How to claim my weekly unemployment benefits in Washington ESD system?

You need to log into your SecureAccess Washington account and look for the 'File Weekly Claim' option. It's usually right on the main page after you log in. You have to file every week to get paid, even if you didn't work at all that week. The system will ask you questions about any work you did, money you earned, and if you were available for work.

Make sure you have all your information ready before you start. They'll ask about any work you did, how much you earned, if you looked for work, and if you were able and available. Answer everything honestly or you could get in trouble later.

I had so much trouble with this at first! The Washington ESD phone lines are impossible to get through to when you have questions. I was calling for weeks trying to get help with my weekly claims. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an ESD agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made my life so much easier.

ugh the weekly claims are so annoying, same questions every week. but you HAVE to do them or you dont get paid. learned that the hard way when i forgot one week and had to wait an extra week for my money

Here's the step-by-step process: 1) Log into SecureAccess Washington 2) Click on 'Unemployment Services' 3) Select 'File Weekly Claim' 4) Answer all the questions truthfully 5) Submit your claim 6) Print or save your confirmation. The system will tell you when your next claim is due. Usually takes 1-2 business days to process if everything is correct.

The Washington ESD system is such a mess. Half the time the website doesn't work properly and you get error messages. I've had weeks where I couldn't file my claim because the system was down for maintenance. It's frustrating when your livelihood depends on filing these claims every week.

Quick question - do you have to file a weekly claim for the very first week after you get approved? I'm not sure if I should file for the week I was approved or wait until the next week.

Pro tip: always save or print your confirmation after filing. I had an issue once where ESD said they never received my weekly claim even though I filed it. Having that confirmation number saved me a lot of hassle.

The job search requirement is 3 activities per week minimum. Make sure you're keeping detailed records of your job search activities because ESD can audit your claim at any time and ask for proof.

I've been filing weekly claims for 2 months now and it's become routine. The key is to file the same day each week so you don't forget. I do mine every Sunday morning with my coffee.

Watch out for the question about being able and available for work. If you say no to that, you won't get paid for that week. Even if you're sick or have other issues, think carefully about how you answer.

The Washington ESD system will automatically calculate your weekly benefit amount based on your previous earnings. You don't need to do any math yourself. Just answer the questions and let the system handle the calculations.

If you work part-time while on unemployment, make sure to report those earnings accurately. The system will deduct some of your earnings from your weekly benefit but you can still get partial unemployment as long as you don't earn too much.

Been there with the phone issues too. Spent literally hours trying to get through to ESD when I had questions about my weekly claims. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier - I tried it last month and it actually worked. Got connected to an ESD agent in like 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hours of busy signals.

Don't forget to check your payment status after filing. Sometimes there are issues with your claim that you need to resolve before you get paid. The ESD website will show you if there are any problems.

The most important thing is to file every week on time and answer all questions honestly. If you're consistent with your weekly claims and job search activities, you shouldn't have any problems getting your benefits.

One more tip - if you're going to be out of town or unable to file your weekly claim for any reason, you can sometimes file it early or late, but it's better to plan ahead and file before you leave if possible.

The system usually updates overnight, so if you file your weekly claim on Sunday, you might see your payment status updated by Monday or Tuesday. Direct deposit usually hits your account within 1-2 business days after that.

Just remember that unemployment benefits are temporary. Keep looking for work and document your job search activities. The weekly claims are just one part of staying eligible for benefits while you search for a new job.

I've been using the mobile version of the SecureAccess Washington website to file my weekly claims and it works pretty well. Sometimes easier than trying to use a computer if you're having technical issues.