How do I file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD - first time filer confused

File as soon as possible! You want to get your claim started right away because there can be delays. Go to secure.esd.wa.gov and create an account if you don't have one. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and information about your last employer - company name, address, dates you worked there, and how much you earned in your last week.

Yes there is a waiting week but it's not what you think. You file your first weekly claim but don't get paid for that week. After that you get paid weekly as long as you keep filing your weekly claims and meet the job search requirements.

The Washington ESD website can be confusing at first but it walks you through everything step by step. Make sure you have your employment history for the last 18 months ready - not just your most recent job. They need to know about all your employers during that time period to calculate your weekly benefit amount.

I just went through this process last month and couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD when I had questions. The phone lines are always busy. I ended up using a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person at ESD. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of frustration.

Don't wait! I made that mistake and it delayed my whole claim. File online immediately, even if you're missing some information. You can always provide additional details later if needed.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You have to actively look for work and keep a log of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week.

ugh the whole system is so confusing why cant they just make it simple

One more important thing - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your claim is still being processed. If you miss filing a weekly claim, you could lose benefits for that week permanently.

Also be prepared for your claim to go into adjudication if there are any questions about your separation from work. That can add weeks to the process unfortunately.

Been there! The key is to have all your paperwork organized before you start. I made a list of all my employers, dates, and wages before logging into the website. Made the whole process much smoother.

What if I was fired vs laid off? Does that matter for the application?

The Washington ESD customer service is terrible. I've been trying to get through for weeks about my claim status. Finally tried that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got connected to an agent the same day. Wish I'd known about it sooner.

Don't forget about the work search requirements! You need to register with WorkSource Washington and start looking for work immediately. They can audit your job search log at any time.

Pro tip: if your claim gets stuck in adjudication for weeks like mine did, don't just wait around. Keep calling or use one of those services to get through to someone who can tell you what's holding things up.

just file it online its not that hard once you start

Remember that your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). So if you worked part-time or had low wages, your benefit amount will be lower too.

I wish someone had told me about keeping receipts for job search activities when I first filed. Now I'm scrambling to recreate my job search log because they selected me for an audit.

Update on my earlier comment about Claimyr - I used them again this week to check on a payment issue and they got me through to someone in about 30 minutes. Definitely worth having as an option when you need to actually speak to Washington ESD.

Make sure you report any income you earn while receiving benefits, even if it's just a few hours of work. Not reporting income is considered fraud and they will make you pay back any overpayment with penalties.

The whole process is intimidating at first but you got this! Just take it one step at a time and don't be afraid to ask questions if you get stuck.