How to do weekly unemployment claims on Washington ESD - step by step help needed

The weekly claim process is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Log into your Washington ESD account and look for the 'File Weekly Claim' option. You'll need to answer questions about any work you did that week and report gross earnings (before taxes). For job search, you need at least 3 job search activities per week - applications, interviews, networking events all count.

Make sure you file your weekly claim every Sunday for the previous week. I almost missed my first one because I thought it was due on Monday. The system locks you out if you're late and then you have to call Washington ESD to reopen it.

I've been filing weekly claims for months now and honestly the hardest part is getting through to Washington ESD when you have questions. Their phone lines are absolutely swamped. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you connected to an agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

Pro tip: Screenshot or print your confirmation page after filing each weekly claim. Washington ESD's system sometimes glitches and you'll want proof you filed on time. I learned this the hard way when my claim got held up for 'failure to file' even though I definitely submitted it.

Don't stress too much about perfect job search documentation at first. As long as you're making genuine efforts to find work and can show 3 activities per week, you'll be fine. I keep a simple spreadsheet with company name, position, date applied, and method (online, in person, etc).

One thing that confused me at first - if you work part-time while collecting, you still might get some unemployment benefits. Washington ESD has a formula where they reduce your weekly benefit but don't eliminate it entirely unless you earn too much. Worth reporting the work honestly rather than trying to hide it.

The Washington ESD website can be really slow on Sundays since everyone files their weekly claims then. If it's timing out or running slow, try filing later in the evening or early Monday morning. You have until the following Saturday to file without penalty.

Make sure you understand the difference between being 'able and available' for work versus actively searching. You need to answer yes to able and available every week (unless you're sick or have other qualifying reasons), but the job search requirement is separate. Don't confuse the two questions on the weekly claim form.

Anyone else having trouble with the mobile version of the Washington ESD site? I tried filing my weekly claim on my phone and it kept erroring out. Ended up having to use a computer.

If you run into any issues with your weekly claims or need clarification on something specific, seriously consider using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. I was stuck for weeks trying to resolve a discrepancy in my earnings report and couldn't get anyone on the phone. Claimyr got me connected same day and the agent cleared everything up in 10 minutes.

Pro tip from someone who's been doing this for 6 months: set up a calendar reminder for every Sunday to file your weekly claim. I use my phone's weekly recurring reminder and it's been a lifesaver. Easy to forget when you're dealing with job search stress.

Quick question - if I start a new job mid-week, do I still file a weekly claim for that week? I'm starting Wednesday and not sure how to handle the partial week.

Does anyone know if volunteer work counts toward the job search requirement? I've been doing some volunteer work in my field hoping it leads to connections.

Been filing weekly claims for 4 months now and the routine becomes automatic. Just remember to be honest about everything - work hours, earnings, job search efforts. Washington ESD does audit claims and it's not worth the risk of benefit fraud charges to try to game the system.

The Washington ESD system automatically deposits benefits if you have direct deposit set up, usually by Wednesday after filing your Sunday claim. If you're getting a debit card, it takes a bit longer.

Just want to echo what others said about keeping records. I keep a simple notebook with my weekly filing dates, earnings reported, and job search activities. Old school but it works and I never worry about losing digital files.

For anyone struggling with the Washington ESD phone system like I was, I ended up using Claimyr after reading about it here. Game changer for getting actual help when you need it. The video demo they have really shows how much easier it makes the whole process.

One last tip - if you're having trouble with your weekly claim or it gets stuck processing, don't wait weeks hoping it resolves itself. Contact Washington ESD as soon as possible because delayed payments can create a backlog that takes forever to clear up.