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

You'll need to file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov - that's the Washington ESD website. You can't do it in person anymore, everything is online now. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready before you start.

The process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Go to secure.esd.wa.gov and create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first if you don't have one. Then you can file your initial UI claim. Make sure you apply within the first week after your last day of work - don't wait too long or you might lose benefits for that week.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I needed help with my application. The phone lines are always busy and when you do get through, you're on hold forever. If you run into issues, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can help you get connected to an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration.

Make sure you have all your employer information ready - company names, addresses, dates you worked, and reason for separation. The system will ask for details about each job you had in the past 18 months. Also be prepared to answer questions about why you're no longer working.

One thing to keep in mind - after you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to actually receive benefits. A lot of people miss this step and wonder why they're not getting paid. The weekly claims are separate from your initial application.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I tried applying last month and got stuck on some question about my work history. Ended up taking me three tries to get it right. Why can't they make this stuff easier to understand??

Don't forget you'll need to do job search activities every week too. Washington requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. This is part of the weekly claim process.

Pro tip: make sure your contact information is correct when you file. I put in my old phone number by mistake and missed important calls from Washington ESD. Had to straighten that out before my claim could be approved.

The Washington ESD website has a pretty good checklist of what you need before you start your application. I'd recommend looking at that first so you're not scrambling to find information halfway through.

Just want to add - if your claim goes into adjudication (which happens sometimes), don't panic. It just means they need to review something about your claim. Could take a few weeks but you'll still get paid for those weeks once it's resolved.

I remember being overwhelmed when I first applied too. The key is just to take it one step at a time. File your initial claim first, then worry about the weekly claims and job search stuff. Don't try to figure everything out at once.

If you do run into problems and need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, definitely check out that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. I used it again last week when I had questions about my weekly claim and got through to an agent in like 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait.

One more thing - make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount. Your weekly amount is what you get each week, the maximum is the total you can receive during your benefit year.

The whole process took me about 30 minutes when I did it last year. Not too bad once you have all your info ready. The hardest part was just getting started and not knowing what to expect.

Don't forget to check if you're eligible for any additional programs. Sometimes there are extended benefits or other assistance programs available depending on your situation.

I made the mistake of waiting two weeks after I lost my job before applying. Don't do that! You can lose benefits for those weeks. Apply as soon as possible after your last day of work.

If you get stuck on any part of the application, there are usually help buttons or explanations next to each question. I found those pretty helpful when I wasn't sure what something meant.

Remember that your first payment might take a couple weeks to arrive even after your claim is approved. Plan accordingly so you don't run out of money while waiting.

The good news is once you get everything set up, the weekly claims are pretty quick and easy. Takes me like 5 minutes each week to complete mine.

You've got this! I know it seems overwhelming at first but thousands of people go through this process every week. Take it step by step and don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it.