How to sign up for unemployment benefits in Washington - need step by step help
I just got laid off from my retail job yesterday and I have no idea how to sign up for unemployment benefits. I've never done this before and I'm honestly pretty stressed about the whole process. Do I apply online or in person? What documents do I need? How long does it take to get approved? Any help would be really appreciated because I need to start getting some income coming in ASAP.
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Diez Ellis
You'll need to file your initial claim through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready. You'll also need bank account info if you want direct deposit.
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Noland Curtis
•Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or just the basic employment info like dates and employer names?
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Diez Ellis
•Just the basic info to start - employer names, addresses, dates worked, and reason for separation. They might ask for pay stubs later if there are any issues.
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Vanessa Figueroa
The whole process is online now. Go to secure.esd.wa.gov and create your SecureAccess Washington account first. Then you can file your initial UI claim. Takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready.
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Noland Curtis
•Is there a phone number I can call if I get stuck during the application?
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Vanessa Figueroa
•There is but good luck getting through. The phone lines are always jammed. The online system is pretty straightforward though.
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Abby Marshall
I had to apply last year and honestly the hardest part was getting someone on the phone when I had questions. I spent literally hours calling Washington ESD with no luck. Recently found out about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Wish I had known about it back then!
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Sadie Benitez
•Interesting, never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?
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Abby Marshall
•It's legit. They basically handle the calling and waiting for you so you don't have to sit on hold for hours. Really helpful when you have actual issues that need resolved.
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Drew Hathaway
Make sure you file your claim the same week you become unemployed or you might lose benefits. Don't wait thinking you'll find a job quickly - you can always stop claiming if you get hired.
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Noland Curtis
•Good point, I was thinking about waiting a week to see if anything came up but I'll file today.
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Laila Prince
•Yes definitely file ASAP! There's a waiting week anyway so every day you delay just pushes back when you'll see money.
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Isabel Vega
ugh the washington esd website is such a pain. it crashes all the time and the questions are confusing. took me 3 tries to get through the whole application without getting kicked out
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Noland Curtis
•Oh great, that's not encouraging. Should I try applying at a certain time of day when it's less busy?
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Diez Ellis
•Early morning or late evening tends to be better. Avoid weekends and Monday mornings when everyone's trying to file their weekly claims.
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Dominique Adams
Don't forget you'll need to do job searches every week once you start claiming. Washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to keep a log.
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Noland Curtis
•What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other stuff too?
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Dominique Adams
•Job applications, networking events, career fairs, informational interviews, even updating your LinkedIn profile. Check the WorkSource website for the full list.
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Marilyn Dixon
The whole system is a mess honestly. I've been fighting with them for weeks over my claim being stuck in adjudication and can't get anyone on the phone to explain what's going on.
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Abby Marshall
•That's exactly when something like Claimyr would be helpful. When you actually need to talk to someone about claim issues but can't get through the normal way.
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Marilyn Dixon
•Yeah I might have to try that. This is ridiculous, I've been calling for 2 weeks straight.
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Louisa Ramirez
Just a heads up - if you worked in another state in the past 18 months you might need to file in that state instead. The base period calculation can be tricky.
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Noland Curtis
•I've only worked in Washington so I should be good there.
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Louisa Ramirez
•Perfect, then you're all set to file with Washington ESD. Just make sure to be totally honest about your work history and reason for separation.
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TommyKapitz
One thing to know - if you get approved you'll have to file weekly claims every week to keep getting paid. It's not automatic. Set a reminder on your phone or you'll miss payments.
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Noland Curtis
•When do I file the weekly claims? Is there a specific day of the week?
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TommyKapitz
•You can file Sunday through Saturday for the previous week. Most people do it Sunday morning to get it out of the way.
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Angel Campbell
I remember when I first applied I was so worried about making a mistake that would mess up my claim. Turns out the system is pretty forgiving and you can usually fix errors later if needed.
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Noland Curtis
•That's reassuring! I'm definitely nervous about screwing something up.
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Angel Campbell
•Just take your time and read each question carefully. If you're unsure about something it's better to call and ask than guess wrong.
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Payton Black
make sure you have your banking info ready if you want direct deposit otherwise you'll be waiting for checks in the mail which takes forever
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Noland Curtis
•Good tip, I definitely want direct deposit. Do I need a voided check or just account and routing numbers?
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Payton Black
•just the account and routing numbers should be fine. you can always change it later if needed
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Harold Oh
The hardest part for me was figuring out what to put for 'reason for separation' since there are so many options. Layoff due to lack of work was what I picked and it worked out fine.
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Noland Curtis
•Yeah that's what happened to me too - they said business was slow and had to let people go. Sounds like layoff due to lack of work is right.
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Diez Ellis
•That's correct. As long as it wasn't for misconduct or you didn't quit voluntarily, layoff due to lack of work should cover most situations.
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Amun-Ra Azra
Pro tip: screenshot or write down your confirmation number after you submit your application. You'll need it if there are any issues and trust me, you don't want to have to remember it from memory.
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Noland Curtis
•Good thinking, I'll make sure to save that info.
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Amun-Ra Azra
•Also keep copies of everything you submit. Washington ESD sometimes loses paperwork and you'll want your own records.
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Summer Green
Don't be surprised if your claim goes into adjudication, especially for your first time filing. It doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem, they just need to verify your information.
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Noland Curtis
•How long does adjudication usually take? I really need to start getting payments soon.
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Summer Green
•Can be anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on how busy they are. Most straightforward cases resolve pretty quickly.
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Gael Robinson
I wish someone had told me that you can't collect unemployment if you're going to school full time. Found that out the hard way after I enrolled in classes thinking it would be a good time to go back to school.
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Noland Curtis
•Wait really? What if it's just a few online classes?
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Gael Robinson
•Part time is usually okay but full time enrollment can make you ineligible. There are some exceptions for approved training programs though.
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Edward McBride
The benefit amount calculator on the Washington ESD website is pretty accurate if you want to get an idea of how much you'll receive before you apply.
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Noland Curtis
•I'll check that out, thanks! It would be nice to know what to expect.
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Edward McBride
•It's based on your earnings in your base period so the more you made, the higher your weekly benefit amount will be.
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Darcy Moore
Just wanted to say good luck with your application! The process seems overwhelming at first but once you get through the initial filing it gets easier. The weekly claims are pretty quick once you get used to them.
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Noland Curtis
•Thank you so much! Everyone here has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about applying now.
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Diez Ellis
•You've got this! Just remember to file your weekly claims on time once you're approved and keep up with your job search requirements.
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Sadie Benitez
One more thing - if you run into issues and can't get through to Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth trying. I looked into it and it seems like a legitimate way to actually reach someone when you need help.
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Noland Curtis
•I'll keep that in mind in case I run into problems. Hopefully the online application goes smoothly and I won't need to call anyone.
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Abby Marshall
•Exactly, it's nice to know there's a backup option when the regular phone system fails you. The demo video I mentioned shows exactly how it works if you're curious.
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Dana Doyle
Update us after you file! Always curious to hear how the process goes for first-time filers. The system has changed a lot over the years.
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Noland Curtis
•Will do! I'm planning to file tonight after work so I'll let everyone know how it goes.
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Dana Doyle
•Perfect! Hope it goes smoothly for you.
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