How do I claim unemployment benefit with Washington ESD - complete beginner here

You can file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov - it's actually pretty straightforward once you get started. 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. The weekly claims are what you file every week to actually receive your benefits - you have to do those to get paid.

The online system walks you through everything step by step. Make sure you have a good internet connection because it can time out if you take too long on one page. Also, file your claim on Sunday or Monday if possible - the system gets overloaded later in the week and you might have trouble getting through.

I've been through this process twice and honestly the hardest part is getting through to Washington ESD if you have questions or problems. Their phone lines are constantly busy and you can spend hours trying to get through. I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach an agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when my claim got stuck in adjudication.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You have to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and they can audit you at any time.

ugh the job search thing is such a pain. like we're not already stressed enough about being unemployed now we have to jump through hoops to prove we're looking for work. the whole system is designed to make you give up

Quick tip - when you file your weekly claims, do it on Sunday as soon as the system opens. You'll get paid faster that way. Also double check all your information before submitting because corrections can cause delays.

Don't forget you'll need to register with WorkSourceWA too. It's required for unemployment benefits and you have to keep your profile updated. They sometimes have job matching services that can help.

I remember being so confused about all this when I first filed. The terminology is overwhelming - adjudication, pending, disqualified, standby status. Don't panic if your claim goes into adjudication, it just means they need to verify something.

The waiting week is gone now which is good news. You used to have to wait a full week before you could get your first payment but they eliminated that during COVID and it's stayed that way.

Set up direct deposit right away if you can. The debit cards they send can take forever to arrive and then you have to deal with ATM fees and all that nonsense.

My biggest mistake was not reading the handbook they give you. I thought I could just wing it but there are specific rules about reporting work and income that can mess up your benefits if you don't follow them exactly.

Just be prepared for the system to be slow and frustrating at times. Budget extra time for everything and don't wait until the last minute to file your weekly claims. The deadline is Saturday night but don't push it that far.

I filed my claim 3 months ago and honestly the whole process has been smoother than I expected. The key is staying organized and not procrastinating on the weekly claims. Keep all your job search documentation in one place.

If you're getting severance pay or have any other income, make sure you report it correctly. I've heard horror stories about people getting overpayment notices months later because they didn't understand how to report things properly.

Download the Washington ESD app too if you have a smartphone. Makes filing weekly claims much easier than logging into the website every time.

One thing nobody tells you is that you need to keep track of your benefit year. Your claim is only good for one year from when you filed, so if you're still unemployed after that you might need to refile.

The most important thing is just to start the process. Don't overthink it - the system will guide you through most of it and you can always ask questions later. I spent a week researching everything before filing and honestly could have just started right away.

If you do run into issues where you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD and can't get through on the phone, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit. I used it last month when my benefits got stopped for some reason and I needed answers. Much better than spending entire days trying to call.