First time applying for unemployment - Washington ESD process questions

First step is creating an account on the Washington ESD website. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months. Make sure you have employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The initial application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready.

the weekly claims are important - you have to file every week even if you havent gotten approved yet. its on the same website and asks about work you did that week and money you earned

The application process itself is straightforward but getting through to someone at Washington ESD when you have questions is nearly impossible. I spent weeks trying to call their customer service line. If you run into issues and need to actually speak with an agent, there's a service called Claimyr that helped me get through. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's a waiting week in Washington but the sooner you file, the sooner that clock starts ticking. You'll also need to register with WorkSourceWA for the job search requirements.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing!! i applied 2 months ago and still dont understand half of what they want from me

When you file your initial claim, Washington ESD will determine your weekly benefit amount based on your earnings history. This usually takes 1-2 weeks but can take longer if they need to verify employment or investigate any issues. Don't panic if it goes into adjudication - that just means they're reviewing something.

just a heads up the website crashes alot especially on sundays when everyone tries to file their weekly claims at once

One important thing - be completely honest on your application. If you were fired, don't try to make it sound like you quit. If you quit, don't try to make it sound like you were laid off. Washington ESD will contact your employer and any discrepancies will cause major delays or disqualification.

also make sure you have direct deposit set up. the debit card option has fees and is a pain

The whole system is designed to frustrate you into giving up. Half the links don't work, the phone system hangs up on you, and they make everything as complicated as possible.

For what it's worth, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really did help me cut through the phone maze when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status. Saved me probably 20+ hours of being on hold and getting disconnected.

Make copies of everything you submit and keep detailed notes with dates. If something goes wrong you'll need that paper trail.

oh and dont forget about taxes. unemployment benefits are taxable income so you might want to have them withhold taxes or set money aside

The WorkSourceWA registration is mandatory in Washington. You'll need to create a profile there and it connects to your unemployment claim. They have job search tools and sometimes job fairs, but mainly it's for tracking your required work search activities.

honestly wish someone had told me about claimyr when i first applied would have saved me so much stress trying to get answers

One last tip - set up text notifications if available. Washington ESD will send alerts about your claim status, required actions, and payment updates. It's much more reliable than waiting for mail or checking the website constantly.

been there done that. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment but once it starts flowing its reliable. hang in there

Just remembered - if you're worried about the complexity, there are also local WorkSource offices where you can get help in person. They can't file the claim for you but they can walk you through the process and answer questions face-to-face.

one more thing - keep filing those weekly claims even if your payment gets delayed or stopped. you cant go back and claim weeks you missed

good luck op! the first application is always the scariest part but youll figure it out