How to file my unemployment claim online - Washington ESD website issues

Thanks! What specific employment info do they need? I worked for three different companies in the past year and a half.

You'll need company names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation for each job. Also your gross wages for each employer. The system will walk you through it step by step.

How long did the actual application take once you got the site working?

maybe 30-45 minutes if you have all your paperwork ready. the hardest part was just getting the site to load properly

Is that legitimate? I'm nervous about using third-party services for unemployment stuff.

Yeah it's totally legit, they just help you get connected to Washington ESD agents faster. I was skeptical too but it actually worked when I needed to resolve an issue with my weekly claims.

How much does something like that cost? I'm already strapped for cash obviously.

Good point about the URL, I want to make sure I'm on the right site. Is there a mobile app or do I have to use the website?

No official mobile app from Washington ESD, you have to use the website. It's not really mobile-friendly either so I'd recommend using a computer if possible.

That's a different issue though - the original poster is trying to file their initial claim, not weekly claims. But yeah the system definitely has problems.

whatever, its all the same broken system. good luck getting any help from them

Oh I think I already have a SAW account from when I renewed my driver's license online. Can I use the same one?

Yes, you can use your existing SAW account. That might actually make the process easier since you won't have to verify your identity again.

Oh no, I lost my job last Friday. Am I already too late to get benefits for last week?

No you should be fine! You can backdate your claim to the Sunday of the week you became unemployed. So if you lost your job Friday, your benefit week would start that Sunday.

Right, and even if there's a slight delay in filing, Washington ESD is usually pretty reasonable about backdating claims as long as you file within a few weeks of job loss.

That would be 'lack of work' or 'layoff' depending on how the options are worded. Since it was company downsizing and not your fault, you should qualify for benefits assuming you meet the other requirements.

Make sure you're honest about the reason. Washington ESD will verify with your employer anyway, so any discrepancies could cause problems later.

How long does processing usually take? I really need the money to start coming in soon.

depends but usually 2-3 weeks if theres no issues. sometimes longer if they need to verify stuff with your employer

What's WorkSourceWA? Is that another website I need to deal with?

Yeah it's worksourcewa.com - it's where you log your job search activities. You need to do at least 3 job search activities per week to stay eligible for benefits.

Initial claim establishes your eligibility and benefit amount. Weekly claims are what you file every week to actually receive payment for that week. Think of it like clocking in - you have to confirm each week that you're still unemployed and looking for work.

Ohh that makes sense. So I file the initial claim once, then weekly claims every week until I find a job?

Exactly! And you can file weekly claims online too, usually much easier than the initial claim process.

What kind of questions do they ask in the phone interview?

Basic stuff about why you lost your job, whether you're able and available to work, things like that. Nothing too complicated if you're being honest about your situation.

Good idea! I took a screenshot of my confirmation page with the reference number.

This is so important! I had an issue where they claimed I didn't file a weekly claim and I had to use my screenshots to prove I did. Documentation saves you so much hassle.

Yeah I'm already seeing that just from trying to navigate the website. Hopefully the rest of the process goes smoother.

Should I be applying for jobs already even though I just lost my job a week ago?

Yes, the job search requirement starts immediately. You need at least 3 qualifying activities per week. Applying for jobs, networking events, job fairs, etc. all count.

And log everything in WorkSourceWA right away. It's much easier to keep up with it weekly than try to recreate months of job search activity later.

What exactly is adjudication? I keep seeing that term but don't know what it means.

It's when they review your claim to determine if you're eligible for benefits. Sometimes it takes forever, especially if there are any questions about why you lost your job.

Yeah adjudication delays are super common. That's actually when Claimyr helped me the most - I needed to talk to someone about why my claim was taking so long and couldn't get through the regular phone lines.

When do weekly claims need to be filed? Is there a specific day?

you can file starting sunday for the previous week, but you have until saturday to file it. i always do mine on sunday morning so i dont forget

Thanks everyone for all the help! This forum has been way more helpful than trying to navigate the Washington ESD website alone.

No problem! Feel free to post if you run into any other issues with your claim. There are usually people here who have dealt with similar situations.

That's reassuring! I was worried the whole process would be this complicated.

Nah, weekly claims usually take like 5 minutes once you know what you're doing. It's just the same questions every week.

Good to know. I might do some freelance work while I'm looking for a full-time job.

You can work part-time and still receive some unemployment benefits, just make sure you report it accurately on your weekly claims.