How to fill out Washington ESD unemployment application online - need step by step help

Thank you! I didn't know about the UBI number - is that something I should ask my former employer for?

You can ask them, but it's also usually on your paystubs or W-2 forms. Washington ESD can look it up if you provide the complete business name and address.

Did they contact your employer right away or was it later in the process?

took about a week before my boss said they got some paperwork from unemployment asking about my separation

Oh no, I didn't know about the timeout! How long do you have on each page?

I think it's about 20 minutes of inactivity, but don't quote me on that. Just don't walk away from the computer once you start!

Actually had my application time out twice before I figured out I needed to keep clicking around to stay active. So annoying having to start over.

Is that like a paid service? I'm already tight on money which is why I need unemployment.

Yeah there's a cost but for me it was worth it to avoid screwing up my application and having to wait even longer for benefits. The agent I talked to caught a mistake I was about to make with my work search exemption.

Never heard of that before but might be worth looking into. I spent hours on hold trying to get help with my application.

What exactly counts as a work search? Just applying for jobs online?

Online applications count, but so do networking events, job fairs, creating profiles on job sites, even informational interviews. You need 3 activities per week and they have to be documented in WorkSourceWA.

Wait, you have to use WorkSourceWA too? This is getting complicated...

That's scary! I definitely won't lie but I'm worried about accidentally putting the wrong thing.

As long as you're honest and do your best to answer accurately, you'll be fine. If there are questions later, they'll give you a chance to clarify.

Good point! How long does it usually take to get the debit card if I don't do direct deposit?

took mine like 7-10 days to arrive, then you have to activate it online

The debit card option worked fine for me, just make sure to keep track of it because they charge fees if you lose it and need a replacement.

What if I can only work certain shifts because of childcare? Does that affect the 'available' part?

That might create some complications. You should probably talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation because availability requirements can be pretty strict.

You can have some restrictions on your availability and still qualify, but they have to be reasonable. Definitely something to clarify with an agent.

I think I have most of my paystubs but some might be missing. Can I estimate?

Try to be as accurate as possible. Washington ESD will verify your wages with your employers anyway, so estimates might cause delays if they don't match up.

You can also check with your employer's HR department - they might be able to give you a wage statement that shows your quarterly earnings.

What kind of mistakes did you make? I want to avoid them if possible.

mainly got confused about the dates and put down the wrong employment periods. also didn't understand the difference between gross and net pay at first

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr - having someone who knew the system walk me through it was so much less stressful than trying to figure it out alone.

Good advice! Should I print out the confirmation page when I finish?

Absolutely! And save it somewhere safe. You might need to reference your application details later.

How often do you have to file weekly claims? Every Sunday?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week, and you have until the following Saturday. Most people do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way.

I always file mine on Sunday evenings after I've had time to update my work search log for the week.

A whole week with no payment? I didn't know that...

Yeah, it's called the waiting week requirement. You still have to file that week, you just don't get paid for it. After that, if you're approved, payments should be regular.

The waiting week thing is so frustrating when you desperately need money, but at least you know to expect it.

How long does adjudication usually take? I can't afford to wait too long for an answer.

It varies a lot - could be a few days or several weeks depending on how complex your case is and how backed up they are.

Mine took three weeks but some people I know had theirs resolved in under a week. It really depends on the specific situation.

Is there a best time of day to apply when the site is less busy?

Early morning or late evening tend to be better. Avoid Monday mornings and the middle of the day when everyone's trying to access it.

So I file weekly claims even if I don't know if I'm approved yet?

Exactly! You file for every week you're unemployed starting from when you first apply. If you're approved, you'll get paid for all those weeks (minus the waiting week).

This is super important - I've seen people lose weeks of benefits because they didn't realize they needed to keep filing while waiting for approval.

I might look into that service too. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days and can never get through.

That's exactly why I used it - got tired of calling and getting busy signals or being on hold for hours. Their system helped me get connected to someone who could actually help.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more prepared to tackle the application now.

You've got this! Feel free to come back here if you run into any other questions during the process.