


Ask the community...
For anyone still confused about the tax withholding process, it's really straightforward once you find it. Just answer 'yes' when asked if you want federal taxes withheld during your weekly claim.
The bottom line is yes, unemployment is taxable income. Have 10% withheld or save money yourself. You'll get a 1099-G form to use when filing taxes. Washington state has no income tax so only federal taxes apply.
Filed my claim 3 weeks ago and still haven't gotten my first payment. The waiting is the worst part honestly. At least I know roughly what I should be getting when it finally comes through.
Alright everyone, I'm convinced - about to start my application right now. Thanks for all the advice and realistic expectations about timing and amounts. This thread has been super helpful!
Yeah from what you described you should definitely qualify. $18,000 in wages, laid off through no fault of your own, able to work - you check all the boxes. Good luck with your claim!
Just wanted to add that if you have any issues with your claim getting stuck in adjudication or anything like that, that Claimyr service is really helpful for getting through to ESD agents to check on your status. I used it when my claim was delayed and got answers right away.
Pro tip: take screenshots of everything in your account, especially your weekly claim confirmations. If there are ever any issues or disputes later, having that documentation can be really helpful. I learned this after having a problem with a missing payment.
Update us when you hear back! Always curious how long the process takes for different people. Seems to vary quite a bit depending on your situation and how busy they are.
If you need to check on the status before then, definitely consider Claimyr if the phone lines aren't working for you. Made all the difference for me.
Mateo Lopez
For anyone else reading this later - Washington ESD also has a live chat feature during business hours that can help with login issues. Sometimes faster than calling.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•I tried the live chat last week and it was actually pretty helpful. Good suggestion!
0 coins
Ethan Davis
One more thing to watch out for - if you have any special characters in your password, sometimes SAW has trouble with those. Stick to letters and numbers if you're having persistent issues.
0 coins
Yuki Tanaka
•That's weird but good to know. Government systems can be so picky about password formats.
0 coins