How to apply for unemployment in Washington - complete step by step process?

First thing - don't panic! The Washington ESD application process is pretty straightforward once you know what you're doing. You'll need to create an account on the Washington ESD website, then file your initial claim. Make sure you have your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months (employer names, addresses, dates worked, gross wages), and your bank account info if you want direct deposit.

Go to esd.wa.gov and click on 'Apply for Benefits.' You'll need to create a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first if you don't have one. The whole process takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready. Most important thing is to be accurate with your employment dates and wages.

I was in the same boat 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 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 agent. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Make sure you apply as soon as possible! Your claim starts the week you file, not the week you were laid off. So if you wait too long you're losing money. Also, you'll need to file weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed.

ugh the washington esd website is such a nightmare... took me 3 tries to get through the whole application without it timing out. make sure you save your progress as you go

Here's the basic step-by-step: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov 2) Create SAW account if needed 3) Click 'Apply for Benefits' 4) Fill out personal info 5) Enter employment history 6) Choose payment method 7) Submit application. After that, you'll get a determination letter in 1-2 weeks telling you if you're approved and how much you'll get.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. You can do this through WorkSourceWA or on your own, but you have to track everything.

Pro tip: if you get stuck during the application, don't just abandon it and start over. Call the Washington ESD customer service line or use one of those callback services. I wasted so much time restarting applications when I could have just gotten help.

Just be prepared for the whole process to take longer than you expect. Even 'simple' claims can get held up for random reasons. My claim took 6 weeks because they had to verify my employment with a previous employer who was slow to respond.

Make sure you understand the difference between your initial claim and your weekly claims. The initial claim establishes your eligibility and benefit amount. Weekly claims are what you file every week to actually get paid. You need to do both!

If you worked for multiple employers in the last 18 months, make sure you include ALL of them in your application. Even part-time or temporary jobs count toward your benefit calculation.

honestly the worst part is waiting for that first determination letter... you have no idea if you did everything right until weeks later. i kept checking my account obsessively

One thing that helped me was creating a folder with all my unemployment documents - application confirmation, determination letter, job search log, etc. You'll need to reference this stuff later so stay organized from the start.

If your claim gets stuck in adjudication (which happens more than it should), don't just wait around. Be proactive about calling Washington ESD or getting help. I waited 5 weeks thinking it would resolve itself and it didn't move until I actually talked to someone.

Remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income! You can choose to have taxes withheld from your payments or pay them later when you file your tax return. Just don't forget about this come tax time.

Good luck with your application! It seems overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims and doing job searches, it becomes pretty automatic. The hardest part is just getting started.