How can I file for unemployment in Washington state - complete beginner here
I just got laid off from my job yesterday and have never filed for unemployment before. I know I need to file with Washington ESD but I'm completely lost on where to start. Do I need to go somewhere in person or can I do this online? What information do I need to have ready? Any help would be appreciated because I'm really stressed about this whole process.
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Danielle Campbell
You can file online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment. Don't wait - you should file as soon as possible because there's a waiting period.
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Caleb Bell
•Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or just the basic info about where I worked?
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Danielle Campbell
•Just the basic info for the initial application. They might ask for pay stubs later if they need to verify your wages.
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Rhett Bowman
filing is actually pretty straightforward but getting through to someone at washington esd when you have questions is a nightmare. spent 3 hours on hold yesterday just to get disconnected
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Abigail Patel
•I had the same problem! If you need to talk to someone, try calling right at 8am when they open. Still might take a while but better than calling later in the day.
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Daniel White
•Actually I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I couldn't reach them myself. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Abigail Patel
The application process usually takes about 30 minutes if you have all your information ready. After you submit, you'll get a confirmation number and then wait for your monetary determination letter which shows how much you'll receive. Make sure to file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed.
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Caleb Bell
•How long does it usually take to get approved? I really need to know when I might see some money coming in.
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Abigail Patel
•If everything goes smoothly, about 2-3 weeks for the first payment. But if they need to verify anything or if it goes to adjudication, it could take much longer - sometimes 6-8 weeks.
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Nolan Carter
•ADJUDICATION is where they investigate something about your claim. Could be why you left your job, if you're able to work, stuff like that. Hopefully you won't have to deal with that mess.
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Danielle Campbell
Make sure you understand the work search requirements too. You'll need to register with WorkSourceWA and do at least 3 job search activities per week. Keep detailed records because they do audit these.
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Natalia Stone
•wait what's WorkSourceWA? is that separate from the unemployment filing?
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Danielle Campbell
•Yes, it's the state job search website. You have to register there as part of your unemployment requirements. Go to worksourcewa.com and create an account.
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Nolan Carter
ugh the whole system is such a pain. I filed 2 months ago and still dealing with issues. they keep asking for more documentation and every time I try to call them I get nowhere. at least the online portal works most of the time
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Caleb Bell
•That's exactly what I'm worried about. What kind of documentation did they want from you?
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Nolan Carter
•They wanted proof of my last day of work, verification of why I was laid off, and then randomly asked for my W2 from 2023. It's been a nightmare honestly.
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Natalia Stone
i just went through this last month. biggest mistake I made was not filing right away - I waited like 5 days thinking I might get called back. Don't do that! File immediately even if you think it might be temporary
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Caleb Bell
•Good point, I was actually wondering about that. I guess there's no harm in filing even if I might find something quickly.
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Abigail Patel
•Exactly right. You can always cancel your claim if you find work, but you can't backdate it if you wait to file.
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Rhett Bowman
one thing that helped me was having all my employer info written down before I started the application. like exact addresses and phone numbers and the HR contact info. makes it go way faster
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Caleb Bell
•That's smart, I'll gather all that info before I start. Did you need anything else specific?
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Rhett Bowman
•Your bank account info for direct deposit and make sure you know exactly why you were laid off because they ask about that
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Daniel White
The Washington ESD website has a checklist of what you need before you start the application. I'd recommend looking at that first. Also create your SecureAccess Washington account ahead of time if you don't have one - that's what you use to log into the unemployment system.
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Caleb Bell
•What's SecureAccess Washington? Is that different from just creating an account on the ESD site?
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Daniel White
•It's the state's login system for all their services. You use the same account for unemployment, licensing, taxes, etc. Go to secureaccess.wa.gov to set it up.
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Abigail Patel
Important: make sure you file in the first week after you become unemployed. There's a one-week waiting period anyway, but if you file late you could lose benefits for those weeks. The system is very strict about timing.
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Caleb Bell
•Ok I'll definitely file today then. Better safe than sorry.
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Danielle Campbell
•Good call. And remember you have to file your weekly claim every week to keep getting benefits, even if your initial claim is still being reviewed.
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Nolan Carter
just be prepared for the possibility that something might go wrong and you'll need to contact them. when that happens and you can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier actually worked for me too. took like 20 minutes instead of hours of calling
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Caleb Bell
•How does that work exactly? Do they just call for you or something?
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Nolan Carter
•Yeah they handle the calling and waiting and then connect you when they get someone on the line. Way better than sitting there hitting redial for hours.
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Natalia Stone
also if you get any weird error messages while filing, try a different browser. the ESD website can be finicky sometimes. I had to use Edge instead of Chrome to get mine to work
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Rhett Bowman
•yeah their website is definitely not the most user friendly thing in the world
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Caleb Bell
•Good to know, I'll keep that in mind if I run into issues.
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Danielle Campbell
One more tip - take screenshots of your confirmation screens and save your confirmation number somewhere safe. If anything gets messed up later, having that documentation can save you a lot of headaches.
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Caleb Bell
•That's really good advice, thank you. I'll make sure to document everything as I go through the process.
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Abigail Patel
•Also print or save copies of any letters they send you. The system sometimes has glitches and having paper copies helps if you need to prove something later.
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Rhett Bowman
honestly the hardest part for me wasn't filing the initial claim, it was understanding all the terminology they use. like what's the difference between adjudication and an appeal? or what does 'able and available' actually mean? wish they explained things better
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Abigail Patel
•Adjudication is when they're investigating something about your claim before approving it. An appeal is when they've already made a decision and you're challenging it. And 'able and available' means you're physically able to work and actively looking for work.
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Caleb Bell
•Thanks for clarifying that! I was wondering about some of those terms too.
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Daniel White
If you run into any issues during the application process or afterwards, don't panic. The system processes thousands of claims and most people get through it fine. Just be patient and persistent if you need to contact them for help.
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Caleb Bell
•That's reassuring to hear. I'm feeling a lot less overwhelmed about this now thanks to everyone's help.
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Natalia Stone
•yeah once you get through the initial filing it's mostly just a matter of filing your weekly claims and doing your job search activities. routine stuff
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Tasia Synder
I filed for unemployment last year and the whole process was actually pretty smooth. The key is just having all your information ready and not overthinking it. The online system walks you through everything step by step.
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Caleb Bell
•That's good to hear! I think I was making it seem more complicated in my head than it actually is.
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Tasia Synder
•Exactly. Just follow the prompts and answer the questions honestly. They make it sound scarier than it is.
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Abigail Patel
Final advice: read all the instructions carefully and don't rush through the application. It's better to take your time and get it right the first time than to have to deal with corrections later.
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Caleb Bell
•Will do. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about tackling this now.
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Danielle Campbell
•Good luck! Hope everything goes smoothly for you.
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Nolan Carter
and remember if you do need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through the regular way, that Claimyr service is there as a backup option. saved my sanity when I was dealing with a complicated situation
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Caleb Bell
•I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into any roadblocks. Hopefully I won't need it but good to know it's an option.
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Daniel White
•Yeah, it's one of those things you hope you don't need but are really glad exists when you do need it.
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Natalia Stone
good luck with everything! getting laid off sucks but at least Washington has decent unemployment benefits compared to some other states. you'll get through this
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Caleb Bell
•Thanks for the encouragement! I really appreciate all the help from everyone here.
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Rhett Bowman
yeah this forum has been super helpful for me too when I was figuring all this stuff out. definitely bookmark it in case you have more questions later
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Caleb Bell
•Already did! This community seems really supportive.
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Abigail Patel
•We've all been there at some point. Happy to help when we can.
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Danielle Campbell
One last thing - make sure you understand that your weekly claim certification is due every week, usually on the same day. Missing even one week can cause delays in your payments, so set a reminder on your phone or calendar.
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Caleb Bell
•Good point about setting a reminder. What day of the week are they usually due?
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Danielle Campbell
•It depends on your claim, but they'll tell you when you file your initial application. For most people it's Sunday, but it can vary.
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