How to apply for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD - step by step guide needed

First thing you need to do is create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account at secure.esd.wa.gov if you don't have one already. This is your gateway to all Washington ESD services. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment.

The actual application process is pretty straightforward once you have your SAW account set up. You'll file your initial claim online and then you have to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. Make sure you're ready to start looking for work immediately because Washington ESD has job search requirements.

I went through this same process about 6 months ago and honestly the hardest part was just getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. The phone lines are constantly busy and you can spend hours trying to get through. I actually ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an agent much faster. They have this demo video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ

OMG yes the phone situation is TERRIBLE. I've been trying to reach Washington ESD for three weeks about an issue with my claim and I can never get through. It's like they don't want to help people at all. The whole system is so frustrating!

Here's the step-by-step process: 1) Create SAW account, 2) File initial unemployment claim online, 3) Wait for determination (can take 2-4 weeks), 4) Once approved, file weekly claims every week, 5) Keep detailed job search log, 6) Report any income from work. The weekly claims are due by midnight on the Sunday of each week.

Make sure you have all your documentation ready before you start the application. You'll need your Social Security card, ID, and employment records. Also, if you were fired or quit, you'll need to provide details about the circumstances because that affects your eligibility.

Word of advice - don't wait to apply! You can only get benefits from the date you file your claim, not from when you actually lost your job. So even if you're not sure about all the details, it's better to file and fix any issues later.

Just a heads up that you'll also need to register with WorkSourceWA for job search activities. It's all connected to your unemployment claim and they track your job search efforts through that system too.

The weekly claims part is super important - don't forget to file them every single week even if you haven't been paid yet or if you're still waiting for your claim to be approved. Missing a week can cause delays in your benefits.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Washington ESD benefits are taxable income, so you can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or you'll owe taxes when you file your return next year.

I'm going through this process right now and I have to say that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really is worth it if you run into any issues. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get through to anyone at Washington ESD. Used Claimyr and finally got to talk to someone who resolved my issue in 10 minutes.

Don't forget that if you do any work while collecting unemployment, even just a few hours, you need to report that income on your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefits accordingly but you won't get in trouble as long as you report it honestly.

The job search requirements can be confusing at first but you'll get the hang of it. You need to make 3 job search contacts per week and keep a detailed log with dates, company names, positions applied for, and method of contact. WorkSourceWA has tools to help track this.

One more tip - if your claim gets denied for any reason, don't panic! You have the right to appeal the decision. The appeal process is separate from the initial claim and you usually have 30 days to file an appeal after getting a denial notice.

The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Take it one step at a time and don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. The Washington ESD website also has a lot of helpful information and FAQs.

Just remember to be patient with the system. Washington ESD is dealing with a lot of claims and sometimes things take longer than expected. Keep filing your weekly claims and stay on top of your job search requirements while you wait.

Last piece of advice - keep copies of everything! Save screenshots of your weekly claims, print out important notices, and keep records of all your job search activities. You never know when you might need to reference something later.

Also wanted to mention that there are different types of unemployment benefits - regular UI, standby, and others. Most people qualify for regular UI but if you're in a union or certain industries, you might have different options. The application will help determine what you're eligible for.

One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you have your bank account information ready for direct deposit setup. Washington ESD strongly encourages direct deposit over paper checks, and it's much faster (usually 1-2 business days vs up to a week for checks). You'll need your routing number and account number. Also, don't be discouraged if the website is slow or crashes sometimes - it gets heavy traffic, especially on Sundays when people are filing their weekly claims. Just be patient and try again later if you run into technical issues.