How does collecting unemployment work in Washington - confused about the whole process

The process has several steps. First, you file an initial claim on the Washington ESD website. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your employer information. After filing, you'll get a determination letter explaining your weekly benefit amount and how long you can collect. Then you have to file weekly claims every week to actually receive payments.

Also be prepared to wait. My claim took 3 weeks to get approved and I didn't see my first payment for almost a month. Washington ESD is super backed up right now.

I actually found something that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I was having issues. There's this service called Claimyr that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to call myself.

Your benefit amount is based on your earnings during your 'base year' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed. Washington calculates it as roughly 60-65% of your average weekly wage, but there are minimum and maximum amounts. For 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $1,015.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You have to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. They can audit you at any time.

The whole system is a nightmare honestly. I've been dealing with an adjudication issue for 6 weeks now and can't get anyone on the phone to explain what's happening.

One thing they don't tell you upfront - if you work part-time while collecting unemployment, you have to report those earnings on your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefit amount based on how much you earned that week.

Make sure you file your initial claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, even if you were eligible.

The whole process is confusing at first but you get used to it. Just remember: file your initial claim, wait for approval, then file weekly claims every week. And keep looking for work the whole time.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit when you file your claim. Paper checks take forever and can get lost in the mail.

Watch out for scams too. There are a lot of fake unemployment websites out there. Make sure you're only using the official Washington ESD site at esd.wa.gov.

If you have any issues with your claim or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, definitely consider using a service like Claimyr. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got me connected to an agent who helped resolve my benefit calculation issue.

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

The key thing is to be honest and accurate on all your forms. Washington ESD cross-checks everything and if they find discrepancies, it can delay your claim or even result in fraud charges.

One more thing - if you quit your job instead of being laid off, you might not be eligible for unemployment unless you quit for 'good cause' like unsafe working conditions or significant changes to your job.