How do I get unemployment checks from Washington ESD - complete beginner here

Everything is done online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need to create an account and file your initial application first. After that gets approved, you'll file weekly claims every week to actually receive payments. The whole process can take 2-3 weeks before you see your first check.

The initial application asks for a ton of information - your work history for the past 18 months, reason for separation, Social Security number, etc. Have all that ready before you start. Also make sure you're actually eligible - you need to have worked enough hours and earned enough wages in your base period.

Just a heads up - calling Washington ESD is basically impossible these days. I spent weeks trying to get through when my claim got stuck. If you run into problems and need to talk to someone, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment because they kept asking for more documents. make sure you upload everything they ask for right away or you'll be waiting forever

Once your initial claim is approved, you'll need to file a weekly claim every week to certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work. This is super important - if you miss filing a weekly claim, you won't get paid for that week. You can file online starting Sunday for the previous week.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of all your activities. They can audit you at any time and if you can't prove you were looking for work, they'll make you pay everything back.

The weekly claim process is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. They'll ask if you worked any hours that week, if you looked for work, if you're able and available for work, etc. Just answer honestly - if you worked some hours, they'll deduct from your benefit amount but you might still get a partial payment.

One thing nobody tells you is that your unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your payments or pay them later. I'd recommend having them withheld so you don't get hit with a big tax bill next year.

also be prepared for your claim to possibly go into adjudication if there's any issue with why you lost your job. if you were fired or quit, they'll investigate and that can add weeks to the process. mine took over a month because my ex-boss lied about why i was let go

If your claim does get stuck in adjudication or you have any issues, definitely consider using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. I tried calling ESD for three weeks straight and never got through. Claimyr got me connected to an actual person in like 20 minutes and I was able to get my issue resolved same day.

The maximum weekly benefit in Washington is currently around $999 per week, but your actual amount depends on your past wages. The system calculates it automatically based on your earnings in your base period. You'll see your estimated weekly benefit amount when you complete your application.

Make sure you keep checking your ESD account online regularly. Sometimes they'll send you messages or requests for additional information and if you don't respond quickly, it can delay your payments. I almost missed a deadline because I wasn't checking frequently enough.

One more tip - if you have direct deposit set up, your payments will come faster than waiting for a debit card or check in the mail. You can set up direct deposit when you file your application or add it later in your account settings.

just start the application process asap. even if you're missing some info you can always update it later. the sooner you file the sooner your waiting week starts counting

The hardest part honestly is just getting started. Once you get through that initial application and your first few weekly claims, it becomes pretty routine. The website can be slow sometimes but it's mostly straightforward.

And remember, if you run into any problems where you need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD, save yourself the headache and check out Claimyr. Their service really does work for getting through the phone lines when you need help with claim issues.