How to file unemployment claim online with Washington ESD - step by step guide needed

First thing you need to do is go to esd.wa.gov and create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't already have one. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and your employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and gross wages earned. The initial application usually takes about 30-45 minutes to complete if you have all your info ready.

The online filing process is pretty straightforward once you get started. After you create your SAW account, look for the 'Apply for Benefits' button on the main ESD page. You'll go through several screens asking about your work history, reason for separation, and availability to work. Make sure you answer everything honestly and completely - any mistakes can delay your claim.

Just went through this myself last month. One tip - if you're having trouble getting through on the phone to ESD (and you probably will), I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to a live agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

MAKE SURE you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed! This is super important - you have to file every Sunday for the previous week or you could lose benefits for that week. I learned this the hard way and lost my first week of benefits because nobody told me.

also dont forget about the job search requirements. you have to be actively looking for work and keep a log of your job search activities. washington esd requires 3 job search activities per week and you might get audited so keep good records

The whole system is such a pain honestly. I've been trying to get through to someone at ESD for two weeks about my claim being stuck in adjudication and can never get past the busy signal. The online system doesn't tell you anything useful about what's actually happening with your claim.

When you're filling out the application, be really careful about the reason for separation section. If you put the wrong thing it can trigger an adjudication which means your claim gets held up for weeks while they investigate. If you were laid off due to lack of work, make sure that's clear.

One thing that surprised me - you need to register with WorkSourceWA as part of the process. It's a separate website (worksourcewa.com) where you create a profile and upload your resume. This is required unless you're on standby with your employer.

Just wanted to add - make sure you have a reliable way to receive mail because ESD will send you important documents that you need to respond to. Don't rely only on online notifications.

The waiting week thing caught me off guard too. In Washington you don't get paid for your first week of unemployment - it's called a 'waiting week' and it's just part of how the system works. So don't panic if your first payment seems like it's missing a week.

Pro tip: screenshot everything during the application process and save confirmation numbers. If there are any issues later you'll want to have proof of what you submitted and when.

ugh the ESD phone system is THE WORST. I spent literally 6 hours one day hitting redial and never got through. finally tried that claimyr thing someone mentioned and it actually worked. got connected to an agent in like 45 minutes instead of wasting my whole day

Don't forget to set up direct deposit if you want your payments deposited directly to your bank account. Otherwise they'll mail you a debit card which takes longer to get your money.

The system will ask you about your availability to work - make sure you answer this correctly. You need to be able and available for full-time work unless you have an approved training program or other exception.

Just be patient with the whole process. Even when everything goes right it takes a few weeks to get your first payment. Don't panic if you don't hear anything immediately - the system is slow but it usually works eventually.

One final tip - after you submit your application, you should receive a monetary determination letter that shows your weekly benefit amount and how long you can collect benefits. Keep this letter safe as you'll need to reference it later.