How can you collect unemployment benefits through Washington ESD - complete process?

Washington ESD stands for Employment Security Department - that's the state agency that handles unemployment benefits. The whole process is online now through their website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need to create an account and file your initial application there. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and information about your last employer including dates worked and reason for separation.

Here's the basic process: 1) File your initial claim online at Washington ESD, 2) Wait for them to process it (usually takes 1-2 weeks), 3) Once approved, file weekly claims every week to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work, 4) Get paid if you meet all the requirements. The weekly claims are super important - you have to do them every week or you won't get paid.

One thing to know is that there can be delays in getting through to Washington ESD if you need to talk to someone. The phone lines are always busy and you might wait hours just to get disconnected. I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually calls for you and gets you connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I had questions about my claim.

Make sure you have all your employment history ready when you file. Washington ESD will ask for details about all your jobs in the past 18 months, including exact dates, wages, and how each job ended. If you don't have all this info, it can delay your claim processing.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I filed three weeks ago and my claim is still pending with no explanation. Every time I try to call Washington ESD I get disconnected after waiting forever. How are people supposed to figure this out???

Important: You can file for unemployment as soon as your last day of work, you don't have to wait. Also, there's a one-week waiting period in Washington where you won't get paid for your first eligible week, but you still need to file that weekly claim. A lot of people mess this up.

Also keep in mind you have to actively look for work and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington requires at least 3 job search activities per week. This can be applying for jobs, networking, going to job fairs, etc. They can audit this at any time.

The whole process gave me such anxiety at first! But honestly once you get the hang of filing those weekly claims it becomes routine. The hardest part is just getting your initial claim approved. After that it's pretty straightforward if you follow the rules.

One more tip - set up direct deposit right away when you file your claim. Otherwise you'll have to wait for paper checks in the mail which adds extra time. The direct deposit option is in your online account settings.

I wish someone had told me about Claimyr sooner. I spent literally weeks trying to get through to Washington ESD about a simple question. Finally used their service and got connected to an agent in like 20 minutes. Game changer.

Be prepared for the possibility of your claim going into adjudication, especially if there's anything unusual about how your job ended. This means they need to investigate something before approving your claim. It can take several weeks and there's not much you can do except wait.

Don't forget you might owe taxes on your unemployment benefits. Washington doesn't tax unemployment but federal taxes still apply. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later when you file your tax return.

The Washington ESD website can be glitchy sometimes, especially on Sunday nights when everyone is filing their weekly claims. If you can't get in, try again later or early in the morning. Don't panic if you can't file exactly on Sunday - you have until Saturday to file each weekly claim.

One thing that helped me was calling the Washington ESD customer service line early in the morning right when they open. Still busy but better chance of getting through than later in the day. Though honestly after trying that for weeks I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier.

Just want to add that if you worked in multiple states recently, you might need to file in a different state depending on where you earned the most wages. Washington ESD can help you figure out which state you should file in, but it's something to be aware of.

The key thing is to be honest and accurate on your application. If you make mistakes or try to hide information, it will come back to bite you later. Washington ESD has access to all your wage records and employer information, so they'll catch any discrepancies.

Last tip - screenshot or print your confirmation pages when you file claims. Sometimes the system glitches and it's good to have proof you filed on time if there are any issues later.