How to get on unemployment - Washington ESD application process help needed

First thing you need to do is file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment information for the last 18 months. This includes employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and your reason for separation. The sooner you file, the better - your benefit year starts the week you file your claim.

Make sure you're actually eligible first. You need to have worked and earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, and you can't have been fired for misconduct. If you were laid off due to lack of work, you should be fine.

Just went through this process myself last month. After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to actually receive benefits. Don't skip any weeks even if you haven't heard back about your claim yet - you can't go back and claim those weeks later.

If you run into issues with getting through to Washington ESD by phone (which is super common), I recently discovered Claimyr at claimyr.com. They help you get connected to actual ESD agents without spending hours on hold. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Really saved me a lot of frustration when I had questions about my claim status.

One thing they dont tell you upfront is that you have to do job search activities every week. In Washington you need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of them. Make sure you understand this requirement before you start filing weekly claims.

The whole process typically takes 2-3 weeks to get your first payment if everything goes smoothly. However, if your claim goes into adjudication (which happens when they need to verify information), it can take much longer. Be prepared to wait and try to have some emergency funds if possible.

ugh the washington esd website is so confusing!! i tried to file yesterday and got stuck on the employer information part because i had like 4 different jobs in the past year and wasnt sure what dates to put

Pro tip: Create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account before you start the unemployment application. That's the login system Washington ESD uses and it can take a while to get set up. Having that ready will make the filing process smoother.

Just want to add that you should save or print confirmation of everything you submit. Keep records of your initial claim, weekly claims, job search activities, everything. The system sometimes has glitches and having your own records helps if there are problems later.

The washington unemployment system is completely broken. I've been waiting 6 weeks for my claim to get out of adjudication and nobody can tell me what the holdup is. The phone system hangs up on you and they never respond to messages through the website. It's ridiculous that people who lost their jobs have to deal with this incompetent bureaucracy.

For what it's worth, I filed my claim 3 weeks ago and got my first payment last week. The process worked pretty much like everyone described here. Just be patient and make sure you file your weekly claims on time even while you're waiting to hear about your initial claim.

Make sure you read all the eligibility requirements carefully. You have to be able and available for work, actively seeking work, and physically present in Washington state. If you're planning any trips or have health issues that might affect your availability, that could impact your benefits.

Also be aware that unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them when you file your tax return next year. Just something to keep in mind for planning purposes.

One more thing - if you do any part-time work while collecting unemployment, you need to report those earnings on your weekly claim. They'll reduce your benefits based on how much you earn, but you won't necessarily lose all your benefits as long as you're under a certain threshold.

The key thing is just to get started. Don't wait around trying to figure out every detail - file your initial claim as soon as possible and then you can ask questions as they come up. The longer you wait, the more money you're potentially losing.