btw did ur husband get the extra $35 for dependents? i have 2 kids and it took FOREVER to get that added to my weekly amount

I'm new to this whole unemployment process and reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! My partner was just laid off from their tech job last week and we're about to start the application process. Based on what I'm seeing in this thread, it sounds like the key things to focus on are: 1. Keep detailed records of everything from day one 2. Check the eServices account regularly for any updates or letters 3. Make sure to understand and follow the job search requirements exactly 4. Don't panic if it processes quickly - that can actually be normal! @MoonlightSonata - thanks for sharing your experience! It's helpful to see that sometimes the system does work as intended. I'm bookmarking this thread in case we run into any issues down the road. Fingers crossed our process goes as smoothly as your husband's did!

Hope this helps! Sounds like you should expect your first payment this Wednesday if everything goes smoothly with your claim.

I've been dealing with Washington ESD for about 6 months now and the payment timing has been pretty consistent - file your weekly claim by Sunday and expect the money Wednesday morning. The only time I had issues was when my claim got flagged for additional review, which delayed payments for almost 2 weeks. If you run into any problems where you need to actually talk to someone at ESD, I'd recommend checking out that Claimyr service others mentioned. I used it once when I couldn't get through their phone lines and it saved me hours of frustration trying to reach an agent.

Good luck with your claim! The process seems intimidating but most people get through it fine. Just stay organized and don't hesitate to ask questions if you get stuck.

One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you understand the difference between "able and available" vs "actively seeking work." You have to be physically and mentally able to work, available during normal business hours, and actively looking for work. I got confused about this initially and thought being available meant I could be picky about hours or location, but Washington ESD expects you to be genuinely ready to accept suitable work. Also, keep copies of everything you submit - your initial application, weekly claims, job search logs, etc. You never know when you might need to reference something later if there are questions about your claim.

Just want to add that persistence is key. I called for 4 days straight before finally getting through, but once I did they fixed my issue in 10 minutes. Don't give up!

I feel your pain! I went through the exact same thing last month. What finally worked for me was using multiple strategies at once - I'd call right at 8am while also having that Claimyr service working in the background. The key is not putting all your eggs in one basket. Also, if you do get through to someone, ask them about setting up a callback appointment for future issues. Some agents can schedule specific times to call you back which avoids the whole hold nightmare. Don't lose hope - that error message is usually something they can fix quickly once you actually reach a human!

Glad you found it! Thanks for sharing both navigation paths - that will definitely help others. Make sure to download and save a copy for your records.

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble accessing eServices, you can also try using a different browser or clearing your browser cache. I had login issues last month and switching from Chrome to Firefox solved it immediately. Also, make sure you're using the secure.esd.wa.gov URL and not any other ESD website - there are some fake/scam sites out there that look similar but won't actually let you access your real account information.