Does filing for unemployment hurt you with Washington ESD - worried about future impact

Filing for unemployment is a legal right and won't hurt your credit score at all. It doesn't show up on background checks the way criminal records do. Washington ESD benefits are designed to help people between jobs - that's literally what they're for.

The only potential 'hurt' is if you don't follow the job search requirements correctly. Washington ESD requires you to actively look for work and document it. If you don't do that properly, you could face penalties or have to pay benefits back.

Honestly I was worried about the same thing when I first filed. Thought it would be some kind of black mark on my record. But it's not - unemployment is insurance you and your employer paid into. You're just collecting what you're entitled to.

Just be careful about reporting any work you do while collecting. Even small jobs need to be reported or you could get in trouble for overpayments. That's really the only way it can 'hurt' you.

The main thing that helped me when I was dealing with Washington ESD was actually getting through to talk to someone when I had questions. The phone lines are always busy but I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get connected to agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Filing for unemployment absolutely will NOT hurt you. It's a safety net program. The only people who might judge you are people whose opinions don't matter anyway. Most employers understand that layoffs happen.

I was laid off last year and filed immediately. Got a new job 3 months later and the unemployment never came up in interviews or background checks. It's completely separate from your employment history.

The biggest mistake would be NOT filing if you're eligible. You're just leaving money on the table that you've already paid for through payroll taxes.

One thing to watch out for - if you quit your job vs getting laid off, that could affect your eligibility. But if you were laid off or fired for non-misconduct reasons, you should be fine to file.

The stigma around unemployment is mostly in people's heads. It's 2025 - everyone understands that the job market can be tough and layoffs happen to good employees.

Just make sure you file as soon as possible. There's usually a waiting period before benefits start, so the sooner you apply the sooner you'll start receiving payments.

I've been on unemployment twice and never had any negative consequences. If anything, it helped me focus on finding the right job instead of taking the first thing that came along out of desperation.

The only 'hurt' would be if you commit fraud - like lying about job search activities or not reporting income. As long as you're honest, you'll be fine.

Unemployment benefits are taxable income though, so just be aware you'll need to pay taxes on them or have taxes withheld. But that's not really 'hurting' you, just something to plan for.

I actually had to use Claimyr when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Saved me weeks of trying to get through on the phone. Really worth it when you need to reach an actual Washington ESD agent.

honestly the worst part about unemployment is just the stress and uncertainty, not any actual negative consequences. The system is there to help you.

Bottom line - filing for unemployment is using a benefit you've earned. There's no shame in it and it won't hurt your future prospects. Just follow the rules and you'll be fine.

Filed for benefits 3 times over my 20 year career due to various layoffs. Never affected my ability to get hired and no employer has ever asked about it.

The only people who might judge you for filing unemployment are people who have never been in that situation themselves. And their opinions don't matter anyway.

Just wanted to add that when I had trouble reaching Washington ESD about my weekly claims, Claimyr really helped me get connected quickly. Much better than spending hours on hold.