How to claim unemployment benefits - Washington ESD process confusing me

Start by going to esd.wa.gov and creating your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one already. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates worked, and reason for separation. The initial application takes about 30-45 minutes to complete thoroughly.

Make sure you apply as soon as possible because there's a waiting week before benefits start. I made the mistake of waiting two weeks thinking I'd find another job quickly and it just delayed everything.

The whole process was pretty straightforward for me but getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions was nearly impossible. I tried calling dozens of times and either got busy signals or got disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. If you run into issues, there's a service called Claimyr that helped me get through - check out claimyr.com. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

After you submit your initial application, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. Don't forget to do this even if your claim is still pending - you can backdate but it's easier to stay current.

ugh the washington esd website is so confusing!! i tried to start my application yesterday and got stuck on the part about my last employer. they went out of business so i dont have all their info

Quick update: I started the application and it's asking about my 'base period' - what does that mean exactly?

Be prepared for your claim to possibly go into adjudication if there are any questions about your separation. Mine took 3 weeks to resolve because my employer contested it initially.

Don't panic if your claim shows pending for a while. The system is usually backlogged and it can take 2-3 weeks for processing even without issues.

Pro tip: when you're doing your weekly claims, make sure you answer the questions exactly as they're asked. I accidentally marked that I was unavailable for work one week when I meant I didn't work, and it flagged my whole claim.

I'm going through this process right now too and it's so stressful! The worst part is not knowing how long everything will take. At least we're all figuring it out together.

Make sure you understand the difference between regular UI and standby status if you think you might be recalled to your job. Standby has different requirements.

The Washington ESD customer service is absolutely terrible. I've been trying to get through for weeks about an issue with my claim. Finally broke down and tried that Claimyr thing and got connected to someone the same day. Wish I'd known about it sooner.

Don't forget you'll need to register with WorkSource too for the job search requirement. That's a separate system from your unemployment claim.

Been collecting UI for 2 months now and the key is staying organized. Keep copies of everything - your application, weekly claims, job search log, any correspondence. You never know when you'll need to reference something.

One thing that helped me was calling the Washington ESD automated line first to check my claim status before trying to reach a person. Sometimes you can get the info you need without waiting on hold.

Just want to say thanks to everyone sharing their experiences. This thread has been more helpful than anything I found on the official Washington ESD website!