How does one file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD - complete beginner here

You can file completely online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment. The sooner you file the better since there's a waiting week before benefits start.

The online application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have everything ready. Make sure you file your initial claim first, then you'll need to file weekly claims every week to actually receive payments. A lot of people miss that second part.

Just went through this process myself last month. If you run into issues reaching Washington ESD by phone (which you probably will because their lines are always busy), I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

ugh the washington esd system is such a pain. took me forever to figure out all the job search requirements too. you have to do 3 job search activities per week once benefits start

Make sure your employer didn't contest your claim. Sometimes they fight it even for legitimate layoffs and it can delay everything for weeks while it goes through adjudication.

Been on unemployment twice in the past 5 years. First time was smooth, second time got stuck in adjudication hell for 6 weeks because of some paperwork issue. The key is to be super accurate with everything you submit initially.

also dont forget you can backdate your claim if you file late but only up to a certain point. i think its like a week or something

The Washington ESD website is actually pretty user-friendly compared to other states I've heard about. Just follow the prompts step by step and don't rush through it.

One thing that confused me was the difference between being 'able and available' versus being on standby status. Make sure you understand which category you fall into because it affects your weekly claims.

Don't panic if your first payment takes a while. There's always a waiting week plus processing time. I think mine took about 3 weeks total before I saw money.

Another tip - if you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your claim status or have questions during the process, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it beat sitting on hold for hours.

Remember that your benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter in the past year, so if you had any particularly good months that should help your weekly benefit amount.

Pro tip: take screenshots of everything when you file, especially your confirmation numbers. I've had friends lose their place in the system and had to start over.

honestly the worst part is the job search requirements. 3 activities per week sounds easy but finding legitimate stuff to apply for gets hard after a while

Filed online last year and it was pretty straightforward. Just make sure you have a reliable internet connection because getting kicked out halfway through is frustrating.

One more thing - if you worked for multiple employers, list them all even if it was just part-time or temporary work. Washington ESD needs a complete picture.

The system will ask for your bank account info for direct deposit. Way faster than waiting for a debit card in the mail.

Last piece of advice - read everything carefully before submitting. I know it's tempting to rush through but one wrong answer can trigger an adjudication that delays everything.

Just want to second the Claimyr recommendation. Used it last week when I couldn't get through to resolve an issue with my claim. Worked exactly like they showed in the demo.

File as soon as possible! Every day you wait is money you're potentially losing.