How do I apply for unemployment benefits online with Washington ESD?
I got laid off from my warehouse job yesterday and need to figure out how to apply for unemployment benefits online. I've never done this before and I'm kind of overwhelmed looking at the Washington ESD website. Can someone walk me through the basic steps? Do I need to have all my employment history ready or can I do it in sections? Also worried about messing something up that would delay my claim.
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Ethan Clark
First thing - don't panic! The online application through Washington ESD is pretty straightforward once you know what to expect. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months (dates, wages, reason for separation). Go to esd.wa.gov and look for 'Apply for Benefits.' The system will save your progress so you don't have to do it all at once.
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Aisha Mahmood
•Thank you! That's reassuring. Do I need pay stubs or can I just estimate my wages?
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Ethan Clark
•You can estimate but try to be as accurate as possible. Washington ESD will verify with your employers anyway. Having your last pay stub helps but isn't required to start the application.
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AstroAce
Make sure you apply as soon as possible! There's a waiting week before benefits start and you can't backdate your claim. I made that mistake and lost a week of benefits.
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Aisha Mahmood
•Good to know! I'm planning to do it today. How long did your application take to process?
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AstroAce
•Mine was approved within a few days but I've heard it can take longer if there are any issues with your employment history.
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Yuki Kobayashi
ugh the website is so confusing though!! i spent like 2 hours trying to figure out where to even start the application. why cant they make it simpler
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Carmen Vega
•I had the same frustration initially. If you're having trouble navigating the site, try using claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents when you need help. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really helpful when you're stuck.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•oh interesting, never heard of that before. is it legit?
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Carmen Vega
•Yeah it's legitimate. I used it when I couldn't figure out why my claim was stuck in adjudication. Much easier than trying to call Washington ESD directly and getting busy signals all day.
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Andre Rousseau
Here's what you'll need before starting: 1) SSN and driver's license info 2) Bank account details for direct deposit 3) Employment history for past 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates worked, and gross wages 4) Reason you're unemployed. The application asks about your availability to work and job search efforts too.
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Aisha Mahmood
•This is super helpful! Do they ask about severance pay? I got two weeks severance.
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Andre Rousseau
•Yes, you'll need to report any severance payments. It might affect when your benefits start but won't disqualify you completely.
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Zoe Stavros
•Wait, severance affects unemployment? I thought that was separate money from your employer.
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Andre Rousseau
•Severance is considered wages in Washington, so it can delay the start of your UI benefits until that period is over. It's calculated based on your weekly benefit amount.
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Jamal Harris
Just be honest about everything! Don't try to hide anything because Washington ESD will find out anyway when they contact your employers. I know someone who got in trouble for not reporting that they were fired instead of laid off.
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Aisha Mahmood
•That's scary! I was legitimately laid off due to company downsizing so I should be fine there.
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Jamal Harris
•You'll be totally fine then. Layoffs are straightforward for unemployment claims.
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AstroAce
Also heads up - after you apply you'll need to file weekly claims every week to get paid. Don't forget to do that or you won't receive benefits for those weeks!
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Aisha Mahmood
•How do the weekly claims work? Is it another online form?
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AstroAce
•Yes, you log into your Washington ESD account every week and answer questions about your job search activities and any work or income you had that week. Takes like 10 minutes.
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GalaxyGlider
•The weekly claims are actually pretty easy once you get used to them. Just make sure you keep track of your job search activities!
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Zoe Stavros
do you have to look for work right away or can you take a little break first? asking for a friend lol
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Ethan Clark
•You need to be able and available for work immediately. Washington has work search requirements that start right away - you'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log.
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Zoe Stavros
•oof ok good to know. guess my 'friend' needs to start looking right away then
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Carmen Vega
Pro tip: Create your eServices account first before starting the application if you don't already have one. This is the same login you'll use for weekly claims later. The system sometimes gets overloaded during peak hours so try applying early morning or evening.
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Aisha Mahmood
•Good advice! What are the peak hours usually?
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Carmen Vega
•Usually mid-morning and right after 5pm when people get off work. Sunday evenings can be busy too since that's when weekly claims are due.
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Yuki Kobayashi
what if you worked multiple part time jobs? do you have to list all of them?
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Andre Rousseau
•Yes, list all employers from the past 18 months, even part-time or temporary work. Washington ESD uses all your wages to calculate your benefit amount, so you want to include everything.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•ok that makes sense. some of my jobs were really short term though, like a few weeks
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Andre Rousseau
•Include those too. Even short-term work counts toward your wage credits for determining eligibility and benefit amounts.
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GalaxyGlider
The hardest part for me was remembering exact dates from jobs I had over a year ago. If you don't remember exactly, your best estimate is fine - they'll verify with employers anyway.
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Aisha Mahmood
•That's what I was worried about! I have rough dates but not exact ones for some of my previous jobs.
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GalaxyGlider
•You'll be fine with approximations. I put 'approximately' in front of dates I wasn't sure about and had no issues.
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Ethan Clark
One more thing - make sure your contact information is current and check your account regularly. Washington ESD will send important notices through your eServices account and sometimes by mail. Missing a notice can cause problems with your claim.
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Aisha Mahmood
•How often should I check my account?
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Ethan Clark
•I'd check it at least weekly when you file your weekly claim, but daily for the first few weeks until your claim is established and you're getting regular payments.
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Jamal Harris
If you run into any issues during the application process, don't give up! Sometimes the system has glitches or timeouts. Just try again later or contact Washington ESD for help.
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Zoe Stavros
•good luck getting through to them on the phone though! took me forever when i had questions about my claim
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Carmen Vega
•That's exactly why I mentioned claimyr.com earlier - it really helps with getting through to Washington ESD when you need to talk to someone. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.
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Zoe Stavros
•might have to check that out if i have problems with my next claim
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AstroAce
After you submit your application, you'll get a determination letter within 1-2 weeks telling you if you're approved and what your weekly benefit amount will be. Then you can start filing weekly claims.
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Aisha Mahmood
•Perfect! This has all been super helpful. I feel much more confident about applying now.
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AstroAce
•You've got this! The process seems scary at first but it's really not that bad once you get started.
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Andre Rousseau
Final reminder: keep copies of everything you submit and document all your job search activities from day one. Having good records will save you headaches if any questions come up later about your claim.
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Aisha Mahmood
•Great advice! I'll start a folder right now to keep everything organized.
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GalaxyGlider
•Smart! I wish I had been more organized from the beginning. Made things more stressful when I had to find old documents later.
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Zoe Stavros
thanks everyone for all the help! this thread is way more useful than trying to navigate the washington esd website alone
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Aisha Mahmood
•Totally agree! Everyone here has been amazing. Time to go submit my application!
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Ethan Clark
•Good luck! Feel free to come back if you have questions during the process.
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