How to sign up for unemployment benefits in Washington - complete process guide

Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or just the basic employment info?

Basic info is fine for the initial filing. They'll ask for pay stubs later if needed during the verification process.

Good point about the legal name. I worked for a franchise so I'll need to double check that.

Yeah they rejected my claim initially because I put 'Target' instead of 'Target Corporation' - had to resubmit everything.

I'll keep that in mind. Is there a best time of day to file?

Early morning or late evening usually work better in my experience.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already tight on money.

It's worth checking out - they focus on getting you connected rather than charging crazy fees. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person to sort things out.

I used Claimyr last month when my claim got stuck. Definitely helped me get through to someone who could explain what was happening.

Wait, there are job search requirements? I thought I just filed and got benefits.

Yeah you have to do 3 job search activities per week and log them. It's all explained once you file your claim.

The job search thing is such a pain but you have to do it or they'll cut your benefits.

I was laid off due to company downsizing. Does that affect the process?

Layoffs are usually straightforward - no fault of your own so no waiting period typically.

Lucky you - getting fired for attendance issues meant I had to wait forever for my claim to get approved.

This is so important. I know someone who got caught lying about why they left their job and it turned into a huge mess.

Yeah Washington ESD doesn't mess around with fraud investigations.

How long does it usually take to get the first payment?

If everything goes smoothly, about 2-3 weeks from when you first file. First week is always unpaid - that's just how it works.

The first payment taking forever is the worst part. Make sure you have some savings to cover that gap.

Wait, what? You can't backdate missed weeks? That seems harsh.

Nope, you snooze you lose. They're pretty strict about the weekly filing requirement.

I learned this the hard way when I forgot to file one week during vacation. Lost out on $400.

How does that even work? Do they have some special phone number?

They handle the calling process for you - keeps redialing until they get through then connects you. Check out their video demo, it explains everything.

This is confusing - why file weekly if you're not getting paid yet?

Because if your claim gets approved, they'll pay you retroactively for all the weeks you filed. Stop filing and you lose those weeks forever.

Exactly - I almost made this mistake during my adjudication period. Keep filing no matter what.

What counts as 'too much' though?

Generally if you earn more than 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount, you get no benefits that week. But always report the income anyway.

Thanks everyone for all the help! I feel much more confident about filing now.

You got this! Just remember to file your weekly claims religiously once you get started.