How does Washington ESD unemployment benefits work - need basics explained

First step is filing your initial claim on the Washington ESD website. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info from the last 18 months. The system will calculate your weekly benefit amount based on your past wages - typically around 60-70% of what you were making, up to a maximum of about $999 per week in 2025.

After you file your initial claim, you have to file weekly claims every week to get paid. This means logging into your account every week and answering questions about whether you looked for work, if you worked any hours, etc. Miss a week and you don't get paid for that week.

Just a heads up - don't expect money right away. My claim went into adjudication for like 6 weeks because they had to verify my separation reason. Getting through to Washington ESD on the phone is nearly impossible with their call volume.

The whole system is confusing as hell. I've been on UI twice and still get mixed up about the requirements. Make sure you understand the difference between being able to work and being available for work - they're not the same thing according to Washington ESD.

Don't wait to file! You can't get benefits for weeks before you filed your claim, even if you were unemployed. File as soon as you lose your job.

Also be prepared for Washington ESD to randomly audit your job searches. They can ask for proof of your 3 weekly contacts at any time, so keep good records.

One thing that trips people up - if you work part-time while on unemployment, you have to report those earnings. They'll reduce your weekly benefit but you might still get some money depending on how much you earned.

Honestly, I'd recommend trying Claimyr if you run into any issues reaching Washington ESD. Their phone system is overwhelmed and you can waste hours trying to get through. Claimyr made it super easy when I needed to check on my adjudication status.

Make sure you're honest on your weekly claims. They cross-reference with employers and if they catch you lying about working hours or job searches, you could get disqualified and have to pay back everything.

the system is sooo slow and glitchy too, like it takes forever to load pages and sometimes kicks you out in the middle of filing your weekly claim

Don't forget about WorkSourceWA either. Washington ESD might require you to register there for additional job search resources, especially if you're on unemployment for an extended period.

I've been through this whole process and honestly the hardest part is just getting started. Once you understand the routine of weekly claims and job searches, it becomes pretty automatic.

Just remember that unemployment is temporary assistance while you look for work, not a long-term solution. The maximum you can collect is usually 26 weeks in a benefit year.

Also heads up that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay them when you file your tax return.

The Washington ESD customer service is pretty much non-existent. I tried calling for weeks about an issue before someone mentioned Claimyr to me. Game changer for actually reaching a human who could help.

One more tip - if you get disqualified for any reason, you can appeal the decision. You have 30 days from the date of the determination letter to file an appeal.

Overall the system works but it's bureaucratic and slow. Just be patient, follow the rules, and keep detailed records of everything.

Been on unemployment 3 times in my career and each time I learn something new about how confusing their rules are. But yeah, the basics are: file initial claim, file weekly claims, do job searches, report any work/earnings, be patient.