How to claim for unemployment Washington ESD - confused about the whole process

Thanks! Do I need pay stubs or will they verify my wages some other way?

They'll verify wages through their system, but it's good to have your pay stubs just in case there are discrepancies.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week? Is there a minimum?

You need to make at least 3 job search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, or networking events.

I've been struggling with the job search requirements. Sometimes it's hard to find 3 legitimate openings in my field each week.

Is that service legit? I'm always skeptical of anything that costs money when dealing with government benefits.

Yeah it's real, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Saved me hours of calling and getting nowhere.

Good to know there are options if I can't get through on my own. Hopefully I won't need it but I'll keep it in mind.

So I file once to get approved, then file every week after that to get paid?

Exactly. The weekly claims are where you report if you worked that week and confirm you're still unemployed and looking for work.

What's adjudication? That sounds intimidating.

Adjudication is when they need to investigate something about your claim before approving it. Could be employment verification, reason for separation, etc. It's pretty common.

Yeah exactly. Mine was because my employer initially said I quit but I was actually laid off. They had to contact my employer to verify the real reason.

What's WorkSource? Another website I need to deal with?

WorkSource Washington is the state's job search website. You'll need to create a profile there as part of your work search requirements.

That's reassuring to know it's not just user error when things don't work right.

I've had the website crash right in the middle of filing my weekly claim. Super frustrating but it usually saves your progress.

What day of the week do you file? Is there a specific schedule?

You can file your weekly claim starting Sunday for the previous week. I always do mine on Sunday morning so I don't forget.

Same here, Sunday morning routine. The system can be slow on weekends though so give yourself extra time.

That makes sense. Better to be upfront about everything from the start.

Exactly. I know someone who got in trouble for not reporting some part-time work they did. The state eventually found out through tax records.

How long did it take from filing to getting your first payment?

About 10 days total, but there's a one-week waiting period where you don't get paid for the first week.

Got it, so even if approved right away there's still that waiting week. Good to know for budgeting.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr. I was spending 4-5 hours a day trying to get through and getting nowhere. Worth it to actually talk to someone.

I feel your pain. The call volume is just insane. Try calling right when they open at 8am, that seems to work better.

I'll try that tomorrow morning. This is ridiculous though, we shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to get help.

You need to be able and available to work, but reasonable appointments are fine. Just don't turn down work opportunities because of non-essential scheduling conflicts.

That's good to know. I have a dentist appointment next week I was worried about.

Yes, part-time work counts as long as you earned enough wages during your base period. The system looks at your total earnings, not just hours worked.

Thanks! I was worried I wouldn't qualify because it wasn't full-time.

Smart idea. I'll definitely do that when I file.

I learned this the hard way. Had a dispute about when I filed and had no proof. Now I screenshot everything.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel much more confident about getting started now.

Good luck! Most people get through the process just fine, just take it one step at a time.

How long do you have to file an appeal?

Usually 30 days from the date of the decision. The appeal information should be included with any denial notice.

It's reassuring to know there are services like that if I run into problems. Hopefully the process goes smoothly but good to have options.

Same experience here. Used their service during a complicated overpayment issue and got it resolved much faster than trying to call on my own.

That's interesting. I had a better job about a year ago before the retail job. That might help my benefit amount.

Exactly. The system looks at your entire wage history in the base period, not just your most recent employer.

Good point. I do some occasional freelance graphic design work so I'll need to keep track of that.

Yes, be very careful with this. Any income needs to be reported, even if it's just $20 from a small gig.

That's what I'm hoping for. Thanks again everyone for walking me through this. I'm going to start my application tonight.

You've got this! Feel free to come back and ask if you run into any specific issues during the process.