How to file weekly unemployment claim - Washington ESD online system confusing
I'm completely lost trying to figure out how to file my weekly unemployment claim through the Washington ESD website. I got approved for benefits last week but now I can't find where to actually submit my weekly certification. The website keeps redirecting me to different pages and I'm worried I'm going to miss the deadline. Does anyone know the exact steps to file your weekly claim online? I've been unemployed for 2 months and really need to get this right.
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Jade Lopez
You need to log into your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first, then navigate to the 'File Weekly Claim' section. Make sure you're filing for the correct week - it should show you which week you're eligible to file for. The system usually opens up on Sunday for the previous week.
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Arjun Patel
•Thanks! I found the SAW login but I'm still not seeing a clear 'File Weekly Claim' button anywhere. Is it under a different menu?
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Jade Lopez
•Once you're logged in, look for 'Unemployment Services' then 'Weekly Claim' - sometimes the site is slow to load so give it a minute.
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Tony Brooks
The weekly filing process is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. You'll need to answer questions about any work you did that week, any job offers you received or turned down, and whether you were able and available for work. Make sure you report ANY income, even if it's just a few dollars.
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Arjun Patel
•What counts as income? I did some freelance work for like $50 but wasn't sure if I needed to report that.
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Tony Brooks
•Yes, definitely report that $50! Washington ESD requires you to report all gross earnings, even small amounts. They'll calculate how it affects your benefit amount.
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Ella rollingthunder87
•And don't forget to keep track of your job search activities - you need at least 3 per week to maintain eligibility.
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Yara Campbell
I was struggling with the same thing until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help you get through to Washington ESD agents when you need to talk to someone about your claim. I used it when I got confused about my weekly filing and couldn't reach anyone by phone. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me from missing my filing deadline.
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Arjun Patel
•Is that legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days and just get hung up on or stuck in hold forever.
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Yara Campbell
•Yeah it's real - they basically help you navigate the phone system and get connected to an actual person. Way better than spending hours on hold.
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Isaac Wright
•How much does something like that cost though? Money's tight right now.
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Maya Diaz
The weekly claim deadline is usually Saturday night at 11:59 PM for the previous week. So if you're filing for last week, make sure you get it done before then or you'll miss that week's payment entirely. Washington ESD doesn't usually let you file late claims.
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Tami Morgan
•Actually I think you can file up to 4 weeks late but you have to call and explain why you missed the deadline. They don't make it easy though.
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Maya Diaz
•You're right about the 4 week thing but they're really strict about the reasons they'll accept. Better to just file on time.
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Ella rollingthunder87
Make sure you have your job search log ready when you file. Washington ESD requires documentation of at least 3 job search activities per week. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or meeting with WorkSource counselors.
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Arjun Patel
•Do I need to submit the actual log or just confirm I did the activities?
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Ella rollingthunder87
•You just confirm during the weekly filing, but keep detailed records because they can audit you anytime and ask for proof.
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Isaac Wright
The whole system is so confusing! I accidentally answered one of the questions wrong on my first weekly claim and it held up my payment for 2 weeks while they reviewed it. Now I'm paranoid about every answer.
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Jade Lopez
•Which question did you mess up? The work search one trips up a lot of people.
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Isaac Wright
•The 'able and available' question. I said no because I had a doctor's appointment that week but apparently that doesn't disqualify you if you're still looking for work.
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Tony Brooks
•Yeah that's a common mistake. As long as you're actively seeking work and could accept a job if offered, minor appointments don't affect your eligibility.
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Tami Morgan
I've been filing weekly claims for 6 months now and the key is consistency. File the same day every week, keep your job search documentation organized, and always report income honestly. The system works pretty well once you get into a routine.
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Arjun Patel
•How long does it usually take to get paid after filing?
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Tami Morgan
•If everything's normal, I usually see the deposit in my account by Tuesday or Wednesday. Sometimes faster if you have direct deposit set up.
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Rami Samuels
Don't forget about the waiting week! Your first week is unpaid even if you do everything right. I was so confused when my first payment didn't come through.
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Arjun Patel
•Wait what? Nobody told me about a waiting week when I applied.
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Rami Samuels
•Yeah it's buried in the fine print. The first week you're eligible is basically a waiting period with no payment, then you start getting paid for subsequent weeks.
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Haley Bennett
If you're having trouble with the online system, there's also a phone option to file your weekly claim. The number is 1-800-318-6022 but good luck getting through - the lines are always busy.
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Arjun Patel
•I tried that number earlier and got disconnected after 45 minutes on hold.
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Yara Campbell
•That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - they help you actually get through to real people instead of wasting hours on hold.
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Douglas Foster
Make sure your address and bank information is up to date in your account before filing. I had an old address on file and it delayed my payments for weeks while they tried to mail me a debit card.
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Arjun Patel
•Good point! Where do I update that information in the system?
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Douglas Foster
•It's under 'Account Settings' or 'Personal Information' once you log into SAW. Make sure to save the changes.
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Nina Chan
been filing for 3 months now, the trick is to file early sunday morning before everyone else wakes up. system runs way faster and you dont get timeout errors
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Arjun Patel
•That's actually really smart! I'll try filing early Sunday instead of waiting until Saturday night.
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Ruby Knight
•I do the same thing - 6 AM Sunday is perfect, no website crashes or slow loading.
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Diego Castillo
The questions on the weekly claim are pretty much the same every week. Did you work? How much did you earn? Were you able and available? Did you look for work? Just answer honestly and you'll be fine.
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Arjun Patel
•That helps simplify it in my mind. I was overthinking all the questions.
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Diego Castillo
•Exactly! It becomes routine after a few weeks. The system is designed to be straightforward once you know what to expect.
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Logan Stewart
Watch out for holiday weeks - sometimes the filing schedule changes. Washington ESD usually posts announcements about modified schedules on their website.
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Arjun Patel
•Good to know! I'll check for announcements, especially with the holidays coming up.
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Mikayla Brown
If you mess up your weekly claim after submitting it, you can sometimes call to make corrections, but it's better to double-check everything before hitting submit. I learned this the hard way.
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Arjun Patel
•What kind of corrections did you need to make?
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Mikayla Brown
•I forgot to report some part-time work and had to call to add it. They were understanding but it delayed my payment.
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Sean Matthews
Save yourself time and bookmark the direct link to the weekly claim page once you find it. The Washington ESD website navigation can be a maze sometimes.
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Arjun Patel
•Great idea! I'll do that once I successfully file my first claim.
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Ali Anderson
Just want to add that if you're on standby status, your weekly filing process might be slightly different. Make sure you understand your specific claim type requirements.
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Arjun Patel
•I don't think I'm on standby - I was laid off permanently. But good to know there are different types.
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Zadie Patel
The system will usually email you a confirmation after you file your weekly claim. If you don't get one, log back in to make sure it went through properly.
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Arjun Patel
•I didn't know about the email confirmation. I'll watch for that.
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A Man D Mortal
Been there with the website confusion! It gets easier after the first few times. Just take it step by step and don't rush through the questions. You've got this!
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Arjun Patel
•Thanks for the encouragement! I feel much more confident about filing now after reading everyone's advice.
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A Man D Mortal
•You're welcome! This community has helped me so much with navigating the unemployment system.
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Declan Ramirez
One more tip - if you're getting error messages or the site won't load, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser. The Washington ESD site can be finicky with certain browsers.
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Arjun Patel
•I'll try that if I run into problems. I've been using Chrome but maybe I'll try Firefox as backup.
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Emma Morales
Update us after you file your first weekly claim! It's always good to hear success stories and know the process worked for someone else.
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Arjun Patel
•Will do! I'm going to try filing early Sunday morning like someone suggested. Thanks everyone for all the help - this thread has been incredibly useful!
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