How do I file my weekly claim for unemployment with Washington ESD?

You'll use your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account to file your weekly claims. Log in at secure.esd.wa.gov and look for the 'File Weekly Claim' option on your dashboard. You need to file every week even if you didn't work or look for work that week.

Make sure you have all your work search activities logged before you file. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you'll need to enter those details when you file your weekly claim.

I was struggling with the weekly claims too until someone told me about Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD when you need to talk to someone about your claim. I used it when I had questions about my weekly filing and they connected me to an agent in minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The weekly claim process is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. You'll answer questions about any work you did that week, any money you earned, and confirm your job search activities. Be honest about everything - they cross-check with employer reports.

ugh the washington esd website is such a pain to navigate. i always get confused about which link to click

Important tip: file your weekly claim even if you're having issues with your regular claim! If you skip filing weekly claims, you could lose benefits for those weeks even if your main claim gets resolved later. The system doesn't automatically backdate missed weekly filings.

I missed filing one week by accident and it was a nightmare trying to get it fixed. Had to call Washington ESD multiple times and finally got through using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. They helped me reach an agent who could manually add the missed week back to my claim.

Another question - do I need to report volunteer work on my weekly claim?

The job search requirement is what trips people up the most. You need to keep detailed records of your job search activities because Washington ESD can audit your claim at any time and ask for proof.

pro tip: file your weekly claim early in the week if possible. if there are any issues or questions, you have more time to resolve them before the filing deadline

I've been on unemployment for 6 months now and the weekly filing becomes second nature. Just make sure you keep your SAW account login info somewhere safe - if you get locked out, it can take days to get back in without help.

Make sure you understand the difference between able and available requirements. You have to certify each week that you're able to work and available for work. If something changes (like you get sick or go out of town), you need to report that.

The system will ask you about any training or education you're participating in. Some programs are approved and won't affect your benefits, but others might. Be honest about what you're doing.

Does anyone know how long it takes to get paid after filing your weekly claim? I filed Sunday but haven't seen anything in my account yet.

Remember you can file your weekly claim by phone too if the website isn't working. The automated system is available 24/7 at the teleclaim number.

Watch out for the earnings reporting section. If you worked any hours that week, you need to report your gross earnings (before taxes), not your take-home pay. This trips up a lot of people.

The weekly claim filing is really the most important part of maintaining your unemployment benefits. Miss too many weeks and you could lose eligibility entirely. Set a phone reminder if you need to!

One last thing - keep copies or screenshots of your filed weekly claims. If there's ever a dispute about what you reported, having your own records can really help resolve things quickly.