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Good luck with your claim! It seems overwhelming at first but most people get through it fine. Just take it one step at a time.
One last tip - screenshot or print confirmation pages as you go through the process. Having records of what you submitted and when can be really helpful if there are any issues later.
One more thing - if you have any issues with your claim getting stuck in 'adjudication' or pending status, don't just wait around. That's when you really need to get someone on the phone at Washington ESD to figure out what's holding it up.
This happened to me and I waited 2 months thinking it would resolve itself. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and found out they needed one simple form from me. Got it sorted in a week after that.
thanks everyone this has been super helpful! I feel way less confused about the whole process now. Gonna file my claim tonight and hopefully get this sorted out
Just want to add that mental health is important too when you're unemployed. The stress of not knowing your benefit amounts and dealing with ESD bureaucracy can really get to you. Take care of yourself during this process.
Good luck with your claim! The waiting and uncertainty is the worst part but most straightforward layoff claims get approved without issues. You should know your exact benefit amount within a week or two of filing.
One more resource - the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries also handles misclassification cases from a different angle. Sometimes it helps to file with both agencies.
Last tip - if you do need to call Washington ESD about your case, try that Claimyr thing people mentioned. The regular phone system is impossible to get through on, but having something call for you automatically makes a huge difference.
Oliver Fischer
Has anyone dealt with the tax implications? I heard unemployment benefits are taxable income now.
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AstroExplorer
•Unemployment benefits have always been taxable at the federal level. There was a temporary exception during COVID but that's over now.
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Oliver Fischer
•Thanks for clarifying. So I should plan to set aside money for taxes or have them withheld.
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Fatima Al-Farsi
For anyone still struggling to get through to Washington ESD with questions about benefit amounts or eligibility, I really can't recommend Claimyr enough. The video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ shows exactly how it works, and their website claimyr.com has more info. It's been a game-changer for people I know who needed to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.
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Amara Nwosu
•I bookmarked their site. If I run into issues after filing, I might give them a try.
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Natasha Ivanova
•I used them last year and it was worth every penny. Saved me probably 20+ hours of calling and redialing.
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