How does unemployment work in Washington - completely lost on the process

Sorry to hear about your job loss. Washington ESD (Employment Security Department) handles unemployment benefits in our state. You'll need to file an initial claim online at esd.wa.gov. The process involves creating an account, providing employment history, and answering questions about why you left your job. Benefits are based on your past wages - typically around 60-70% of your average weekly wage up to a maximum amount.

First thing - file your claim as soon as possible! You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, so don't wait. Go to esd.wa.gov and click on 'File a New Claim.' You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and information about your last employer including dates of employment and reason for separation. The whole application takes about 30-45 minutes.

Once you file your initial claim, you'll need to file a weekly claim every week to get paid. This is where you report any work you did that week and confirm you're still unemployed and looking for work. You can file weekly claims online or by phone. The first week after you file is usually a waiting week - you won't get paid for that week but you still need to file the claim.

The basic process: 1) File initial claim online 2) Wait for approval (can take 1-3 weeks) 3) File weekly claims every week 4) Meet job search requirements 5) Report any work or income. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and reason for job separation. Make sure you have all this info before starting your application.

I went through this last year and honestly the hardest part was getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. The phone lines are always busy and you get disconnected constantly. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual person. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment and they kept asking for more documents. make sure you upload everything perfectly the first time or youll be stuck in adjudication forever

Just a heads up - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone, there's a service called Claimyr that can help you reach them. I found it at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. It was really helpful when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

Just a heads up - you can't just sit around and collect benefits. You have to actively look for work and be available to work. They can audit your job search log and if you're not meeting requirements, they'll cut you off.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements! You need to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. In Washington, you need to do at least 3 job search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking, or taking training courses.

The weekly claims are super important - you have to file every single week even if you haven't gotten approved yet. Miss a week and you lose that week's benefits permanently. I learned this the hard way.

The benefit amount depends on your past wages. Washington ESD looks at your earnings from the last 5 quarters (base period) to calculate your weekly benefit amount. The maximum weekly benefit is currently around $1,015, but most people get less than that. You can get benefits for up to 26 weeks in a regular year.

Make sure you understand the difference between being fired and being laid off when you file. If you were fired for misconduct, you might not qualify. But if it was a layoff due to lack of work, you should be fine.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay quarterly. I forgot about this and owed a bunch at tax time.

ugh the whole system is so confusing and they never answer the phone when you call. i've been trying to reach them for weeks about my claim

Important note about timing: even if you file your claim today, it can take 2-3 weeks to get your first payment. Washington ESD needs time to process your claim and verify your employment. If there are any issues with your claim, it might go into adjudication, which can take even longer.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your benefits or pay them later when you file your tax return. I always recommend having them withheld so you don't get a surprise tax bill.

One more thing - if you find part-time work while collecting benefits, you still need to report it. They'll reduce your weekly benefit amount but you might still get some money. Don't try to hide work income or you'll face penalties.

Make sure you report ANY work you do while collecting benefits, even if it's just a few hours. If you work part-time, your benefits might be reduced but you could still get some money. Don't risk getting an overpayment by not reporting work.

The online system (eServices) is pretty user-friendly once you get used to it. You'll create an account and can file your weekly claims, check your payment history, and update your information online. Much easier than calling in.

If you get denied or have issues with your claim, you can appeal the decision. You only have 30 days to file an appeal, so don't wait if you think there's a mistake. The appeal process includes a hearing where you can present your case.

honestly the whole thing is confusing AF but once you get through the initial setup its not too bad. just keep filing weekly and looking for work. the money helps but its not gonna be as much as your regular paycheck

Since you're new to this, I'd recommend setting up your online account first, then gathering all your employment documents before starting the actual application. Having everything ready makes the process smoother and reduces chances of delays.

Pro tip: screenshot everything when you're filing claims. The system glitches sometimes and you'll want proof of what you submitted and when.

The whole process can take a while so don't panic if you don't hear back immediately. My claim took 3 weeks to get approved and then another week for the first payment. Plan accordingly.

If you run into issues or have questions about your claim status, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. I've recommended it to several people and they've all had success getting their questions answered quickly instead of calling for hours.

Make sure you understand what happens if you get a job offer while on benefits. You generally have to accept suitable work or risk losing benefits. 'Suitable' depends on your skills and how long you've been unemployed.

Also be aware that if you refuse a job offer without good cause, Washington ESD can disqualify you from benefits. Document everything if you do turn down an offer - you'll need to justify why it wasn't suitable.

One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit right away. Gets your payments faster than waiting for a debit card to arrive in the mail.

Just remember to keep track of all your job search activities in detail. Date, company name, position, method of contact, etc. You never know when they'll ask for it.

Good luck with everything! The system isn't perfect but it does help when you need it. Just be patient and persistent.

You're welcome! One final reminder - file your initial claim as soon as possible. The sooner you start the process, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. Don't let the complexity intimidate you - thousands of people go through this successfully every week.

One thing that helped me was registering with WorkSourceWA. It's Washington's job search website and it helps you track your job search activities for your unemployment requirements. Plus there are resources for resume help and job training.

Just remember that collecting unemployment is a temporary help while you look for new work. Don't get too comfortable - you need to be actively seeking employment the whole time you're receiving benefits.

The process seems overwhelming at first but it gets easier. File your claim, file your weekly claims every week, look for work, and keep good records. That's really the basics of how unemployment works in Washington.

Quick tip: if you do end up needing to call Washington ESD and can't get through, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of trying to call on my own.