How to file your weekly unemployment claim with Washington ESD - step by step?

Thanks! Do I file on a specific day or is there a window? I don't want to miss the deadline.

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week. Most people file Sunday through Tuesday, but you have until Saturday to get it in without penalty.

What counts as a job search activity? I've been applying online but not sure if I'm tracking it right.

Online applications count, but also things like attending job fairs, networking events, or WorkSource workshops. Just keep records of everything - company name, date, method of contact.

I've been struggling with this too. The Washington ESD phone lines are always busy when I try to call for clarification on job search stuff.

Is that legit? Sounds too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone at Washington ESD.

Yeah I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They basically just automate the calling process and wait on hold for you, then call you back when they get through.

Might try this if I run into issues. The weekly claim process seems simple enough but knowing I can actually talk to someone if needed is reassuring.

Good to know about partial payments. I might pick up some gig work while job hunting so this helps.

yeah just be honest about everything. lying on weekly claims can get you in big trouble with overpayments and fraud allegations

I agree the interface could be better. Pro tip: if you make a mistake on a weekly claim, you can usually call to correct it rather than waiting for mail correspondence.

IF you can get through on the phone! I've tried calling hundreds of times.

This is exactly why I started using that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier. Takes the phone hassle out of the equation.

How do I find out what my payment schedule is? I haven't seen that information anywhere.

It should be in your initial determination letter or you can find it in your online account under payment information. Usually it's based on first letter of last name.

If you're on approved standby status, you don't need to do active job searching. But make sure Washington ESD has properly coded your claim as standby, otherwise you'll get hit with work search requirements.

How do I verify that? My weekly claims still ask about job search activities.

You'd need to call Washington ESD to confirm your status. The weekly claim questions are standard but if you're on standby you can answer that you're not required to search.

Same here! I was overthinking it way too much.

good advice. sunday mornings are usually when the system runs fastest too

Exactly! Plus if you run into any issues you have the whole week to sort them out.

THANK YOU! Finally someone else who thinks this system is ancient. Everything about Washington ESD feels outdated.

The system definitely has issues but once you learn it, it works. Focus on getting your claims filed correctly rather than fighting the interface.

Good point. I'm not moving but that's something I wouldn't have thought of.

Yeah, failure to report address changes can cause major headaches with your claim. Always keep your contact info current.

Exactly right. Washington ESD audits job search logs regularly and if you can't document your activities, you could face penalties or overpayment issues.

I keep a spreadsheet with company names, positions, dates, and contact methods. Takes 2 minutes per application but saves headaches later.

The first one is always the most intimidating. After that it becomes routine. Just be thorough and honest with your answers.

I was wondering about this! I do some freelance writing occasionally. Do I report gross income or net?

You report gross earnings for the week you performed the work, not when you got paid. So if you did $200 worth of writing this week but won't get paid until next month, you report it this week.

This is another area where calling Washington ESD for clarification helps. Gig work reporting can be tricky and you want to get it right.

Agreed! I was stressing about this for days but now I know exactly what to do.

And remember, if you do need to talk to Washington ESD directly, that Claimyr service I mentioned really does work for getting through the phone lines.

Perfect summary! Thanks to everyone who helped clarify this process.

This thread should be pinned or something. So much useful info for people new to Washington unemployment.

Absolutely correct. It's better to file and have them adjust your payment than to skip filing and potentially lose that week's eligibility.

Exactly. You can't go back and file for previous weeks if you missed the deadline, so always file even if you're unsure.

Same feeling here! It's nice to know other people have figured this all out and are willing to help.

We're all in this together dealing with the Washington ESD system. Might as well help each other out!

This is incredibly helpful advice, especially about reporting ALL income including online sales. I never would have thought about eBay sales needing to be reported! Quick question - when you say bookmark the weekly claim page, do you mean there's a direct link to skip the main navigation? That would save so much time each week.

Once you're logged into your SAW account and navigate to the weekly claim page for the first time, you can bookmark that specific URL. It usually looks something like secure.esd.wa.gov/home/claimant-portal or similar. Then each week you can go directly there instead of clicking through multiple menus. Just make sure you're still logged in when you use the bookmark, otherwise it'll redirect you back to the login page.

Thank you so much for sharing all these practical tips! The bookmark suggestion is genius - I've been clicking through like 5 different pages every time just to get to the weekly claim form. And I definitely wouldn't have thought about reporting small online sales, that could have caused me problems down the road. One question about overpayment notices - how quickly do they expect you to respond? Is it like a 30-day window or shorter?

Great comprehensive advice! I'm definitely going to bookmark that weekly claim page - navigating through all those menus every Sunday is such a pain. Question about the overpayment notices - do they usually happen because of unreported income or are there other common causes? I want to make sure I avoid any potential issues from the start.

This is such valuable advice! I just started collecting unemployment and had no idea about reporting online sales - I occasionally sell crafts on Etsy and wouldn't have thought to include that. The bookmark tip is brilliant too, I waste so much time navigating through all those pages every week. One thing I'm curious about - when you report side income like eBay sales, do you report it the week you made the sale or the week you actually received payment? I know with regular employment they ask about when you worked, but online sales seem different since there can be delays between sale and payout.

This is such helpful detailed advice! I'm new to filing weekly claims and really appreciate all these practical tips. The bookmark suggestion alone will save me so much time each week. I had a question about the job search requirements - you mentioned reporting all income honestly, but what about time spent on job searching activities? Do I need to track specific hours spent applying to jobs, or is it more about just documenting the three required activities per week? I want to make sure I'm keeping the right kind of records in case Washington ESD ever requests my job search log.

This is exactly the kind of real-world advice I was hoping to find! I'm just starting my unemployment journey and was feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the requirements. The bookmark tip is going to be a lifesaver - I had no idea you could skip all that navigation. Quick question about reporting income - if I do some freelance graphic design work, do I report it based on when I complete the work or when the client actually pays me? I know you mentioned eBay sales but wasn't sure if freelance work follows the same rules. Also, how strict are they about the "immediately" part when it comes to overpayment notices? Like if I got one on a Friday, would waiting until Monday to respond be cutting it too close?

This is incredibly helpful! I've been struggling with the weekly claim process and your tips about bookmarking and reporting all income are game-changers. I had no idea about needing to report online sales - I occasionally resell items on Facebook Marketplace and definitely wouldn't have thought to include that. The overpayment warning is especially good to know since I tend to procrastinate on paperwork. One question - when you mention reporting side work honestly, does that include things like dog walking or babysitting for neighbors? I do occasional odd jobs for extra cash and want to make sure I'm covering all my bases.