How do you get unemployment benefits in Washington - need help with the process

First step is to go to esd.wa.gov and file your initial claim. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment. Make sure you apply as soon as possible since there's a waiting week before benefits start.

make sure you file your weekly claims every sunday too or you wont get paid. i learned that the hard way

The whole process can be really overwhelming at first. I remember spending hours trying to get through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions about my claim. If you run into issues reaching them by phone, there's actually a service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an agent much faster. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Here's what you need to know about the Washington unemployment process: 1) File your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov within your first week of unemployment, 2) Complete your weekly claims every Sunday starting the week after you file, 3) Register with WorkSource Washington for job search requirements, 4) Keep detailed records of your job search activities. You'll need to search for work and be able and available for work each week.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing. took me forever to figure out how to even log in properly

Make sure you understand the difference between your initial claim and your weekly claims. The initial claim establishes your benefit amount and eligibility. Then you have to file weekly claims every week to actually receive payments. A lot of people mess this up and wonder why they're not getting paid.

Be prepared for your claim to potentially go into adjudication if there are any questions about your separation from work. This can delay your benefits for weeks while they investigate.

dont forget to save all your job search records too. they can audit you and ask for proof of your job searches

The waiting week is really annoying btw. Even though you file right away, you don't get paid for your first week of unemployment.

One more important thing - make sure you report any income you earn while collecting unemployment, even part-time work. Washington ESD will find out anyway through wage reporting and you could face overpayment issues if you don't report it.

If you run into problems with your claim or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, good luck getting through on the phone. I spent weeks trying to reach them about an issue with my claim. Finally used Claimyr to get through to an actual person who could help me.

honestly the hardest part for me was figuring out the SecureAccess Washington login. had to reset my password like 3 times

Make sure you have realistic expectations about benefit amounts too. Washington unemployment benefits are calculated based on your highest earning quarter in your base period. For retail workers, it's often less than people expect.

The whole system is designed to make you jump through hoops. They want you to give up and stop claiming benefits. Stay persistent and keep detailed records of everything.

Pro tip: file your weekly claims early on Sunday morning. The system sometimes gets overloaded later in the day and you might have trouble logging in.

Don't stress too much about it. Yes, there are a lot of requirements and rules, but thousands of people successfully get unemployment benefits in Washington every week. Just take it step by step and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

If you need help navigating the Washington ESD website or have technical issues, don't forget about Claimyr. They've helped a lot of people get through to ESD when the normal phone lines aren't working. Worth checking out if you get stuck.

Remember that your unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file, but don't forget about it come tax time.

Good luck with your claim! The process seems overwhelming at first but it really does get easier once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims and doing your job searches.

One last thing - keep copies of everything. Screenshot your weekly claim confirmations, save emails from Washington ESD, print important documents. If anything goes wrong, you'll want that paper trail.