How to collect unemployment benefits through Washington ESD - complete walkthrough needed

First thing you need to do is file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment. Make sure you file as soon as possible because there's a waiting week and benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you lost your job. You'll also need to register with WorkSource Washington for the job search requirement.

The online application is pretty straightforward but make sure you have a good internet connection because it times out if you take too long. Also write down your username and password somewhere safe - you'll need to log in every week to file your weekly claim. And don't forget to answer the work search questions honestly.

Just went through this whole process myself last month. One thing nobody tells you is that calling Washington ESD is basically impossible - their phone lines are always busy. I must have tried calling 50 times and kept getting hung up on. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to a real person. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I had questions about my claim status.

After you file your initial claim, you'll get a determination letter in the mail (or online) telling you your weekly benefit amount. Then you have to file weekly claims every Sunday for the previous week. This is super important - if you miss filing a weekly claim, you won't get paid for that week and you can't go back and file it later. Set a reminder on your phone or something.

make sure you keep track of everything!!! I got selected for a random audit and had to provide proof of all my job searches. Luckily I kept screenshots and emails but some people get their benefits cut off because they can't prove they were actually looking for work. The job search log in your WorkSource account helps with this.

One thing that caught me off guard was the federal tax withholding. By default they don't take out federal taxes from your unemployment benefits, but you'll owe taxes on it at the end of the year. You can elect to have 10% withheld when you file your claim, which I recommend doing unless you want a big tax bill later.

The waiting week is so frustrating! You file for week 1 but don't get paid until week 2. So even though you file right away, there's still a delay before you see any money. Make sure you have some savings to cover that gap if possible.

Pro tip: when you're doing your job searches, apply for real jobs that you'd actually want. Don't just throw applications at random stuff because if you get called for an interview and turn it down, that can affect your benefits. Washington ESD takes the 'able and available' requirement seriously.

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked! Got through to a real Washington ESD rep in like 10 minutes instead of calling all day. They helped me understand why my claim was pending and what I needed to do. Definitely worth it when you're stuck and need real answers.

Don't forget about the identity verification step! They'll ask you to verify your identity through ID.me which can take a few days. Do this as soon as you get the notification or it will delay your benefits. You need a good camera or scanner for documents.

If your claim gets flagged for adjudication, don't panic. This happens to lots of people and usually just means they need to verify something about your separation from work. It can take several weeks to resolve though, so be patient. You'll get back pay for the weeks you were waiting once it's approved.

The whole system is such a mess honestly. I've been trying to get through to someone for weeks about my claim status and the phone system just hangs up on you. It's ridiculous that people have to use third-party services just to talk to someone about their own benefits.

Make sure you understand the difference between regular unemployment and other programs. If you're a contractor or gig worker, you might need to look into different options. The regular UI program is just for traditional W-2 employees.

One more thing - if you move to a different state while collecting unemployment, you need to notify Washington ESD. You can still collect benefits but there are rules about job search requirements in your new state. Don't just assume you can move and keep collecting without telling them.

Just want to echo what others said about keeping detailed records. Screenshot everything, save all emails and letters from Washington ESD, and keep your job search documentation organized. If anything goes wrong, you'll need that paper trail.

Quick question - does anyone know if the maximum benefit amount changed this year? I thought I read something about it but can't find the info.

If you run into any issues or have questions about your specific situation, definitely don't hesitate to get help. Whether that's through Claimyr or finding another way to reach Washington ESD, it's better to get clarification than to guess and potentially mess up your claim. The whole process can be confusing even for people who've done it before.