First time filing for unemployment - where do I even start with Washington ESD?

Everything is done online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment. The process takes about 30-45 minutes if you have everything ready.

Make sure you file ASAP! There's a waiting week in Washington so the sooner you file the sooner that week starts counting. I waited like 2 weeks after getting laid off and kicked myself for losing those potential benefit weeks.

I tried calling Washington ESD when I first filed and it was impossible to get through. Spent hours on hold just to get disconnected. If you need to talk to someone about your claim, I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to an ESD agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Was a lifesaver when my claim got stuck in adjudication.

Here's the step by step process: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov and click 'Apply for Benefits' 2) Create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one 3) Complete the initial application with all your work history 4) Wait for your monetary determination letter 5) Start filing weekly claims every Sunday. The key is being accurate with your work history - any mistakes can delay your claim.

dont forget you have to do job search activities too!! I think its 3 per week in washington. keep track of everything because they can audit you

The whole system is such a mess. I filed 3 months ago and I'm still waiting for my adjudication to be resolved. They want more information but won't tell me exactly what they need. Meanwhile I'm behind on rent and bills. This is supposed to be a safety net but it feels more like a bureaucratic nightmare.

Pro tip: screenshot everything! Save copies of all your weekly claims, any correspondence from ESD, your job search log, everything. I learned this the hard way when they said they never received something I definitely submitted.

One thing that confused me at first - you have to file your weekly claims even while your initial application is being processed. Don't wait for approval to start doing the weekly certifications or you'll miss out on benefits for those weeks.

Also important to know - if you worked in multiple states in the past 18 months, you might need to file in a different state or file a combined wage claim. Washington ESD can help determine which state you should file in based on where you earned the most wages.

Make sure you have a bank account set up for direct deposit! Paper checks take forever and can get lost in the mail. The direct deposit usually hits 1-2 days after you file your weekly claim if there are no issues.

been through this whole process twice now unfortunately lol. first time took 3 weeks to get approved, second time took 8 weeks because of some issue with my separation reason. the key is just being patient and persistent. and keep calling if something seems wrong even though its a pain

Don't forget about the tax implications! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld automatically or pay estimated taxes quarterly. I made the mistake of not having taxes taken out and ended up owing a bunch at tax time.

Just want to add that if you're filing because you got fired (not laid off), you might want to be extra careful about how you explain the separation. Washington ESD will contact your employer to verify the reason and if there's a disagreement it could delay your benefits while they investigate.

The WorkSourceWA website is also really helpful for the job search requirement. You can create a profile there and it tracks some of your job search activities automatically. Plus they have job postings and career resources.

One last thing - if you're thinking about taking any part-time work while collecting unemployment, make sure you report ALL income on your weekly claims. Even small amounts need to be reported or you could be accused of fraud later. It's not worth the risk.