How to set up unemployment benefits in Washington - complete beginner guide needed

First step is creating your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't already have one. You'll need that to access the Washington ESD unemployment portal. Then you can file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months ready.

The Washington ESD website walks you through it step by step once you start the application. You'll answer questions about your work history, why you became unemployed, and your availability for work. Make sure you're honest about everything - they verify all the information with your employers.

I was in the same boat last year after getting let go. The hardest part is actually getting through to Washington ESD when you have questions. Their phone lines are constantly busy and you'll get disconnected a lot. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Don't forget you have to do the job search requirements too! You need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and log them in your WorkSourceWA account. This caught me off guard when I first started claiming.

ugh the washington esd system is so confusing... took me forever to figure out all the different websites and accounts you need. SAW for login, WorkSource for job search, esd.wa.gov for claims. why cant they just put everything in one place???

Key things to remember: File your claim the week you become unemployed, not later. You can't backdate claims in Washington. Make sure you're available for work and actively searching. Report any work or income on your weekly claims even if it's just a few hours.

Anyone know how much you can expect to get? I was making $15/hour at my last job working about 35 hours a week.

Pro tip: take screenshots of everything when you file. Save confirmation numbers, print your claim summary, keep records of your job search activities. If anything goes wrong you'll need documentation.

The whole process seems overwhelming but it's really not that bad once you get started. The Washington ESD website actually has pretty good instructions if you read through them carefully. Just don't rush through the application.

I remember being so stressed about filing for the first time. Felt like I was doing something wrong even though I was legitimately unemployed. It's a normal part of the social safety net - don't feel bad about using it!

Make sure you understand the difference between 'able and available' and 'actively seeking work'. You have to be both to qualify for benefits each week. This means you're physically able to work, available for work, and making genuine efforts to find employment.

Don't forget to set up direct deposit if you want your benefits deposited directly to your bank account. Otherwise you'll get a debit card which works but has some fees for certain transactions.

If you run into problems or have questions, definitely try calling Washington ESD. The wait times are brutal though. I spent literally hours on hold before discovering Claimyr. Game changer for actually getting through to talk to someone.

One thing that confused me was the waiting week. Washington doesn't have a waiting week anymore, so you can get benefits for your first week of unemployment if you're eligible. This changed a few years ago.

Remember that you have to file your weekly claim every week even if you haven't received your first payment yet. If you skip weeks, you might lose those benefits permanently.

Good luck with everything! The first time is always the hardest but once you get the hang of it, it becomes routine. Don't hesitate to ask questions if you get stuck - this community is pretty helpful.

Just to add to all the great advice here - when you're filling out your initial claim, be really careful with the dates. Make sure you put the actual date you became unemployed, not the date you're filing. And if you worked part-time at multiple restaurants like you mentioned, list ALL of them in your work history for the past 18 months. Missing an employer can cause delays in processing. Also, keep your separation notice or any paperwork from your employer handy - you might need to reference it during the application process.