How do you file for unemployment with Washington ESD - complete beginner here

Everything is done online through the Washington ESD website now. You'll need to create a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first at secure.esd.wa.gov, then file your initial claim through there. Have your Social Security card, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months ready - dates of employment, employer addresses, and reason for separation from each job.

Don't wait - you should file as soon as possible after your last day of work. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for the 'Apply for Benefits' section. 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.

You can file online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment information for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The process is pretty straightforward once you get started.

Make sure you have all your employer info ready before you start. I made the mistake of not having all the addresses and had to stop halfway through to look stuff up. Also keep track of your wages - they'll ask for that too.

The online application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready. Make sure you have your bank account details for direct deposit too - it's way faster than waiting for checks.

Just went through this process myself last month. The online application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have everything ready. After you submit, you'll get a determination letter in about a week telling you if you're approved and how much your weekly benefit will be. Then you start filing weekly claims every Sunday.

Make sure you file ASAP because there's a waiting week before benefits start. I waited 3 days after getting fired and still regret not doing it immediately. The whole process took me about 45 minutes online.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my claim status and it's impossible. Their phone lines are always busy and when I do get through I get disconnected. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

filing is easy but then you wait FOREVER for them to process it. my claim has been in adjudication for 6 weeks now with no explanation

Ok so I started the application and I'm confused about the 'able and available' questions. What exactly does that mean?

Don't forget to keep copies of EVERYTHING. Every form, every letter, every email. The Washington ESD system loses stuff all the time and you'll need proof of what you submitted.

Make sure you understand the work search requirements before you start filing weekly claims. You need to do 3 qualifying job search activities each week and log them in WorkSourceWA. Activities include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc.

Pro tip - if you run into issues with the Washington ESD phone system (which you probably will), there's a service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that can help you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Super helpful when you're stuck and can't reach anyone.

I had to call Washington ESD multiple times during my application process and it was a nightmare trying to get through. If you run into issues, I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works - basically gets you through the phone queue automatically.

Make sure you understand the work search requirements before you start receiving benefits. You'll need to apply for jobs and keep detailed records - they're pretty strict about this stuff now.

ugh the whole system is such a mess. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment and they kept asking for the same documents over and over

I filed 3 months ago and still haven't received a single payment. Every time I call they say it's still being processed. This is ridiculous - how am I supposed to pay rent?

Here's the step-by-step: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov and click 'Apply for Benefits' 2) Create your SAW account if you don't have one 3) Complete the initial claim application 4) After approval, file your first weekly claim 5) Continue filing weekly claims every week until you're back to work. Job search requirements kick in after your first payment.

One thing that helped me was creating a WorkSourceWA account at the same time. You'll need it anyway for the job search requirements and it's better to set it up early.

ugh the washington esd website is such a pain to use. half the time it doesnt work and when it does its so confusing. but yeah you gotta do it online now, no choice

One thing they don't tell you upfront - make sure your reason for separation is accurate. If you put 'quit' instead of 'laid off' it can delay your claim for weeks while they investigate. I learned this the hard way.

When you file make sure you have your bank account info ready if you want direct deposit. Otherwise you'll get a debit card mailed to you which can take longer.

Pro tip: take screenshots of every page during your application process. If something glitches or you need to reference information later, you'll have proof of what you submitted.

What happens if I made a mistake on my application? I'm worried I'll mess something up and delay everything.

Does anyone know if you can file if you're working part-time? I got my hours cut to basically nothing but I'm technically still employed.

Fair warning - even if you do everything right, there's a good chance your claim will get stuck somewhere in the system. Mine sat in 'pending' status for 2 weeks with no explanation. The phone lines are always busy so good luck getting through to ask questions.

Make sure you have a backup plan because UI benefits don't cover everything. Even if you get approved, it's usually only about 60% of your previous wages up to a maximum weekly amount.

whatever you do dont make any mistakes on the application because fixing them later is a nightmare. i accidentally put the wrong end date for one of my jobs and its been holding up my claim for weeks

Just to follow up on the phone support issue - I ended up using Claimyr again when I had questions about my weekly claims. It's become my go-to whenever I need to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD instead of getting stuck in phone tree hell.

Just wanted to add - don't panic if you make a mistake on the application. You can usually correct minor errors later, but it's better to be accurate from the start to avoid delays.

Remember you have to file your weekly claim every week even if your initial application is still being processed. Don't skip weeks thinking you'll catch up later - you can't backdate missed weeks.

Also be prepared for the waiting game. Even after you're approved you might have to wait for payments while they verify your employment history. The whole system is overwhelmed.

I'm in the same boat as you - just got laid off last week. This thread is super helpful, thanks everyone!

One more thing - if you had any severance pay or vacation payout, make sure you report that accurately. It might affect when your benefits start but it's better to be upfront about it.

The Washington ESD website has a pretty good checklist of documents you'll need. Print it out before you start so you're not scrambling to find things in the middle of the application.

Whatever you do, don't put off filing thinking you might find a job quickly. Even if you find something next week, at least you'll have the application in the system.

If your employer contests your claim, don't panic. It happens sometimes even when the layoff wasn't your fault. Just respond to any requests for information promptly.

I used Claimyr when I had an issue with my claim going into adjudication. Honestly saved me a lot of stress trying to figure out what was happening with my case.

Make sure your address is correct on everything. I had mail going to an old address and missed important notices about my claim.

The whole process seems overwhelming but it's really not that bad once you get started. Just take it step by step and don't overthink it.

If you're having trouble with the online application, try using a different browser or clearing your cache. The ESD website can be finicky sometimes.

Good luck with your application! It's stressful being unemployed but at least Washington has decent benefits compared to some states.

One last thing - if you get overwhelmed during the process, you can save your progress and come back to it later. Don't rush through it if you need time to gather information.

One thing that tripped me up - if you worked in multiple states in the last 18 months you might need to file in a different state depending on where you earned the most wages. Check the interstate claims section on the website.

Just finished my application - took about an hour because I had to dig up old employment records. The hardest part was remembering exact dates of employment for jobs from 2 years ago. Start gathering that info now if you can.

Don't panic if your claim goes into adjudication - it's normal for certain situations like if you quit your job or were fired. Just means they need to investigate whether you qualify. Can take several weeks though.

make sure you file your weekly claims even if you havent been paid yet! if you miss filing for a week you lose that weeks benefits permanently

I've been helping people with unemployment claims for years. The key is to be patient but persistent. If you're not getting answers through normal channels, services like Claimyr can really help you get through to the right people at Washington ESD.

One last tip - create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account before you start the unemployment application. You'll need it to access your claim information and it can take a day or two to get verified.

The thing that surprised me most was how quickly I got my first payment once everything was processed. Filed on a Monday, got approved that Friday, and had money in my account the following Tuesday.

Remember to set up direct deposit right away. Getting paper checks takes forever and you have to wait for them to arrive in the mail.

Also keep track of your weekly filing schedule. You get assigned a specific day of the week to file your weekly claim and if you miss it, you might not get paid for that week.

One more thing - if you have any issues getting through to Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service at claimyr.com really does work. I was skeptical at first but it got me connected to an agent in about 10 minutes instead of hours of busy signals.

Good luck with your claim! The process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not too bad once you get started. Most people get through it just fine.

I just went through this process myself a few months ago after being laid off. The most important thing is to not delay - file as soon as possible because your benefit year starts when you file, not when you lost your job. I'd recommend gathering all your employment info for the past 18 months before you start (employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and wages if you have them). The online application at esd.wa.gov took me about 45 minutes once I had everything ready. Also, make sure to set up direct deposit during the application - it's much faster than waiting for checks. The hardest part for me was just getting started, but once you submit that initial application, you're on your way. Don't stress too much about making minor mistakes - you can usually correct them later if needed.