How to get unemployment compensation in Washington state - complete beginner guide?

Everything is done online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need to create an account first, then file your initial application. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready. The process itself takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.

Filed mine 3 weeks ago and still waiting. The system is super slow right now, just a heads up.

The key steps are: 1) File your initial claim online 2) Complete your weekly claims every Sunday 3) Register with WorkSource WA for job search requirements 4) Keep a job search log. Don't skip any of these or your benefits could get delayed or denied.

I've been trying to call Washington ESD for two weeks about my claim status and can never get through. The phone system is absolutely useless - it just hangs up on you after being on hold forever. Has anyone found a way to actually talk to a real person there?

How much can I expect to receive in benefits? I was making about $18/hour working full time.

Make sure you file your claim in the first week after you lose your job! There's a one-week waiting period before benefits start, so the sooner you file, the sooner you'll start getting paid.

Whatever you do, don't lie or omit anything on your application. Washington ESD will find out if you worked somewhere or had other income, and fraud penalties are serious. Be completely honest about your employment history and reason for separation.

Also be prepared for them to potentially request additional documentation. I had to submit my termination letter and was asked questions about whether I was fired or laid off.

The job search requirements are no joke. You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep detailed records. I learned this the hard way when they audited me.

One thing I wish someone had told me - if your claim gets denied for any reason, you only have 30 days to appeal. Don't wait around hoping it will get fixed automatically.

Update on my calling situation - that Claimyr service someone mentioned actually worked! I was skeptical at first but they got me connected to a Washington ESD agent within 2 hours. Totally worth it since I was going crazy trying to call myself.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit as soon as you file your claim. Otherwise you'll have to wait for a debit card to arrive in the mail, which can add another week or two to getting your first payment.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments, or you'll owe when you file your tax return.

The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. I was unemployed for 4 months last year and the benefits really helped me get by while I found a new job.

Here's the Washington ESD customer service number if you need it: 800-318-6022. Good luck getting through though, like others said the wait times are insane.

Make sure your contact information is always up to date in your account. If Washington ESD can't reach you about your claim, they'll stop payments until they can verify your information.

If you're not sure about anything, there are some helpful videos and FAQs on the Washington ESD website. I spent an hour reading through everything before I filed my claim and it really helped.

One last piece of advice - file your weekly claims every Sunday without fail, even if you worked some hours that week. You can still receive partial benefits if you worked part-time, but you have to report it honestly.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more confident about starting the application process now. Going to gather my documents tonight and file tomorrow morning.

Just remember that if you do need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through on the phone, services like Claimyr are always an option. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to avoid the stress of calling hundreds of times.

Hey Caden! I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when I got laid off from my warehouse job. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to take screenshots of everything as you go through the application - your confirmation numbers, submitted forms, etc. I had a glitch where part of my application didn't save properly and having those screenshots helped me prove what I had already submitted when I had to call them. Also, if you have any old W-2s handy, grab those too even though they might not ask for them - sometimes they help verify your work history faster. The whole thing really isn't as scary as it seems once you dive in!