How to file for unemployment Washington ESD - need help with the process

First thing you need to do is go to the Washington ESD website and create an account. 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 have your last employer's information handy too.

The Washington ESD online system is at secure.esd.wa.gov - you'll file your initial claim there and then file weekly claims every week to get paid. Make sure you file your claim right away because benefits start from the week you file, not when you lost your job.

One thing that helped me when I was struggling to get through to Washington ESD was using claimyr.com - it's a service that handles the calling for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me time when I needed to talk to someone about my claim status.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too! In Washington you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of them. The Washington ESD website has details about what counts as a valid job search activity.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing, took me forever to figure out how to file my weekly claims

Fair warning - if there are any issues with your claim it might go into adjudication which can take weeks or even months to resolve. Mine was stuck for 6 weeks because they needed to verify my work history.

Also important to know - Washington has a one week waiting period, so you won't get paid for your first week of unemployment. It's unpaid but you still need to file the weekly claim for that week.

Make sure you have a good phone number and email on file because Washington ESD will contact you if they need additional information. Check your account regularly too.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later, but don't forget about it come tax season.

Since you worked at a casino, make sure you report ALL your income accurately including tips. Underreporting can cause major problems with your claim later.

If you run into problems reaching Washington ESD by phone (which you probably will), that claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I used it twice when my claim had issues and got through both times without the usual 2+ hour wait.

Pro tip: file your weekly claims on Sunday nights or Monday mornings. The system is less busy then and you're less likely to have technical issues.

One more thing - if you're planning to take any classes or training while on unemployment, check with Washington ESD first. Some training programs are approved and won't affect your benefits, but others might.

Honestly the whole process is a nightmare. I've been trying to get my claim sorted for 2 months now and keep getting the runaround from Washington ESD.

Just wanted to say good luck! Filing for unemployment is stressful but you'll get through it. The Washington ESD system isn't perfect but most people do eventually get their benefits.

Quick recap for you: 1) File online at secure.esd.wa.gov ASAP, 2) Have your employment history ready, 3) Start job searching immediately, 4) File weekly claims every week, 5) Be completely honest about everything. You've got this!

Make sure you keep copies of everything you submit to Washington ESD. I learned that the hard way when they claimed they never received documents I sent.

Last piece of advice - don't panic if your first payment is delayed. It usually takes 2-3 weeks from when you file to get your first payment, assuming no issues with your claim.

One thing nobody mentioned - make sure your address is updated in the system if you've moved recently. They mail important documents and if they can't reach you it can cause delays.

been on unemployment twice and honestly the hardest part is just getting started. once you figure out the routine it becomes pretty automatic