How to maintain unemployment benefits with Washington ESD - weekly claims and requirements

The main things you need to do every week are: 1) File your weekly claim online by Sunday night, 2) Complete at least 3 job search activities per week, 3) Log all your job search activities in WorkSourceWA, and 4) Be available for work. You can't turn down suitable work offers or you'll lose benefits.

The job search requirement is 3 activities per week and they have to be logged in WorkSourceWA within 7 days of doing them. Activities can include applying for jobs, going to job fairs, networking events, or even informational interviews. Make sure you keep detailed records!

I had so much trouble understanding all this when I first started getting benefits. The WorkSourceWA website is confusing and I kept getting conflicting information from different sources. If you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to real agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.

Don't forget about the able and available requirement! You need to be physically and mentally able to work, and available for work during normal business hours. If you go on vacation or have any situation where you can't work, you need to report that on your weekly claim.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I've been on unemployment for 2 months and I still don't understand half the requirements. Why can't they just make it simple?

One thing to watch out for - if you work part-time while on unemployment, you need to report ALL your earnings on your weekly claim. Even if it's just a few hours, report it. Washington ESD will reduce your benefits based on what you earned, but if you don't report it and they find out later, you could get hit with an overpayment.

Make sure you're applying for jobs that match your skills and pay level. Washington ESD considers 'suitable work' to be jobs that pay at least 70% of your previous wage for the first 13 weeks, then it drops to jobs that pay at least the minimum wage after that.

I tried that Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked! I was able to get through to Washington ESD and get my adjudication issue resolved. Worth checking out if you're having trouble reaching them.

Don't forget to keep records of EVERYTHING. Save copies of your weekly claims, job applications, and any correspondence with Washington ESD. If there's ever a question about your benefits, you'll need documentation to prove you followed all the rules.

The deadline for weekly claims is Sunday at 11:59 PM. DO NOT miss this deadline! If you file late, you might not get paid for that week and you'll have to explain why you were late.

Something I learned the hard way - if you get a job offer, you can't just ignore it. You have to either accept it or have good cause to refuse it. Good cause includes things like the job being unsafe, the pay being substantially less than your previous job (during the first 13 weeks), or the commute being unreasonable.

If you're in a union, make sure you understand how that affects your benefits. Some unions have specific rules about what jobs you can take while on unemployment.

The Washington ESD website has a checklist for maintaining benefits but it's buried in their site. Look for the 'Claimant Handbook' - it has all the detailed requirements spelled out.

Watch out for scams! There are fake unemployment websites and people trying to steal your information. Always make sure you're on the official Washington ESD website (esd.wa.gov) when filing claims or checking your account.

If you're going to school while on unemployment, there are special rules about that too. You generally need to be available for work during normal business hours, so full-time school might affect your benefits.

One more thing - if you move to a different state while collecting Washington unemployment, you need to notify Washington ESD immediately. The rules change and you might need to register with that state's workforce agency.

To summarize for the OP: File weekly claims by Sunday, do 3 job search activities per week, log them in WorkSourceWA, stay available for work, report any earnings, and keep detailed records. It sounds like a lot but once you get into the routine it becomes automatic.

Good luck with your claim! The unemployment system can be stressful but if you stay on top of the requirements you should be fine. Don't hesitate to ask questions here if you run into issues.

Just want to add that the Washington ESD mobile app is actually pretty good for filing weekly claims. Easier than using the website on your phone.