How do I file a claim for unemployment with Washington ESD - complete beginner here

Don't wait! File as soon as possible because your claim starts from the week you file, not when you lost your job. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for the 'File a Claim' link. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked.

The online application takes about 30-45 minutes. Make sure you have a quiet space because if you time out, you'll have to start over. Also write down your confirmation number when you're done!

After you file your initial claim, you'll get a determination letter in about a week telling you if you're eligible and how much your weekly benefit will be. Then you have to file weekly claims every week to actually get paid. The weekly claims ask about any work you did and money you earned that week.

One thing that really helped me was using Claimyr when I needed to talk to someone at Washington ESD. The phone lines are always busy but they have this service that calls for you and connects you when an agent picks up. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

make sure you answer all the questions honestly especially about why you lost your job. if they think you quit or got fired for misconduct you wont qualify

The job search requirement is something to be aware of too. You'll need to do at least 3 job search activities per week and keep a log. This includes things like applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc. WorkSourceWA has resources to help with this.

Just be prepared for the waiting. My claim took 3 weeks to get processed because it went into adjudication. They had to verify some details with my former employer. During that time I couldn't get anyone on the phone to explain what was happening.

Pro tip: create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account before you start filing if you don't already have one. That's what you'll use to log into the ESD website. Having it ready saves time during the application.

Another time I needed to reach Washington ESD was when my weekly claim got stuck and wasn't processing. Called for days with no luck until I used that Claimyr service again. Got through in like 20 minutes and the agent fixed my claim issue right on the phone.

The system asks for a lot of employer information so have addresses and phone numbers ready. If you worked for multiple employers in the last 18 months, you'll need info for all of them. I had to look up old paystubs to remember some details.

Watch out for scam websites! Only use the official esd.wa.gov site. There are fake sites that look similar and try to steal your information.

After you file, you'll get text messages and emails about your claim status if you opt in for notifications. I found these really helpful to stay on top of what was happening with my claim.

One more thing - if your claim gets denied for any reason, you can appeal within 30 days. Don't just accept a denial without understanding why it happened. Sometimes it's just a misunderstanding that can be cleared up.

The whole process was actually easier than I expected. Filed online Sunday night, got my determination letter the following Friday, and my first payment was deposited the week after that. Just follow the instructions and be thorough with your information.

Washington ESD has some good tutorials on their website too. Look for the 'How to File' section - they have step by step guides with screenshots.

One last tip - if you have any questions during the process, don't guess. It's better to get the right information than to file incorrectly and have to fix it later. The Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is actually pretty useful for getting through to ask questions when you need to.

Also remember that your first payment usually takes longer than the weekly payments after that. Don't panic if you don't see money right away - there's processing time involved.

Make sure you understand the difference between your initial claim and weekly claims. The initial claim is the big application you do once. Weekly claims are the short forms you fill out every week to certify you're still unemployed and looking for work.

dont forget about taxes! unemployment benefits are taxable income. you can have taxes withheld or pay them later but dont forget about it come tax time

The system will ask if you want direct deposit or a debit card for payments. Direct deposit is faster and more convenient in my opinion.