How do I file for unemployment with Washington ESD - complete beginner needs help

Sorry to hear about your job loss. The first step is to go to the Washington ESD website and create an account if you don't have one. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and information about your previous employer including dates of employment and reason for separation. The sooner you file, the better since there's usually a waiting week.

You should file as soon as possible since your benefit year starts the week you file, not when you lost your job. Go to the Washington ESD website and create an account through SecureAccess Washington (SAW). You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked.

The online system through esd.wa.gov is definitely the way to go. Much faster than trying to call or go in person. Make sure you have a good internet connection and set aside about 30-45 minutes to complete the initial application.

First step is to go to esd.wa.gov and click on 'Apply for Benefits.' You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months including employer names and addresses, and your bank account info for direct deposit. Don't stress too much - the online application walks you through everything step by step.

Don't stress too much - the process is more straightforward than it seems at first. You'll need to file your initial claim on the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment. You'll also need your most recent pay stub if you have it.

Make sure you apply as soon as possible! Benefits start from the week you file, not from when you were laid off. I made that mistake and lost a week of benefits.

The key thing is to file as soon as possible after your last day of work. There's a one-week waiting period before you can collect benefits, and that starts from when you file, not when you lost your job. Also, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to actually receive payments - the initial application just establishes your claim.

The application process is pretty straightforward but be prepared for potential delays in processing. Washington ESD has been overwhelmed lately and many people are experiencing longer wait times for claim approval. If you run into issues getting through on the phone, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can help you reach ESD agents faster. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Here's what you need to know about the actual filing process: 1) Go to secure.esd.wa.gov 2) Create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one 3) Complete the unemployment application 4) Wait for your monetary determination letter 5) File your first weekly claim. The whole initial application takes about 30-45 minutes.

Been through this process multiple times unfortunately. One thing people don't realize is you need to be actively looking for work starting immediately, even before your first payment. Washington ESD requires you to make job search contacts and keep a log. Don't wait until after you start receiving benefits to begin job searching.

ugh the washington esd website is so confusing though. took me forever to figure out where everything was

One thing nobody tells you - make sure your job separation reason is accurate. If you were laid off, don't put 'quit' by accident. That will cause problems with your claim.

First thing you need to do is go to esd.wa.gov and create an account. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months. Don't wait - file as soon as possible because benefits start from the week you file, not when you were laid off.

Washington ESD is the Employment Security Department - that's who handles unemployment benefits in our state. You can file online at esd.wa.gov which is much easier than trying to call them. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked.

The online application is pretty straightforward. Make sure you have your banking info ready for direct deposit too. One thing that caught me off guard was having to file weekly claims even while waiting for approval - don't skip those or you'll lose benefits for those weeks.

You'll also need to register with WorkSource Washington for the job search requirements. It's a separate system but it's required for UI benefits. Make sure you have your last employer's info including their federal tax ID number if possible.

Been through this process myself recently. The online application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have everything ready. You'll need wages from all employers in the last 18 months, even part-time jobs. After you submit, you'll get a monetary determination letter showing your weekly benefit amount.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone to ask questions, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to real agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

I was in the same boat last year and the hardest part was actually getting through to talk to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. Their phone lines are constantly busy and you get disconnected all the time. I discovered this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Just be prepared for the phone system to be completely useless if you have questions. I've been trying to reach someone at Washington ESD for weeks about my claim and can never get through. The automated system just hangs up on you after waiting forever.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD for questions, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made the whole process much less stressful when I had questions about my claim status.

Make sure you understand the waiting period! You won't get paid for your first week - that's called the waiting week. So if you file this week, you won't see any money for about 2-3 weeks total.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You'll need to do at least 3 job search activities per week once your claim is approved. Keep track of everything because Washington ESD can audit your job search log.

The online application is pretty straightforward but make sure you have all your employment info ready. They'll ask for wages, dates, and reason for separation. Since you were laid off (not fired for cause) you should qualify as long as you earned enough in your base period.

Here's the step-by-step process: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov and click 'File a Claim' 2) Create an account if you don't have one 3) Complete the initial claim application - this takes about 30-45 minutes 4) Wait for your monetary determination letter (usually within a week) 5) Start filing weekly claims the Sunday after you file your initial claim. You MUST file weekly claims every week or you won't get paid.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment and they kept asking for more documentation. make sure you have EVERYTHING ready before you start or you'll be stuck in adjudication hell like me

I went through this process last year and honestly the hardest part was getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. The phone lines are always busy and you get disconnected constantly. I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual person - you can check it out at claimyr.com. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still processing!! i missed doing this for 2 weeks and lost those benefits permanently

The whole process is honestly pretty straightforward once you get started. Don't stress about making it perfect - you can always update information later if needed. Just focus on getting the initial claim filed quickly.

Just wanted to echo what someone said earlier about Claimyr. I was stuck trying to reach Washington ESD for weeks about an issue with my claim. Regular calling was impossible - always busy signals or getting hung up on. Claimyr got me through to an actual person in like 20 minutes. Totally worth it when you're dealing with benefit delays.

OMG this is so overwhelming. I lost my job last week and I'm already behind on filing. Do they backdate benefits or am I screwed? I've been putting it off because the whole process seems so complicated.

The Washington ESD system is actually pretty user-friendly once you get started. Don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you. Just follow the prompts step by step and answer honestly. If you make a mistake, you can usually correct it later.

ugh the job search requirement is such a pain. you have to keep a log of every job you apply for and they can audit you at any time. make sure you're actually applying to real jobs and not just going through the motions

One thing that tripped me up - make sure your bank account info is correct when you set up direct deposit. I had an old account number and it delayed my first payment by two weeks while they sorted it out.

DON'T FORGET TO FILE YOUR WEEKLY CLAIMS! This is super important - even if your initial claim is still processing, you need to file weekly claims every week to get paid for those weeks. I made this mistake and lost out on 3 weeks of benefits.

The Washington ESD system is honestly terrible. Half the time the website doesn't work properly and when you need to talk to someone you can't get through. I spent literally 6 hours one day trying to call them.

The key thing is to be completely honest about why you lost your job. If you were fired for cause or quit voluntarily, that can affect your eligibility. Washington ESD will contact your employer to verify your story, so make sure everything matches up.

Also be prepared that your claim might go into adjudication if there are any questions about your separation from work. This means they need to investigate before approving benefits, and it can take several weeks. Don't panic if this happens - it's pretty common.

Don't forget you'll owe taxes on unemployment benefits. They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you request it, so you might want to have them take out 10% to avoid a big tax bill next year.

One thing they don't tell you upfront is that there's usually a waiting period before you get your first payment. In Washington it's one week, so don't panic if you don't see money right away even after approval.

The Washington ESD system has gotten better since the pandemic but it's still slow. Be patient and don't panic if you don't hear back right away.

The whole process from filing to receiving your first payment typically takes 2-3 weeks if everything goes smoothly. Your monetary determination will tell you your weekly benefit amount - it's roughly half your average weekly wage up to the state maximum.

I'm going through this process right now and it's been pretty smooth actually. Filed online last Monday and got my monetary determination yesterday. Just waiting for my first weekly claim to process now.

Pro tip: create your SecureAccess Washington account first before starting the unemployment application. The account creation can take a few extra minutes and you don't want to deal with that in the middle of filing.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment and they never explained why. good luck op

Also be ready for the job search requirements. You'll need to apply for at least 3 jobs per week and keep records of your applications. WorkSource Washington has tools to help track this.

make sure you have a good email address that you check regularly. all the important stuff from ESD comes by email

Make sure you keep copies of everything - your initial claim confirmation, monetary determination, any correspondence from Washington ESD. If there are ever issues you'll need that documentation.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. They can audit this at any time so keep good records.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You need to be actively looking for work and keeping track of your job search activities. Washington ESD can ask for proof at any time.

If you worked for a small company or had complicated employment (like 1099 work), be prepared for possible adjudication. That's when Washington ESD investigates your claim further and it can take several weeks.

Don't forget you'll need to file weekly claims every week to keep getting paid, even if you haven't received your first payment yet. Set a reminder on your phone for the same day each week.

I'm in a similar situation - got laid off 2 weeks ago and still haven't received any payments. My claim says 'under review' but no one will tell me what that means or how long it takes.

I remember being so confused about the whole process when I first filed. The Washington ESD website has a lot of information but it can be overwhelming. Take it one step at a time and don't hesitate to call if you have questions.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit right away in your application. Paper checks take forever and can get lost in the mail. Direct deposit is much faster and more reliable.

I'm going through this process right now too. Filed last week and still waiting to hear back. The uncertainty is killing me but everyone says it's normal.

Just want to circle back on the phone issue - I know I mentioned Claimyr earlier but seriously, if you run into problems and need to talk to Washington ESD, it's a lifesaver. I tried calling on my own for days and got nowhere, then used their service and was talking to an agent within an hour.

One more tip - make sure your contact information is current in your account. Washington ESD needs to be able to reach you if they have questions about your claim. Check your spam folder regularly too since some notifications might end up there.

The website can be glitchy sometimes, especially on Sunday evenings when everyone's filing their weekly claims. If you get error messages, try again later or use a different browser.

Don't forget to set up direct deposit! Getting paper checks takes way longer and they can get lost in the mail. The direct deposit option is in your account settings.

THE WASHINGTON ESD PHONE SYSTEM IS A NIGHTMARE. Don't even bother trying to call unless you have absolutely no other choice. The website has most of the info you need anyway.

whatever you do don't lie on your application. they cross-reference everything with your employer and the state database. even small mistakes can cause huge delays

Also be prepared for them to request additional documents. I had to upload my separation notice and pay stubs even though I thought I provided everything initially.

same boat here, just got laid off last week. this thread is really helpful. going to start my application today. thanks everyone for the advice!

Just to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I used it again last month when I had questions about my weekly claim and it saved me hours of trying to get through on my own. Really worth it if you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Another important point - your benefit amount is based on your earnings from the past 12-18 months, not just your most recent job. So if you had multiple jobs or periods of unemployment, that all factors into the calculation.

One more thing - screenshot or print out your confirmation page after you submit your application. Good to have proof that you filed on a specific date.

The job search requirement is actually not that bad once you get into a routine. I spend about an hour every few days looking for jobs and applying, and I easily hit the 3 contacts per week. Just keep good records.

If you worked for multiple employers in the past 18 months, gather all that info before you start. The application times out if you take too long, and it's annoying to have to start over.

honestly the hardest part is just getting started. once you submit that first application it gets easier

Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still processing. That's super important.

Just want to add that if you were fired (not laid off), the process is a bit more complicated. You might face questions about the circumstances and your claim could be delayed while they investigate.

Make sure you keep all your paperwork organized! Create a folder (physical or digital) with your application confirmation, weekly claim confirmations, job search log, and any correspondence from Washington ESD. You'll thank yourself later if any issues come up.

One more thing - if you have any side income or part-time work, make sure to report it accurately on your weekly claims. It's better to report too much than too little and face an overpayment later.

I filed online last month and it was honestly pretty straightforward. Took me about 40 minutes total. The hardest part was gathering all my previous employer information, but once I had that ready it went smoothly.

For what it's worth, I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when I had questions about my claim status. Worked exactly like they said - connected me to an actual Washington ESD agent in about 10 minutes instead of spending hours on hold.

Final thought - don't stress too much about making the application perfect. You can always provide additional information or corrections later if needed. The important thing is to get it filed ASAP so your benefit year starts.

This is all so overwhelming. I wish there was just a simple step-by-step guide somewhere.

One more tip - set up direct deposit if you can. Paper checks take forever and sometimes get lost in the mail. Direct deposit is much more reliable.

I've been through this process 3 times unfortunately and the key is being persistent. If your claim gets stuck in adjudication, don't just wait - keep calling or find a way to talk to someone. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with Washington ESD.

Make sure you have a good phone number and email on file. They'll contact you through those methods if they need additional information. And check your account regularly for any messages or action items.

Just wanted to add that Claimyr was a lifesaver for me when I couldn't get through the normal way. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to avoid the headache.

Don't forget you might be eligible for other programs too like food assistance or healthcare subsidies while you're unemployed. Check with DSHS for other benefits you might qualify for.

been there done that. the waiting is the worst part. just file asap and try to stay patient. it will eventually work out

Watch out for scammers too. I got several texts claiming to be from ESD asking for personal info. The real ESD will never ask for your SSN or bank info via text or email. Always log into your account directly.

I found the hardest part was figuring out how much I was going to get each week. The benefit calculator on their website helps but it's still confusing with all the different formulas they use.

One last thing - if you're thinking about taking any part-time or temporary work while collecting benefits, make sure you report it properly. You can still work and collect partial benefits but you have to report all earnings.

Good luck with everything! The system isn't perfect but it does work eventually. Just be patient and persistent. And don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it - there are people out there who can guide you through the process.

Actually had a pretty smooth experience when I filed last month. Got approved in about 10 days and payments started right away. Sometimes the horror stories make it sound worse than it is. Every situation is different.

Pro tip: set up your online account and file your initial claim early in the week, not on Friday afternoon. If there are any technical issues you'll have the weekend to worry about them.

I went through this process 6 months ago. The initial claim took about 40 minutes to complete, and I had to answer detailed questions about my work history and reason for separation. Be prepared for it to take some time.

Just remember that once you start receiving benefits, you need to report ANY income - even small freelance jobs or odd jobs. Not reporting income is considered fraud and can result in penalties and having to pay everything back.

The whole system seems designed to discourage people from applying. Between the job search requirements and all the paperwork and weekly filings, it's like a part-time job just to get unemployment.

One last thing - make sure you're checking your online account regularly. Washington ESD sometimes sends important notices through the system rather than email or mail, and you might miss deadlines if you're not paying attention.

Good luck with your claim! The first time is always stressful but once you get through the initial filing and understand the weekly routine, it becomes much more manageable. Just take it one step at a time.

Honestly the hardest part is just getting started. Once you file that first claim, the weekly routine becomes pretty automatic. Just don't procrastinate on filing - every day you wait is money you can't get back.

One more tip - if you have any questions about your claim status or need to speak with someone, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is actually legit. I used it last month when I was stuck in adjudication and couldn't get through on the phone. They got me connected to an agent who cleared up my issue in 10 minutes.

Remember to keep all your documentation organized. If Washington ESD asks for additional info later, you want to be able to provide it quickly. Scan or photo everything important.

The system has gotten better over the years but it's still not perfect. Be patient with yourself and don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Everyone's been there.

Quick reminder that if you receive any severance pay or vacation payout, you need to report that when filing. It might affect your benefits timing but it's required by law.

Last thing - if your claim gets denied for any reason, you can appeal. Don't just accept a denial without understanding why it happened. The appeal process is actually pretty straightforward if you have good documentation.

You've got this! The fact that you're asking questions and preparing means you're already ahead of the game. File today and start your weekly claims routine. It becomes second nature pretty quickly.

The waiting period is the worst part. I filed 3 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything. Just says 'under review' in my account. trying not to panic but bills don't wait

Washington ESD has gotten better since the pandemic chaos but there are still delays. The key is to keep filing those weekly claims even if you haven't been approved yet. If you skip weeks, you can't go back and claim them later.

make sure you understand the difference between your initial claim and weekly claims. initial claim is the big application, weekly claims are the short forms you do every week to get paid. don't mix them up

Has anyone had issues with the SecureAccess Washington login? I keep getting locked out and it's driving me crazy.

Don't forget to report any income you earn while on unemployment, even small amounts. Working part-time while collecting benefits is allowed but you have to report it or you could get in trouble for overpayment.

The whole system seems designed to discourage people from filing. So many hoops to jump through and the website is confusing. But stick with it - you earned those benefits through your payroll taxes.

Quick question - do I need to register with WorkSource too or is that separate?

Final tip about getting help - if you get stuck or confused at any point, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I've recommended it to several friends and they've all had good experiences reaching Washington ESD agents through it.

Good luck with your claim! Remember that everyone's situation is different so don't get discouraged if your experience doesn't match exactly what others have shared. The important thing is to get started and be persistent.