How do you receive unemployment benefits in Washington - complete beginner here

Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or just the basic employment info?

Just the basic info for now - Washington ESD will verify your wages with employers directly. Keep your pay stubs handy in case they ask for them later during adjudication.

What happens if I forget to file a weekly claim one week?

You can usually restart weekly claims but you might lose that week's benefits. Washington ESD is pretty strict about the filing schedule.

I missed filing one week last month and lost those benefits permanently. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Really? I was dreading having to call them if something goes wrong.

Wait is that service legit? Sounds too good to be true...

Yeah it's real - they just handle the calling and waiting for you. Worth it if you actually need to reach someone at Washington ESD.

What counts as a job search contact?

Applying for jobs, contacting employers directly, attending job fairs, networking events. Has to be stuff that could reasonably lead to employment. Keep detailed records with dates, company names, and what you did.

They audited me after 8 weeks and I had to provide all my job search documentation. Thank god I kept good records.

I know it seems overwhelming but once you get through the initial setup it becomes routine. The weekly claims only take a few minutes.

Agreed, Washington ESD could definitely make the process more user-friendly.

What kind of things trigger adjudication?

If your employer contests the claim, if there are questions about why you left, if you had any disciplinary issues, or sometimes just random quality control checks.

Mine went into adjudication for 5 weeks just because my employer took forever to respond to Washington ESD's inquiry. So frustrating.

Good point, I definitely want direct deposit.

Yes! I learned this the hard way. Paper checks took an extra week each time.

What if I only make like $50 from odd jobs?

Report it. They'll just reduce your weekly benefit by a portion of what you earned. It's not a 1:1 reduction so you'll still come out ahead.

This is so important. I know someone who got hit with an overpayment notice for not reporting a small freelance job.

So if I file today, the earliest I'd see money is in about 2 weeks?

If your claim is approved quickly, yes. But with processing time it might be 2-3 weeks realistically.

I'll keep that in mind in case I need help reaching someone.

How much does a service like that cost?

It was worth it for me to avoid the phone frustration, especially when I had urgent questions about my claim.

That's a good point, I should look into what else might be available.

Check with 211 for local resources too - they have info on food banks, utility assistance, etc.

Oh I didn't realize that. Should I have them withhold taxes?

It's usually a good idea unless you're planning to set aside money for taxes yourself. Saves you from a big tax bill later.

Good advice, I'll start a folder for all the unemployment paperwork.

I wish I had done this from the beginning. Ended up scrambling to find documents later.

I wasn't in a union at my retail job but good to know for the future.

What if they offer me way fewer hours or much lower pay?

There are rules about 'suitable work' but it gets complicated. If that happens, definitely try to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation.

This is where having a way to actually reach Washington ESD becomes crucial. Good thing services like Claimyr exist to help get through to them.

Thanks for the encouragement. It does feel overwhelming but I'll push through it.

Exactly! Don't let the bureaucracy intimidate you out of benefits you're entitled to.