Have you filed for unemployment? Run into issues with applying or long wait times & confusing systems? Whether you made it through the system or not, please report what happened for you to make sure workers get what we need during the crisis.
Nearly 600,000 workers in Washington — and millions across the country — have filed for unemployment in the last week.
Our state & the federal government have beefed up unemployment to get workers through the crisis. But many of us still aren't getting the benefits we need — and in a moment like this, it's vital that the systems we're using work for us.
That's why we're crowdsourcing reports from workers who have applied for unemployment. Whether you were denied, accepted, or haven't been able to get through the system at all, your experience matters, and sharing it is a huge way to help make sure workers get what we need.
Washington's Employment Security Department plans to update their application system on Sunday. They will be starting up the new "expanded unemployment" program for workers who aren't usually eligible (like independent contractors) and sending an additional $600/week to all workers receiving unemployment.
But we already know that many workers are struggling to get through the system as it is — so it's important for us to learn as much as we can about what workers have experienced so far, and keep an eye on this new system as it rolls out.
If you have ten minutes to spare, you can help. Report on your experience filing for unemployment if you've applied.
And whether you're still working or out of a job, share that link online (Twitter / Facebook) or with coworkers & friends who have applied. Together, we can make sure we're holding our state accountable to get workers through this crisis.