want to go overboard with documentation if it's not necessary. Also, did you give ESD any advance notice about your move, or did you just update your address after you relocated?
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Hugh Intensity
•This is such great real-world advice! I'm also thinking about moving out of state while collecting benefits and hearing from someone who actually did it successfully is really reassuring. Your point about updating the address immediately is noted - I definitely don't want any delays or complications with my benefits. One question I have is about the timing of job applications. Did you start applying to jobs in Portland before you physically moved there, or did you wait until after you relocated? I'm wondering if there's any issue with applying to Oregon jobs while still living in Washington, or if ESD expects you to only apply where you currently reside. Also, did you have to explain the move to any potential employers during interviews, and if so, how did you handle that conversation?
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