How to collect unemployment in Washington - complete walkthrough needed
I just got laid off from my job at a manufacturing company after 3 years and I've never filed for unemployment before. I know I need to go through Washington ESD but I'm completely lost on where to start. Do I need to apply online? What documents do I need? How long does the whole process take? I keep seeing people mention weekly claims and job search requirements but I don't understand what any of that means. Can someone walk me through the basics of how to collect unemployment in Washington state?
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Mohammed Khan
The first step is to file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible after your job loss. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. The system will determine if you're eligible based on your work history and earnings.
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Ella Russell
•Do I need to wait until my last day of work or can I file before that?
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Mohammed Khan
•You can file your claim the Sunday after your last day of work. Don't file before your employment actually ends or it could delay your claim.
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Gavin King
Once you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to actually receive benefits. This is where you report any work you did that week and certify that you're able and available for work. You also have to do job search activities - usually 3 job contacts per week.
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Ella Russell
•What counts as a job contact? Is just applying online enough?
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Gavin King
•Yes, online applications count. You can also do in-person applications, phone calls to employers, job fairs, networking events, or even career counseling sessions. Just keep a log of everything with dates and details.
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Nathan Kim
Fair warning - the phone system at Washington ESD is absolutely terrible. If you run into any issues with your claim, good luck getting through to talk to someone. I spent weeks trying to call them when my claim got stuck in adjudication.
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Eleanor Foster
•I had the same problem! Ended up using Claimyr to get through to an actual person at Washington ESD. It's this service that calls for you and gets you connected to an agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.
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Ella Russell
•Is that legit? How much does it cost?
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Eleanor Foster
•Yeah it's totally legitimate. They don't ask for your personal info or anything sketchy. Just helps you get through the phone maze to talk to someone at Washington ESD when you need help with your claim.
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Lucas Turner
Make sure you have all your paperwork ready before you start. The system will ask for your employer's federal tax ID number, your gross wages for each quarter, and specific dates. If you don't have your final pay stub yet, you might want to wait a few days to get it.
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Ella Russell
•What if I worked for multiple employers in the last year?
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Lucas Turner
•You'll need to report all of them. The system will walk you through adding each employer one by one. Make sure you have accurate information for all of them because mistakes can delay your claim.
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Kai Rivera
The whole process can take 2-3 weeks before you see your first payment, assuming there are no issues with your claim. Sometimes they need to do what's called adjudication if there are questions about why you lost your job or if you're eligible.
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Ella Russell
•What's adjudication exactly? That sounds scary.
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Kai Rivera
•It's just when they need to investigate something about your claim. Could be verifying your identity, checking with your employer about why you were terminated, or making sure you meet work requirements. It's not necessarily bad, just means it takes longer.
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Anna Stewart
•My adjudication took 6 weeks! And when I tried calling Washington ESD about it, I could never get through. Finally used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and got connected to an agent who explained what was happening with my case.
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Layla Sanders
Don't forget about WorkSource! You'll need to register with them and they have job search resources that can help you meet your requirements. Plus they sometimes have workshops that count toward your job search activities.
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Ella Russell
•Is WorkSource the same as Washington ESD?
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Layla Sanders
•No, WorkSource is a separate system but they work together. You register at worksourcewa.com and it helps you find jobs and track your job search activities.
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Morgan Washington
One important thing - make sure you're actually eligible before you file. You need to have worked and earned enough wages in what they call your 'base period' which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed.
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Ella Russell
•How do I know if I earned enough? I was making about $45,000 a year.
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Morgan Washington
•That should be plenty. The minimum is much lower than that. The system will calculate it automatically when you file your claim.
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Kaylee Cook
Also be prepared for the waiting week. Washington doesn't pay benefits for your first week of unemployment, so your first payment will actually be for your second week of filing weekly claims.
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Ella Russell
•So even if everything goes smoothly, I won't get paid for 3 weeks?
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Kaylee Cook
•Pretty much, yeah. The waiting week plus processing time means your first check usually comes 2-3 weeks after you file.
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Oliver Alexander
Make sure you understand the job search requirements from the start. You need to make 3 job contacts per week and keep a detailed log. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities and if you don't have proper documentation, they can deny your benefits.
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Ella Russell
•What kind of documentation do they want?
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Oliver Alexander
•Date, employer name, contact method, position applied for, and the result. You can use their online job search log or keep your own records, but be detailed.
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Lara Woods
If you get confused about anything during the process, don't just guess. Wrong information can really mess up your claim. Try to get help from Washington ESD directly, even though their phone system is a nightmare.
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Adrian Hughes
•This is where Claimyr really saved me. I was so confused about some forms they wanted me to fill out and couldn't get through to anyone. Used their service and got connected to an agent who walked me through everything step by step.
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Ella Russell
•Okay I keep seeing people mention Claimyr. Is it really that hard to get through to Washington ESD normally?
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Lara Woods
•It's terrible. Especially if you call during busy times. The phone lines are constantly jammed and you'll get disconnected constantly. Having a service that can navigate that for you is honestly worth it.
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Molly Chambers
One more tip - set up direct deposit right away when you file your claim. Paper checks take much longer to arrive and can get lost in the mail. The direct deposit option is much more reliable.
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Ella Russell
•Can I change to direct deposit later if I forget to set it up initially?
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Molly Chambers
•Yes, you can change it in your online account, but it might take a few weeks to take effect. Better to set it up right from the start.
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Ian Armstrong
Don't panic if your claim status shows something confusing like 'pending' or 'under review.' That's pretty normal, especially for new claims. Just keep filing your weekly claims and eventually it will get sorted out.
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Ella Russell
•What if it stays pending for weeks though?
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Ian Armstrong
•That's when you definitely need to call and find out what's going on. Could be they need additional information from you or your employer.
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Eli Butler
Keep copies of everything! Save your confirmation numbers when you file weekly claims, print out any correspondence from Washington ESD, and keep your job search log updated. If there are ever any issues, having documentation will save you a lot of headaches.
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Ella Russell
•Should I print out my weekly claim confirmations every week?
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Eli Butler
•I would. Or at least save screenshots. The confirmation numbers are especially important if there are ever questions about whether you filed on time.
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Marcus Patterson
Just remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or you'll owe money at tax time. I learned this the hard way my first year collecting unemployment.
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Ella Russell
•How much do they withhold for taxes?
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Marcus Patterson
•I think it's 10% federal. You can choose to have it withheld or not, but definitely consider it if you don't want a big tax bill later.
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Lydia Bailey
The most important thing is to file your initial claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. Benefits are not retroactive, so every week you wait is money you're losing. Even if you're not sure about some of the information, file the claim and correct it later if needed.
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Ella Russell
•Thank you everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I'm going to file my claim this weekend.
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Lydia Bailey
•Good luck! And don't hesitate to ask if you run into any issues. This community is pretty good about helping each other navigate the Washington ESD system.
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Mateo Warren
One last thing - if you do end up needing to call Washington ESD for any reason, try calling right when they open at 8 AM or during lunch hours. Those are usually the best times to get through, though it's still pretty hit or miss.
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Sofia Price
•Or just use Claimyr and skip the hassle entirely. Seriously, it's been a game changer for dealing with Washington ESD phone issues.
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Ella Russell
•I'll keep that in mind if I run into problems. Hopefully the initial filing goes smoothly and I won't need to call at all.
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Mateo Warren
•That's the best case scenario! But it's good to know your options if you do need help.
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