How to request weekly unemployment benefits in Washington ESD system?

Thank you! I see it now. Is there a specific day I need to file it or can I do it anytime during the week?

You can file starting Sunday for the previous week. Most people do it Sunday morning but you have until Saturday night. Don't wait too long though.

What if I had a doctor's appointment one day? Do I need to report that as not being available?

No, medical appointments don't count as unavailable for work. You're still considered able and available as long as you could work around the appointment.

I was having the same problem until I found this service called Claimyr. They help you get through to Washington ESD agents without waiting on hold forever. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Really? That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work?

They basically handle the calling and waiting for you, then connect you when an agent is available. I used it last month when my claim got stuck and was able to resolve everything in one call.

Wait, I need to do job searches every week? Nobody told me that when I filed my initial claim.

Yes, you need to log 3 job search activities per week in WorkSourceWA unless you're on standby with your employer. It's a requirement to keep receiving benefits.

this is why the system is broken, too many hoops to jump through just to get benefits you already earned

This is super helpful, thank you! How long does it usually take for the payment to show up in my account?

If you have direct deposit set up, it's usually there by Wednesday. Debit card takes an extra day or two.

You might be able to backdate it if you have good cause. Call Washington ESD and explain the situation - being sick is usually considered good cause for missing a filing deadline.

I've been trying to call for days but can never get through. The phone system just hangs up on me after 30 minutes of waiting.

Try Claimyr for getting through to Washington ESD. It saved me so much time and frustration when I had a similar issue with missed weeks.

How do I keep records? Should I take screenshots?

screenshots work, or you can print the confirmation page after you submit each week

What kinds of things trigger a review?

Reporting work and earnings, being unavailable for work certain days, not completing job search requirements, or random quality assurance reviews.

basically anything can trigger it, the whole system is designed to make it hard to get benefits

That's a great idea! I'll set a reminder on my phone.

Same here, routine is key. I also keep a little notebook with my job search activities so I don't have to scramble to remember what I did each week.

Good point, I recently moved so I should double-check that information.

You can update it through your SAW account under personal information. Make sure to do it ASAP if anything has changed.

How do they calculate how much gets deducted from my benefits if I work part-time?

They have a formula - basically you can earn up to a certain amount before they start reducing your weekly benefit. Check the Washington ESD website for the exact calculation.

i think its like 1/3 of your weekly benefit amount you can earn before deductions start but dont quote me on that

That's encouraging to hear! I was getting overwhelmed by all the requirements.

It definitely seems complicated at first but becomes second nature after a few weeks. Just take it one week at a time.

The system has maintenance windows sometimes but they usually extend the deadline if there are widespread technical issues. Try again later in the day or early Monday.

Ok good to know. I ended up filing it Monday morning and it went through fine.

That's important to know! So I should keep filing even if I'm not getting paid while something is being resolved?

exactly, keep filing no matter what. you can always get back pay for weeks you were eligible but you cant get benefits for weeks you didnt file

Good to know! I travel for work sometimes so that could be helpful.

Just make sure you have a stable internet connection. I had it time out on me once on mobile and had to start over.

Haven't had any errors yet but I'll remember that if it happens.

Speaking of customer service, has anyone actually gotten through to them recently? I've been trying for weeks.

Seriously, try Claimyr. I mentioned it earlier but it really does work for getting through to Washington ESD agents quickly.

I'm not on standby but good to know for others who might be reading this.

Yeah standby is nice because no job search requirements but you're at the mercy of when your employer calls you back.

Agreed! Everyone has been so helpful. I was really stressed about this earlier but now I know what to do.

thats what this forum is for, helping each other navigate this confusing system