How can I collect unemployment in Washington - complete beginner guide needed

Don't wait to apply! You should file your initial claim as soon as possible after losing your job. Go to the Washington ESD website and create an account. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked. The process takes about 30-45 minutes online.

The website is secure.esd.wa.gov - make sure you're on the right site. After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to get paid. Don't skip any weeks even if you're still waiting for approval.

One thing to keep in mind - you'll need to actively look for work and keep a job search log. Washington requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week. You can do this through WorkSource or on your own, but you need to document everything.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and it's impossible. The phone lines are always busy and when you do get through, you get disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a real person there?

Make sure you understand the waiting week. Washington doesn't have a waiting week anymore, so you can get paid for your first week of unemployment if you're eligible. This changed a few years ago so some old information online might be wrong.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare. i filed 3 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything. no one answers the phone, the website is confusing, and i'm about to lose my apartment. this is supposed to be a safety net but it feels like they're trying to make it as hard as possible

For the original poster - the weekly benefit amount is calculated based on your highest earning quarter in the past year. In Washington, the maximum weekly benefit is around $1,015 but most people get less than that. You can get an estimate on the Washington ESD website before you apply.

Don't forget about the federal and state tax implications. Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return. I'd recommend having them withheld to avoid a surprise tax bill.

Just be really careful about reporting any work you do while collecting benefits. Even if it's just a one-day gig or part-time work, you need to report it on your weekly claim. Not reporting work income is considered fraud and can result in serious penalties.

I remember when I first applied, the hardest part was gathering all the employer information. Make sure you have complete addresses, not just the store location you worked at. If your company had a corporate office, you might need that address instead.

The job search requirement is no joke. They can audit your job search activities and if you can't prove you were looking for work, they'll make you pay back benefits. I keep a spreadsheet with company names, positions applied for, dates, and how I applied.

Quick tip - if you're having trouble with the Washington ESD website, try different browsers. Sometimes it works better in Chrome than Firefox or vice versa. Also clear your cache if you're having login issues.

One more thing about Claimyr since someone mentioned it earlier - I used them when my claim got stuck in adjudication for 6 weeks. Cost me some money but was worth it to finally talk to someone who could explain what was happening with my claim. Sometimes you just need to speak to an actual person.

make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week. if you miss the deadline you might lose that week's benefits permanently. i learned this the hard way when i forgot to file one week and they wouldn't let me backdate it

The whole process seems overwhelming but it's really not that bad once you get started. I was in the same boat as you a few months ago and now I'm back to work. Just take it one step at a time and don't put off filing your initial claim.

Also worth mentioning - if you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might not be eligible for benefits. But if you were laid off due to lack of work, you should be fine. The application will ask about the reason for separation from your job.

Last piece of advice - once you get approved and start receiving benefits, don't spend it all right away. Benefits don't last forever and you want to make sure you're prepared for when they run out. In Washington, regular unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks.