How do I file unemployment benefits with Washington ESD - complete beginner

Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or will they verify my wages automatically?

They'll verify wages through employer reports, but having your pay stubs handy can help if there are any discrepancies or missing quarters.

What's a waiting week? Does that mean I won't get paid for the first week?

Exactly - the first week you're eligible is unpaid, but you still need to file your weekly claim for that week to establish your claim.

That sounds too good to be true - does it actually work?

I was skeptical too but it got me through to someone in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying to call for days. Really saved me when I had questions about my work history dates.

What if I don't remember the exact dates? I worked at my last job for like 2 years.

Check old tax documents, W-2s, or call your HR department. It's worth getting the exact dates to avoid problems later.

I put approximate dates and it was fine, they didn't put mine in adjudication

You don't NEED a separation notice to file, but if your employer gave you one it can be helpful to have. The main thing is knowing your last day worked and reason for separation.

Ok thank you that makes me feel better. I was worried I couldn't file without some special paperwork.

How do I file weekly claims? Is that online too?

Yes, through the same SAW account. You'll answer questions about any work you did that week and whether you were able and available for work.

What counts as a job search contact?

Applying for jobs, contacting employers directly, networking events, career fairs. Just make sure you document everything with dates and details.

I think it's actually 2 job contacts per week now, not 3. Rules changed recently.

That's terrifying. What causes adjudication?

Could be anything - wage discrepancies, questions about why you left your job, identity verification issues. It's like a black box.

This is exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - when you're stuck in adjudication you really need to talk to someone to find out what's holding things up.

That's reassuring! Did you have any issues with the online system?

Not really, just had to clear my browser cache once when it was acting glitchy.

Good point, I hadn't thought about training programs. Where do I find info about those?

Check the WorkSource centers in your area or look on the Washington ESD website under training and education resources.

You file for the week ending after your last day of work. So if you worked Wednesday, you'd claim that week and then start your unemployment claim the following week.

Thank you! That was really bothering me.

Great advice! I'll definitely do that.

Best thing is to be accurate and complete on your initial application. Missing or wrong information causes most delays.

And if you do run into issues, having a way to actually reach Washington ESD helps a lot. That's where services like Claimyr come in handy - getting through to resolve problems quickly instead of waiting weeks.

Yes, you can file for partial unemployment if your hours or wages were reduced. You'll report your earnings each week and they'll calculate a partial benefit.

That's a relief, I wasn't sure if I qualified.

Good luck! Remember to file your weekly claims every week once you get started.

You've got this! The initial application is the hardest part.

Good reminder, I'll double check my email and phone number are right.

What happened during the audit?

They asked for detailed job search logs for the past 8 weeks. Luckily I had most of it but it was stressful trying to reconstruct missing information.

That's encouraging! I was worried it would be complicated every week.

Not a veteran but good to know for anyone reading this who is!

I bookmarked it just in case. Hopefully I won't need it but good to have options.

Interesting, I didn't know it was calculated that way. Thanks for all the help everyone!