How to claim weeks for unemployment - Washington ESD weekly filing process?

Thanks! So I have to do this every single week? What if I forget one week?

Yes every week. If you miss a week you can usually file for up to 4 weeks back but you might lose that week's payment depending on the reason.

What's the deadline? Is it the same day every week?

Weekly claims are due by 11:59 PM on Saturday for the week ending that Saturday. So if you're claiming for the week ending January 4th, you need to file by Saturday January 4th at 11:59 PM.

Try early morning like 6-7 AM when fewer people are on the system. The site gets overloaded during peak hours especially on Fridays and weekends.

I had the same issue last month and ended up using Claimyr to get through to someone at Washington ESD. They helped me understand what was happening with my account. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Wait, I have to make 3 job contacts every week? What counts as a job contact?

Yes, 3 per week. Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, informational interviews all count. Keep detailed records with dates, company names, and what you did.

this is ridiculous, who has time to apply for 3 jobs every week when most applications take an hour each

What does 'able and available' mean exactly?

It means you're physically able to work and available to accept suitable work if offered. If you're sick or on vacation you might not be able and available.

You should be able to get those weeks if you have medical documentation. File an appeal or call to explain the circumstances.

Good luck getting through on the phone. I've been trying for weeks to reach someone about my claim.

That's exactly why I used Claimyr when I had issues. They help you get through to actual Washington ESD agents instead of being stuck on hold forever.

Can you file early in the week for the current week or do you have to wait until the week is over?

You have to wait until the week is over. So for the week ending Saturday you can file starting Sunday morning.

How do they find out about part time work?

They cross-reference with employers who report wages to the state. It might take months but they will catch unreported earnings.

Yeah I learned this the hard way. Got hit with a $1,800 overpayment for not reporting some gig work from 6 months ago.

Yes, you still file weekly claims on standby status. You'll answer different questions though - mainly whether you're still on standby and if you did any other work.

I was on standby for 2 months last year and still had to file every week. Pain in the butt but you have to do it to keep getting paid.

There's a mobile app? What's it called?

It's just called Washington ESD Mobile. You can download it from the app store.

That's usually a server issue on their end. Try again later or early in the morning when traffic is lower.

I had the same error for days and finally got through to someone using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Turns out there was an issue with my account that needed to be fixed manually.

You continue with Washington ESD since that's where your claim was established. Moving doesn't change which state pays your benefits.

Just make sure to update your address in the system when you move.

Set a phone reminder for Sunday mornings. That's what I do and haven't missed a week yet.

You can also sign up for text reminders on the Washington ESD website. They'll send you a text every week reminding you to file.

This has been really helpful everyone. I think I understand the process now. Thanks for all the advice!

No problem! We've all been there. The unemployment system is confusing at first but you'll get the hang of it.