How can I receive unemployment benefits from Washington ESD - complete beginner help needed

Washington ESD is the Employment Security Department - they handle all unemployment claims in our state. You'll need to file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready before you start.

The process is pretty straightforward once you get started. After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. You'll also need to register with WorkSource and do job searches - usually 3 per week but check your requirements.

I went through this process last year and honestly the hardest part was getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. The phone lines are always busy and you get disconnected constantly. I found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me get through to an agent when I needed to check on my claim status. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Make sure you understand the waiting week too. In Washington, you have to serve one waiting week before you get your first payment, even if your claim is approved right away.

whatever you do dont mess up your weekly claims!!! i missed filing one week and it took forever to get it fixed. you have to file every single week even if you worked some hours that week

The whole system is a nightmare honestly. Been trying to get my claim sorted for weeks now and keep getting different answers from different people. At least when I can actually reach someone.

For the original poster - here's what you need to know about eligibility: You need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). You also need to be able and available for work, actively seeking work, and have lost your job through no fault of your own.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You need to keep a log of all your job searches and Washington ESD can audit you at any time. Make sure you're actually applying for suitable work, not just random jobs.

The Washington ESD website has a really good checklist of everything you need before you start your application. Don't try to wing it - gather all your documents first.

I'm going through the same thing right now. Filed my claim 2 weeks ago and still waiting for approval. The anxiety is killing me.

Pro tip: file your weekly claims on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings. The system is usually less busy then and you're less likely to have technical issues.

If you run into any issues where you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, I highly recommend trying Claimyr. I used them when my claim got stuck and they were able to get me connected to an agent who actually helped resolve my issue. Way better than spending all day calling and getting nowhere.

Washington ESD has gotten better over the years but it's still not perfect. Just be patient and keep good records of everything you do.

Make sure you read all the instructions carefully when you file. A lot of people make mistakes because they rush through it.

The whole process took me about 30 minutes to complete my initial application. It's not as complicated as it seems once you get started.

Remember that your benefit amount is based on your wages during your base period, so don't expect to get your full salary. In Washington, the maximum weekly benefit is around $1,015 but most people get less.

Don't panic if your claim takes a while to get approved. Sometimes they need to verify your employment or investigate the reason you lost your job. Just keep filing your weekly claims.

One more thing - if you disagree with any decision Washington ESD makes about your claim, you have the right to appeal. Don't just accept it if you think they made a mistake.

I found another service that helped me when I couldn't reach Washington ESD - it's called Claimyr and they actually got me through to someone who could help with my adjudication issue. Their website is claimyr.com if you need to reach an actual person.

Good luck with your claim! It's stressful at first but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims and doing your job searches, it becomes pretty automatic.