How to open a new claim for unemployment with Washington ESD - step by step help?

You'll want to file your initial claim on the Washington ESD website as soon as possible. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for 'Apply for Benefits.' You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked. Also gather your pay stubs or W-2s if you have them handy.

The process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Make sure you file your claim during the first week you're unemployed - there's a waiting week but you still need to file. After your initial application, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. Each weekly claim asks about work search activities and any work or income you had that week.

Just a heads up - if you have trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone (which happens a lot), I recently discovered this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helps you actually reach an agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals when I needed to check on my claim status.

Make sure you have your reason for separation ready. If you were laid off due to lack of work, that's usually straightforward. But if there were other circumstances around your job ending, be honest about it because Washington ESD will contact your employer to verify. Lying on your application can disqualify you entirely.

ugh the washington esd system is such a nightmare... took me 3 tries to get my application to go through without timing out. make sure you save your work frequently and don't let the page sit idle too long or you'll lose everything you typed

Once you submit your initial claim, you should receive a monetary determination letter within a week or two showing your weekly benefit amount and total benefit entitlement. This is based on your earnings from the past year. Then you'll get a separate determination letter about whether you're eligible for benefits based on your separation reason.

The weekly benefit amount is based on your highest-earning quarter from the past year. In Washington, the maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is around $929, but most people get less depending on their earnings history. You can find the benefit calculator on the Washington ESD website to get a rough estimate.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! Once your waiting week is over and you start receiving benefits, you'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and log them in your WorkSourceWA account. This is mandatory and they do check.

How long does the whole process usually take from filing to getting the first payment? I'm getting nervous about my bills coming due.

I just want to add that you should file your weekly claims EVERY WEEK even if you haven't received your determination letters yet. I made the mistake of waiting and it delayed my benefits by another couple weeks.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit immediately when you file your claim. Getting checks in the mail takes forever and can get lost. The direct deposit option is right there in the application - don't skip it!

The Washington ESD customer service is pretty much impossible to reach by phone. I spent three days trying to get through about a simple question. If you run into any issues with your claim, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth looking into.

Make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' versus other work restrictions. When you file weekly claims, they ask if you're able and available for work. If you have any restrictions (like only wanting part-time work or specific hours), that could affect your eligibility.

One thing that caught me off guard was that they ask about any training or education you might be doing while receiving benefits. If you're planning to take classes or do job training, make sure you understand how that affects your claim before you start.

Just wanted to say don't get discouraged if the process seems overwhelming at first. I was super stressed when I first filed but once you get through the initial application and understand the weekly routine, it becomes pretty manageable.

Oh, and if you do need to call Washington ESD for any reason and can't get through the regular way, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. Used it twice now and both times got connected to an actual person within minutes instead of hours of busy signals.

Last piece of advice - keep detailed records of everything! Save copies of all your applications, determination letters, weekly claim confirmations, job search logs, everything. If there are ever any issues or audits, having documentation is crucial.

Good luck with your claim! The initial filing is definitely the hardest part. Once you get into the rhythm of weekly claims and job searching, it becomes more routine. Hope you find a new job soon!

Update: I just finished filing my initial claim online and it went much smoother than I expected! The whole process took about 45 minutes and I had all the documents I needed thanks to everyone's advice. Now I wait for the determination letters and start filing weekly claims this Sunday. Really appreciate all the help!