How to file for unemployment Washington ESD - confused about the process

You file everything online through the Washington ESD website 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. Don't wait - you should file as soon as possible after your last day of work.

The online application is pretty straightforward but make sure you have all your employer info ready. It asks for specific dates and addresses so don't guess - get the exact information.

If you run into issues with the online system or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your claim, I discovered this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It's been super helpful when I needed to reach Washington ESD directly.

MAKE SURE you file your weekly claims every week once you're approved! I know someone who forgot to do theirs for 2 weeks and had to appeal to get those payments. The system doesn't remind you.

The whole process took me about 30 minutes online. Just have your employment history ready and make sure you answer all the questions honestly. They'll ask about why you lost your job.

One thing to know - after you file you might have to wait for adjudication if there are any questions about your eligibility. Mine took 3 weeks because they had to verify something with my former employer.

Whatever you do, don't put off filing! I waited 2 weeks thinking I might find another job quickly and ended up losing out on those weeks of benefits. You can't backdate your claim start date.

The website can be slow sometimes, especially on Sundays when everyone's filing their weekly claims. If it kicks you out just try again later.

Also heads up - you'll need to do job search activities once you start getting benefits. Washington ESD requires you to look for work and keep a record of it.

Don't stress too much about the initial filing. The hard part is dealing with Washington ESD if you have problems later. Their phone system is absolutely terrible - I've spent entire days trying to get through.

Quick tip - create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first if you don't have one. You'll need it to access your unemployment account.

I filed mine on a Wednesday and got my determination letter the following Monday. Pretty quick process if everything's straightforward.

Make sure your contact information is correct in the application. They'll send important notices by mail and email.

The system will ask for your bank account info for direct deposit. You can also choose to get a debit card but direct deposit is faster.

Just be patient with the whole process. Washington ESD is dealing with a lot of claims and sometimes things take longer than expected. But the benefits are definitely worth it while you're job hunting.

One more thing - keep all your employment documents even after you file. Sometimes they ask for additional verification weeks later.

The Washington ESD website has a pretty good FAQ section too if you get stuck on any of the questions during filing.

Good luck with your claim! The initial filing is really the easy part - just make sure you stay on top of your weekly claims and job search requirements.

And remember, if you do need to contact Washington ESD for any reason during your claim, services like Claimyr can save you a lot of frustration trying to get through their phone system. Just keep it in mind if you run into issues later.

Wishing you the best with your job search! Unemployment benefits should help take some of the pressure off while you find something new.