How to apply for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD - complete beginner guide?

You can apply 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 worked. The process usually takes about 30-45 minutes to complete the initial application.

make sure you apply ASAP because there's a waiting week before benefits start. I waited 3 days after getting laid off and regretted it

The Washington ESD phone system is absolutely terrible if you need help. I've been trying to reach someone for weeks about my application status and can't get through. If you run into issues, there's actually a service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps people get through to ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

First things first - don't panic! The process isn't as scary as it seems. You'll need to file your initial claim at esd.wa.gov within your first week of unemployment. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready. You'll need employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The sooner you file, the better since there's a waiting week.

The online application is pretty straightforward once you get started. Create your SecureAccess Washington account first, then file your initial claim. Make sure you answer all questions accurately, especially about why you lost your job. Being laid off should qualify you, but they'll verify everything with your employer.

Here's the step-by-step process: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov and click 'Apply for Benefits' 2) Create a SecureAccess Washington account if you don't have one 3) Complete the unemployment application with your work history 4) Wait for your monetary determination letter 5) File your first weekly claim. You'll need to certify weekly that you're able, available, and actively looking for work.

You should file as soon as possible because your benefit year starts from when you file, not when you lost your job. Go to esd.wa.gov and click 'Apply for Benefits.' You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the last 18 months including employer names and addresses, and your separation reason. The initial claim establishes your eligibility, then you file weekly claims every week to actually receive payments.

I went through this last year and the biggest thing is being prepared for potential delays. If you can't get through to Washington ESD by phone to check on your claim status, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you reach agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really helped me when my claim was stuck in adjudication for weeks.

Don't wait! I made that mistake and lost a week of benefits. Make sure you have exact dates of employment and gross wages for each job. Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers anyway.

OMG the whole system is so confusing!!! I applied 2 weeks ago and still don't understand if I'm supposed to be looking for jobs immediately or wait until my claim is approved. And what if I can't find 3 jobs to apply to every week like they want??

ugh the washington esd website is such a nightmare... took me forever to figure out where everything was. make sure you write down your confirmation number after you submit!

Just a heads up - if you worked multiple jobs or have any weird employment situations, your claim might go into adjudication. That can add weeks to the process while they investigate.

The application itself takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your documents ready. You'll answer questions about why you're no longer working, your work history, and availability for work. After you submit, you'll get a confirmation number - save that! Then you wait for Washington ESD to process your claim and send you information about filing your first weekly claim.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for three days to ask questions about my application but their phone lines are constantly busy. It's so frustrating! Has anyone found a way to actually talk to someone there?

After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. This is crucial - even if your initial claim is still pending, keep filing those weekly claims. You'll also need to register with WorkSource and complete job search activities. The requirements are 3 job search activities per week currently.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements before you apply. You need to be able and available for work, which means actively looking for jobs. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log.

Been waiting in adjudication hell for 6 weeks now. No one at ESD will tell me what's taking so long or what additional info they need. This system is broken.

I applied three weeks ago and my claim is still pending. No one can tell me why. This system is broken.

Don't forget about the waiting week! You won't get paid for your first week of unemployment even if everything goes smoothly. Plan your finances accordingly because even after approval, it can take a week or two to see your first payment.

pro tip: screenshot everything and keep records of all your job searches. ESD can audit you and if you don't have documentation you could lose benefits

Don't forget you'll need to file a weekly claim every week to get paid, even if your initial claim is still pending. Miss a week and you might not be able to go back and claim it later.

I'm going through this process right now too and it's been 3 weeks since I filed. My claim status just says 'pending' with no other information. Getting really worried about bills piling up. Has anyone else experienced long delays recently?

I'm so worried I'm going to mess something up and lose my benefits. There are so many rules and requirements. What happens if I make a mistake on the weekly claim?

Pro tip: save copies of everything you submit and take screenshots of your application confirmation. I've seen people have to resubmit things because the system glitched.

expect to wait 2-3 weeks minimum for your first payment even if everything goes smoothly. budget accordingly

Also make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs fired vs quitting. If you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might not qualify for benefits at all.

The WorkSourceWA registration is required but their website is just as confusing as ESD's. You'll need to create a profile and upload your resume there too.

Make sure you understand the difference between regular UI benefits and standby status. If you're temporarily laid off and expecting to return to work within a specific timeframe, you might be eligible for standby which has different requirements.

Don't forget about the waiting week. Washington eliminated it during COVID but it's back now. Your first week of unemployment won't be paid even if you're eligible.

Also be prepared for identity verification. Washington ESD has gotten stricter about this due to fraud. You might need to upload documents or even do a video call to verify your identity.

I went through this process last year and the key is being thorough with your employment history. Don't guess at dates or wages - Washington ESD will catch discrepancies and it can delay your claim for weeks.

also heads up the phone system is basically useless. i called like 50 times and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold for an hour

Whatever you do, don't ignore any letters or emails from ESD. They have strict deadlines for responding to requests for information. I almost lost my benefits because I thought a letter was junk mail.

If you do run into problems and need to talk to someone at ESD, seriously consider using Claimyr. The regular phone system is a nightmare - busy signals, disconnections, hours on hold. Claimyr actually works.

Update on my situation - I finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. The agent was able to see exactly why my claim was delayed and helped me submit the missing information. Wish I had known about this weeks ago!

One thing that helped me was printing out everything - confirmation pages, weekly claim confirmations, any correspondence from Washington ESD. Keep a paper trail of everything in case there are issues later.

Been through this process twice now unfortunately. The key is to be thorough and honest on your application. Don't rush through it or leave anything blank. Take your time and double-check everything before submitting.

For anyone reading this who's self-employed or an independent contractor, the process is different. You might not be eligible for regular unemployment benefits but could qualify for other programs.

The Washington ESD website has a really helpful eligibility quiz that walks you through whether you qualify before you start the full application. Might be worth doing that first to save time.

One thing I wish someone had told me - if you have vacation pay or severance coming, it might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers that continued employment in some cases.

Don't forget to keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still processing. I made this mistake and it caused problems later when my claim was approved.

The whole process stressed me out so much. I kept thinking I was doing something wrong because it seemed too complicated. But once you get through the initial application, the weekly claims are pretty straightforward.

If you run into problems during the application process, document everything - error messages, reference numbers, what you were trying to do. It helps a lot when you finally get to talk to someone at Washington ESD.

Final thoughts for the original poster - gather all your documents first, set aside a good chunk of time to complete the application without rushing, and apply as soon as possible. Don't let the complexity intimidate you. Thousands of people go through this process successfully every week.

Don't be surprised if your claim goes into adjudication, especially for your first time filing. They review a lot of claims to verify eligibility. It's nerve-wracking but normal. Just keep filing your weekly claims even while it's pending.

THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! I've been waiting 2 months for my claim to be processed and every time I call they give me different information. Nobody knows what's going on and they don't care about people struggling to pay rent!

Quick question - do I need to report any severance pay I received? I got two weeks severance when I was laid off and I'm not sure if that affects my unemployment benefits.

I just want to say this whole process gave me so much anxiety at first but it really isn't that bad once you get through the initial application. The weekly claims become routine and the job search requirements actually helped me stay organized in my job hunt.

Remember that your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings in your base period (usually the first 4 quarters of the last 5 quarters before you filed). So if you had lower earnings during that time, your benefit amount will reflect that.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit as soon as your claim is approved. Waiting for paper checks adds extra time and they can get lost in the mail. I learned this the hard way!

been on unemployment twice and both times took forever to get through on the phone when i had questions. really wish there was a better way to reach them

Just wanted to add that if you're union, make sure to let them know during your application. Sometimes there are additional benefits or considerations for union members that can affect your claim.

The most important thing is DON'T WAIT. File as soon as possible after your last day of work. Benefits can't be backdated beyond when you actually file, so every day you wait is potentially money lost.

This thread is so helpful! I'm bookmarking it in case I ever need to file for unemployment. Hope everything works out smoothly for you OP!

just remember the weekly certification deadline is usually saturday night. miss it and you lose that week's benefits

One more thing - if you have any part-time work while collecting unemployment, you have to report it. They'll reduce your benefits but you can still get something. Don't try to hide it because they'll find out.

Final reminder - your benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter in the past year, so gather all your wage information before starting the application. Having everything ready makes the process much smoother.

you got this! the hardest part is just starting. once you get the hang of the weekly claims it becomes routine

Hey Mohammed! I went through this exact same process last year when I got laid off from my retail job. The stress is totally understandable, but you've got this! Here's what I wish I had known: First, go to esd.wa.gov and create your SecureAccess Washington account - you'll need your SSN, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months. The application takes about 45 minutes if you have everything ready. Most importantly, apply TODAY if possible because your benefit year starts when you file, not when you lost your job. There's a mandatory waiting week anyway, so don't delay. Keep detailed records of everything you submit and screenshot your confirmation page. You'll then need to file weekly claims every single week to actually get paid, even while your initial claim is processing. The job search requirements start right away - 3 activities per week and register with WorkSourceWA. I know it seems overwhelming but thousands of people do this successfully every week. Take it one step at a time and don't hesitate to come back here with questions!