How do you sign up for unemployment online Washington ESD - confused about the process

You'll need to go to esd.wa.gov and look for the 'Apply for Benefits' section. First step is creating a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one already. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked.

honestly the whole online system is a mess, took me forever to figure out. you have to make sure you're on the right website too because there's fake ones out there

If you're having trouble getting through on the phone to speak with someone about the application process, I had success using Claimyr recently. It's a service that helps you get connected to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold for hours. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me time when I needed to ask questions about my claim.

Make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup. Also write down your username and password somewhere safe because you'll need to log in weekly to file your claims. The system locks you out if you forget your login info and it's a pain to reset.

No it's definitely weekly claims in Washington. You file every week even if you don't get paid every week. Missing a weekly claim can mess up your benefits so don't skip it.

THE WASHINGTON ESD WEBSITE IS TRASH. Sorry for yelling but I spent 3 hours trying to create an account last month and it kept timing out. Their system crashes constantly and the error messages don't tell you anything useful.

try using a different browser if one doesn't work. had issues with chrome but firefox worked fine

One important thing - make sure you apply as soon as possible after losing your job. There's a waiting week in Washington but your claim starts from when you apply, not when you lost your job. Don't wait thinking you might get hired somewhere quickly.

Also be prepared for your claim to go into adjudication if there are any questions about why you lost your job. Mine took 3 weeks to get approved because they had to verify I was laid off and didn't quit.

Don't forget you'll need to do job searches every week too. Keep track of where you apply because they audit that stuff.

Here's the step-by-step process: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov 2) Click 'Apply for Benefits' 3) Create SAW account if needed 4) Fill out the application with your work history 5) Wait for approval 6) Start filing weekly claims. The whole application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready.

if you have trouble with the online system crashing or timing out like others mentioned, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might help you get through to someone who can walk you through it. I used it when I couldn't figure out why my weekly claim wasn't going through

Pro tip: take screenshots of every page as you fill out the application. If the system crashes you'll have proof of what you entered and won't have to start completely over.

Just want to add that the whole process is designed to be confusing and make you give up. Don't let it discourage you, keep trying even if it's frustrating. You earned those benefits.

One more thing - if you worked in multiple states in the past 18 months, you might need to file in a different state depending on where you earned the most wages. Washington ESD can help you figure that out.

expect to wait at least a week or two before you hear anything back after applying. and then probably another week before you actually get paid if approved. the whole system moves slow

If you do run into issues during the application process and need to speak with Washington ESD directly, definitely consider using that Claimyr service I mentioned. Much easier than trying to call on your own and getting busy signals or being on hold forever.

Last piece of advice - read everything carefully and answer honestly. Don't try to game the system because they will catch inconsistencies and it'll just delay your benefits.

good luck! the first time is always the hardest but once you get through it you'll know what to expect if you ever need benefits again

Feel free to come back and ask if you run into specific problems during the application. This community is pretty good about helping each other navigate the Washington ESD system.