


Ask the community...
Watch out for scams too. There are fake unemployment websites that look official but are trying to steal your information. Always make sure you're on the real Washington ESD website (esd.wa.gov) and never give your login information to anyone claiming to help you with your claim.
This thread is super helpful! I'm bookmarking it in case I ever need to file for unemployment. Hopefully I won't but it's good to know what to expect just in case.
Just file the claim and answer the questions honestly. If you weren't fired for stealing, violence, or willful misconduct, you'll probably get approved. Washington ESD sees these retaliation cases all the time.
For budgeting purposes, assume you'll get your first payment about 2-3 weeks after filing if everything goes smoothly. But build in extra time in case there are any issues that need to be resolved.
Don't forget to keep track of all your unemployment income for tax purposes. You'll get a 1099-G form at the end of the year but it's good to keep your own records too.
Try calling on Wednesday mornings - that's when I've had the most success getting through to Washington ESD. Avoid Mondays and Fridays completely.
UPDATE: Finally got through using Claimyr! Spoke with an adjudicator and got my wage records issue resolved. Thanks to everyone who suggested it. Would definitely recommend for anyone struggling to get through on the phone.
Jamal Carter
honestly just file as soon as possible and see what you get. you can always appeal the benefit amount if you think it's calculated wrong. i waited too long trying to figure everything out and lost 3 weeks of benefits
0 coins
NeonNinja
•That's probably good advice. Better to get the process started and fix issues later than miss out on benefits entirely.
0 coins
Jamal Carter
•exactly! and if you do need to appeal or have questions, at least you'll have a claim number to reference when you call
0 coins
Mei Liu
One last thing - keep really good records of everything. Save all your determination letters, write down confirmation numbers when you file weekly claims, screenshot everything. If there are any issues down the line, you'll need that documentation.
0 coins
NeonNinja
•Great advice! I'll make sure to stay organized from the start. Thanks everyone for all the helpful info!
0 coins
Anastasia Popov
•You're welcome! Feel free to post back here if you run into any issues with your claim. This community is pretty good about helping each other navigate the Washington ESD system.
0 coins