How to apply for unemployment Washington ESD - first time filing need help

You'll want to file your initial claim as soon as possible through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and gross wages earned. The process usually takes about 30-45 minutes to complete online.

been through this process twice unfortunately lol. make sure you have all your pay stubs or W2s handy because they ask for specific wage amounts. also the system can be slow sometimes so be patient

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone to ask questions, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of busy signals when I needed to check on my claim status.

Just a heads up - after you file your initial claim you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. Don't forget this step or you'll lose your benefits for those weeks! The weekly claims ask about any work you did and money you earned that week.

ugh the washington esd system is such a nightmare. took me forever to get through the application and then they wanted like 50 different documents. hope you have better luck than i did

Also make sure you understand the job search requirements. In Washington you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, etc. You don't have to submit the log weekly but keep detailed records in case they audit you.

One thing that caught me off guard was the waiting week. In Washington there's no waiting week anymore (they eliminated it during COVID) but some people still think there is. You should receive benefits for your first eligible week.

Make sure you're honest about everything on your application. If you were fired vs laid off, if you had any severance pay, if you're doing any part-time work - all of that matters for your eligibility. Being dishonest can get you in serious trouble later.

the whole process is honestly not that bad if you have your paperwork ready. took me maybe 45 minutes to complete the initial application online. just take your time and read everything carefully

Another tip - if your claim goes into adjudication for any reason and you need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, that's when services like Claimyr really come in handy. Adjudication can add weeks to your claim processing time, so being able to actually talk to an agent about what's needed can speed things up significantly.

Don't forget you'll need to report any vacation pay, severance, or pension payments you receive. These can affect your weekly benefit amount or even make you ineligible for certain weeks.

If you worked in multiple states in the past 18 months, you might need to file an interstate claim. This can complicate things a bit, but Washington ESD can help you figure out which state you should file in based on where you earned the most wages.

once you get approved make sure you set up direct deposit right away. waiting for checks in the mail takes forever and they can get lost. direct deposit usually hits your account within 1-2 business days

The Washington ESD website has a really helpful checklist of everything you need before you start your application. I'd recommend looking at that first so you can gather everything in one place. Makes the whole process much smoother.

DONT PROCRASTINATE ON THIS!! I waited like 2 weeks to file thinking I might find another job quickly and ended up losing out on those weeks of benefits. You cant backdate your claim in most cases so file asap even if you think you might not need it

I had to use that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when my claim got stuck and I couldn't reach anyone at Washington ESD for weeks. Seriously saved my sanity - got through to an agent the same day and got my issue resolved. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

Make sure your contact information is current and check your emails regularly. Washington ESD will contact you through your online account and email if they need anything additional. Missing their requests can delay your claim.

good luck with everything! the first time filing can feel overwhelming but once you get into the routine of weekly claims its pretty straightforward. most people have no major issues with the process

One last thing - if you're eligible for benefits, your weekly benefit amount will be based on your earnings during your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters). Higher earnings generally mean higher weekly benefits, up to the state maximum.