How to get on unemployment in Washington - complete beginner needs help

Sorry to hear about your job loss. The good news is that Washington ESD has made the process pretty straightforward. You'll need to apply online at esd.wa.gov - don't go in person unless absolutely necessary. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates of employment. Also have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup.

just filed mine last week after getting let go from retail. the online application took me about 30 minutes and wasn't too bad. make sure you have all your previous employers info because they ask for a lot of details

I've been helping people with unemployment claims for years and here's what you need to know: First, create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one - this is how you'll access the Washington ESD system. When you apply, be very precise with your employment dates and wages. Any discrepancies can cause delays. You'll also need to register with WorkSource within 30 days and start doing job searches immediately.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my application. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

OMG this whole process is so overwhelming! I got laid off too and I'm scared I'm going to mess something up. What happens if you make a mistake on the application? Can you fix it later?

The Washington ESD system is honestly pretty decent compared to other states I've dealt with. Just make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if your initial claim is still being processed. Missing those can cause big problems later.

been through this process 3 times unfortunately lol. biggest tip is to keep detailed records of everything - save screenshots of your application, print confirmation pages, keep track of all your job search activities. you never know when you might need to prove something

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off and being fired. If you were laid off due to lack of work, your claim should be straightforward. If there were performance issues or misconduct, that could complicate things.

Don't forget about the tax implications! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld or pay quarterly. I learned this the hard way and owed a bunch at tax time.

The whole system is broken if you ask me. I've been trying to get through to them for weeks about my claim that got stuck in adjudication. It's like they don't want to help people who actually need it.

Quick question - do I need to be actively looking for work while my initial claim is being processed? Or can I wait until it's approved?

One thing that helped me was watching YouTube videos about the Washington ESD process before I applied. There are some good tutorials that walk you through the whole application step by step.

Pro tip: if you've worked in multiple states, you might be able to file in the state where you earned the most wages. Washington has pretty good benefits compared to some other states.

whatever you do dont lie on your application. they will find out and you'll get disqualified. be honest about everything even if you think it might hurt your claim

I'm in a similar situation but I worked part-time while going to school. Does that affect my eligibility?

Just want to add that if you get overwhelmed during the process, there are community resources that can help. Some libraries have staff who can assist with online applications if you're not comfortable with computers.

Last piece of advice - be patient with the process but persistent if you run into problems. Sometimes claims get stuck for no good reason and you have to advocate for yourself.

Oh and one more thing - if you end up needing to call Washington ESD for any reason, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit. I used it when I had an adjudication issue and it actually worked. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.