How do you collect unemployment in Washington - complete beginner needs help

First step is creating an account on the Washington ESD website at 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. The process is pretty straightforward once you get started.

After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to collect benefits. This is super important - you have to certify each week that you're still unemployed and looking for work. Miss a week and you won't get paid for that week.

The job search requirement is 3 job contacts per week that you have to log in WorkSourceWA. Don't skip this because Washington ESD does audit these and you could lose benefits if you're not meeting the requirement.

Honestly, the hardest part for me was getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim. The phone lines are always busy and I wasted hours trying to reach them. I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helped me get connected to an actual person at Washington ESD without all the endless waiting. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Processing time varies but expect 2-4 weeks for initial approval if everything goes smoothly. Some claims go into adjudication which can take longer if there are issues to resolve.

Make sure you're actually eligible first! You need sufficient work history and wages in your base period, plus you have to be unemployed through no fault of your own. If you quit or were fired for misconduct, you probably won't qualify.

One thing nobody tells you - keep detailed records of EVERYTHING. Every application you submit, every phone call, every document. If something goes wrong later you'll need proof of what you did and when.

The weekly benefit amount depends on your past wages but the maximum in Washington is currently around $1,000 per week. You can get an estimate using the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website before you apply.

Don't panic if your claim shows pending for a while. Mine took 3 weeks to process and I thought something was wrong but it eventually went through fine. Just keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending.

Word of advice - read every notice Washington ESD sends you carefully! I almost missed an important deadline because I thought it was just another generic update. Some require action within specific timeframes.

If you run into issues, don't just give up. I had my claim denied initially due to a mistake in my application, but I appealed it and won. The appeals process exists for a reason so use it if needed.

Just want to add that the WorkSourceWA job search logging is actually pretty helpful for organizing your job hunt even beyond the requirement. I found it useful for tracking where I applied and following up.

The system is honestly not that complicated once you get used to it. I was super intimidated at first but after a few weeks it becomes routine. File your weekly claim, do your job searches, log them in WorkSourceWA, repeat.

One more tip - if you're having trouble with the website, try different browsers or clear your cache. The Washington ESD site can be finicky sometimes but usually works better in Chrome or Firefox.

Oh and about Claimyr - it's been a lifesaver for me multiple times now. Last month my weekly claim got stuck and I couldn't get through to Washington ESD for days. Used Claimyr and got connected to someone who fixed it in 5 minutes. Definitely worth it when you're stressed about benefits.

Just remember that unemployment is a safety net you've earned through working. Don't feel guilty about using it - that's exactly what it's there for when you lose your job through no fault of your own.

Last thing - make sure your contact information is up to date in your Washington ESD account. If they can't reach you about your claim it can cause delays or issues with your benefits.

Good luck with your application! The whole process seems overwhelming at first but thousands of people go through it successfully every week. You'll figure it out.

Been through this process twice now and while it's not fun being unemployed, the system does work when you follow the rules. Take it one step at a time and you'll be fine.

Pro tip: File your weekly claims on the same day each week so you don't forget. I do mine every Sunday morning with my coffee and it's become part of my routine.