How do I get unemployment benefits in Washington - complete beginner needs help
I just got laid off from my retail job last week and I have no idea how to get unemployment benefits. I've never filed for unemployment before and I'm totally lost. Do I just go online somewhere? What information do I need? How long does it take to get approved? I'm really stressed about paying rent next month and could use some guidance on the whole process.
61 comments
Join the conversation
Oliver Weber
First step is to file your initial claim online at secure.esd.wa.gov. 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. Don't wait - file as soon as possible since there's a waiting week.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or can I just estimate my wages?
0 coins
Oliver Weber
•Having pay stubs helps but Washington ESD will verify wages with your employers. Just be as accurate as possible with dates and wage amounts.
0 coins
Natasha Romanova
The whole process can be overwhelming at first but it's pretty straightforward once you get started. After filing your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every Sunday for the previous week. Make sure you register with WorkSource WA too - it's required for job search activities.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•What's WorkSource WA? Is that separate from the unemployment filing?
0 coins
Natasha Romanova
•WorkSource is Washington's job search system. You have to register there and do job search activities to keep getting benefits. It's all connected to your unemployment claim.
0 coins
NebulaNinja
•I made the mistake of not registering with WorkSource right away and it delayed my benefits for 2 weeks. Don't skip that step!
0 coins
Javier Gomez
One thing that really helped me when I was struggling to get through to Washington ESD was using Claimyr. I found it at claimyr.com and they have this video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Basically it calls Washington ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual person instead of sitting on hold for hours.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Is that like a paid service? I'm trying to save money obviously since I just lost my job.
0 coins
Javier Gomez
•It's worth checking out their site for pricing. For me it was way better than spending entire days trying to call and never getting through.
0 coins
Emma Wilson
•Never heard of that but might be useful if you run into issues. Most of the time the online system works fine though.
0 coins
Malik Thomas
The Washington ESD website is actually pretty good compared to other states. Just make sure you answer all the questions honestly, especially about why you're unemployed. If you were laid off that's usually straightforward but if you were fired or quit it can get more complicated.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•I was definitely laid off due to company downsizing so hopefully that makes it easier.
0 coins
Malik Thomas
•That should be fine then. Keep any paperwork from your employer about the layoff just in case Washington ESD needs to verify it.
0 coins
NebulaNinja
Don't panic if your claim goes into adjudication - that just means they need to review something about your case. It happened to me even though everything was straightforward and it added about 3 weeks to the process. Very frustrating but normal.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•What's adjudication exactly? That sounds scary.
0 coins
NebulaNinja
•It's just when Washington ESD needs to investigate something about your claim before approving it. Could be verifying your wages, checking why you left your job, or just a random review. Usually resolves itself but takes time.
0 coins
Isabella Oliveira
•ugh adjudication is the WORST. I was stuck in that for almost 2 months last year for no apparent reason. The system is so broken.
0 coins
Oliver Weber
Make sure you understand the weekly claim process because that's how you actually get paid. You have to certify every week that you're still unemployed and looking for work. Miss a week and you won't get paid for that week.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•When do I start filing weekly claims? Right after I file the initial claim?
0 coins
Oliver Weber
•You'll get instructions after filing your initial claim. Usually you can start filing weekly claims the Sunday after you file your initial application.
0 coins
Ravi Kapoor
Just a heads up that there's a one week waiting period before you can get paid, so even if everything goes smoothly you won't see money for at least 2-3 weeks. Plan accordingly if you can.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•2-3 weeks?? I thought it would be faster than that. This is going to be tight financially.
0 coins
Ravi Kapoor
•Yeah it sucks but that's just how the system works. The waiting week is required by law and then there's processing time on top of that.
0 coins
Natasha Romanova
•If you're really struggling financially there might be other resources available while you wait. Check with local food banks and assistance programs.
0 coins
Emma Wilson
The job search requirements are pretty reasonable in Washington. You need to make 3 job contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. WorkSource has tools to help track this automatically.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Do they actually check that you're doing job searches or is it just on the honor system?
0 coins
Emma Wilson
•They can audit your job search activities so definitely keep good records. Most people never get audited but you don't want to be caught without documentation if they ask.
0 coins
Freya Larsen
One mistake I made was not updating my address properly when I moved. Make sure all your contact information is current or you might miss important notices from Washington ESD.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Good point, I'll double check that everything is accurate before I submit.
0 coins
Isabella Oliveira
The whole Washington ESD system is a nightmare honestly. Be prepared for long wait times, confusing notices, and general bureaucratic hell. But you gotta do it if you need the money I guess.
0 coins
GalacticGladiator
•It's not that bad if you follow the instructions and don't make mistakes. I've had to use it twice and both times went pretty smoothly.
0 coins
Isabella Oliveira
•Consider yourself lucky then. I've had nothing but problems every time I've dealt with them.
0 coins
Javier Gomez
If you do run into issues where you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, seriously consider that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. I spent weeks trying to get through on the phone before finding them, and they got me connected in like 10 minutes.
0 coins
Omar Zaki
•I'm curious about this too. How exactly does it work?
0 coins
Javier Gomez
•They basically handle the calling for you. You give them your info and they call Washington ESD, wait on hold, and then connect you when they get a human on the line. Way better than sitting there hitting redial all day.
0 coins
Chloe Taylor
Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income so you can either have taxes withheld or pay them later. I always have them withheld to avoid a big tax bill.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Oh wow I didn't even think about taxes. How much do they withhold?
0 coins
Chloe Taylor
•I think it's 10% federal withholding. Washington doesn't have state income tax so that's not an issue here.
0 coins
Diego Flores
The benefit amount depends on your previous wages but there's a maximum weekly benefit amount in Washington. I think it's around $1000 per week max but most people get less than that.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Is there a way to estimate what I might get before I apply?
0 coins
Diego Flores
•Washington ESD has a benefit calculator on their website that gives you a rough estimate based on your wages.
0 coins
Anastasia Ivanova
Make sure you report any work you do while collecting benefits, even small jobs or gig work. They take that stuff seriously and you can get in trouble for not reporting income.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•What if I just do some odd jobs here and there while looking for a real job?
0 coins
Anastasia Ivanova
•Report everything. They'll reduce your weekly benefit by the amount you earned but it's better than getting hit with an overpayment later.
0 coins
Sean Murphy
The system actually works pretty well once you get the hang of it. I was on unemployment for 4 months last year and only had one minor issue that got resolved quickly.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•That's reassuring to hear! I'm hoping it goes smoothly for me too.
0 coins
StarStrider
Just wanted to mention that if your claim gets denied for any reason, you can appeal the decision. Don't give up if the initial decision doesn't go your way.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•How long do you have to appeal if something goes wrong?
0 coins
StarStrider
•I think it's 30 days from when you get the notice. The appeal information is included in any denial letter they send you.
0 coins
Zara Malik
One last thing - keep copies of everything! All the forms you submit, any correspondence from Washington ESD, your job search logs, everything. You never know when you might need to reference something later.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Great advice, I'll start a folder for all the unemployment paperwork.
0 coins
Zara Malik
•Smart move. Organization is key when dealing with any government agency.
0 coins
Luca Marino
The people giving advice here are spot on. Take it one step at a time and don't let the process overwhelm you. Thousands of people go through this every week and most of them figure it out just fine.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I feel much more confident about getting started now.
0 coins
Omar Zaki
I used that Claimyr service too when I had issues with my claim being stuck in adjudication. Definitely saved me a lot of frustration trying to get through to Washington ESD on my own. Worth looking into if you hit any roadblocks.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Good to know there are options if I run into problems. Hopefully I won't need it but I'll keep it in mind.
0 coins
Nia Davis
•I'm skeptical of any service that charges money to call government agencies but I guess if it works for people...
0 coins
Omar Zaki
•I was skeptical too until I spent 3 days trying to get through on my own with no luck. Sometimes you gotta pay for convenience when the free option doesn't work.
0 coins
Mateo Perez
Good luck with your claim! The first time is always the most confusing but you'll get the hang of it. Most people's claims go through without major issues so try not to stress too much about it.
0 coins
Amina Diop
•Thank you! I'm going to start the application process today.
0 coins