How to file an unemployment claim with Washington ESD - complete beginner here

Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or just the basic employer info?

Just the basic info is fine for the initial application. They might ask for pay stubs later if they need to verify wages.

Same here! And then my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks because I answered something wrong.

If you need help reaching Washington ESD to clarify anything during the process, I used Claimyr.com recently. They have this service that calls ESD for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Wait, I have to file something every week? I thought it was just the one application?

Yeah, after your initial claim is approved you have to file a weekly claim every Sunday for the previous week. It asks about any work you did and if you were available for work.

Try using a different browser or clear your cache. Sometimes that helps with the glitches.

Do I register for WorkSource before or after filing my unemployment claim?

You can do it either way, but I'd recommend doing it after you file your UI claim. The system will prompt you about WorkSource registration anyway.

Good point. I was definitely laid off due to budget cuts, so I'll make sure to be clear about that.

This is so important! I accidentally selected the wrong reason and it triggered an adjudication that took 6 weeks to resolve.

What kind of documents do I need for ID.me verification?

Usually your driver's license and either a utility bill or bank statement for address verification. Sometimes they want additional docs if there are any issues.

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. I guess I'll have to figure out how to stretch my savings.

Yeah the timing really sucks when you're already stressed about money. Hang in there.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already tight on money.

It's worth checking out their site to see what works for your situation. When you're dealing with delayed benefits, sometimes you gotta spend a little to solve the bigger problem.

Should I create a separate email just for unemployment stuff?

That's actually not a bad idea. Keeps everything organized and you won't miss important messages in your regular inbox.

Do I need to start the job search activities right away or only after my claim is approved?

You should start right away. They can ask for your job search log going back to when you first filed, not just when you were approved.

This is correct. Washington ESD expects you to be actively seeking work from day one of your claim.

Oh wow, I didn't even think about taxes. How much should I expect to owe?

Depends on your total income for the year, but I usually have 10% withheld just to be safe.

That's not normal. Your friend should definitely call and find out what's going on with their claim.

This is exactly why services like Claimyr exist. When claims get stuck like that, you need to actually talk to someone at ESD to figure out what the holdup is.

Great advice, thank you. I'll definitely do that.

Yes! I learned this the hard way when they claimed I never filed a weekly claim that I definitely submitted.

Thanks everyone for all the help. I feel much more prepared to tackle this now.

Good luck! Remember that getting laid off isn't your fault and unemployment benefits are there for exactly this situation.