How to sign up for unemployment benefits through Washington ESD - complete walkthrough needed

First thing - don't panic! The process isn't too bad once you know the steps. You'll need to file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info from the last 18 months ready. This includes employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation.

make sure you file ASAP because there's a waiting week in Washington. the sooner you file the sooner your benefit year starts

You'll want to go to esd.wa.gov and click 'Apply for Benefits' to start your initial claim. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the last 18 months including employer names and addresses, and your last employer's reason for separation. The application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have everything ready.

First, don't panic! The process isn't too complicated once you know the steps. You'll file your initial claim at esd.wa.gov - you'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked. You'll also need your most recent pay stub if you have it. The system will walk you through everything step by step.

I struggled with getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions during my application. Kept getting busy signals and disconnected calls. Finally discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which actually got me connected to a live agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration trying to call on my own.

The online application usually takes about 30-45 minutes to complete. Make sure you have all your employment info ready because you can't save and come back later - you have to finish it in one session. After you submit, you should get a confirmation number. Write it down!

make sure you apply asap, your benefit year starts the week you file not when you lost your job

Here's the step-by-step process: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov and click 'File a Claim' 2) Create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one 3) Complete the initial claim application with all your employment history 4) Submit and wait for your monetary determination letter 5) File your first weekly claim the Sunday after your claim is processed. The whole initial application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready.

After you file your initial claim, it typically takes 2-3 weeks to get your first payment IF everything goes smoothly. But honestly, a lot of claims get stuck in adjudication these days and it can take much longer. I've been waiting 4 weeks and still haven't heard anything back from Washington ESD.

Whatever you do, make sure you're honest about why you left your job. If you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might not qualify. Washington ESD will contact your employer to verify the separation reason.

The Washington ESD system can be really frustrating to navigate, especially if you run into issues during the application process. I had problems with my initial claim and couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Eventually found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual Washington ESD agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.

After you submit your initial application, you'll need to complete the 'New Claimant Orientation' which is online now. Then you'll start filing weekly claims every Sunday for the previous week. Don't skip any weeks even if you haven't been approved yet - you can't go back and claim those weeks later.

Don't forget you have to file weekly claims even while your initial claim is being processed! This is super important - if you miss filing your weekly claims, you won't get paid for those weeks even after your claim is approved.

don't forget you have to do job search activities once you start getting benefits!! washington requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to keep a log

The Washington ESD system can be really glitchy sometimes. I had issues where my weekly claim wouldn't submit properly and I ended up missing a week. Had to call to fix it which was a nightmare until I found that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Definitely recommend having a backup plan for contacting them if you run into technical issues.

ugh the whole system is such a pain. took me forever to get approved and then they wanted more documentation

One important thing - make sure you're 'able and available' for work when you file your weekly claims. That means you're physically able to work, available for full-time work, and actively seeking employment. Washington ESD takes this requirement seriously.

Just want to mention that if you have any military service in the last few years you might qualify for additional benefits. Make sure to mention that when you file your claim.

The whole process is designed to be intimidating but it's really not that bad once you get started. I put off filing for a week because I was overwhelmed and that was a mistake. Just dive in and file the claim - you can always call if you have questions later.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of all your activities. Washington ESD can audit this at any time and if you don't have proper documentation, they can make you pay back all your benefits.

One thing nobody mentions - if you worked for multiple employers in the last 18 months, you need ALL of their information. Addresses, phone numbers, supervisor names, exact dates of employment. The system is picky about this stuff.

One thing that caught me off guard - they ask for a lot of detail about your last employer including the exact address and supervisor names. Make sure you have that info before you start the application or you'll have to stop in the middle to look it up.

Also be prepared that your first payment might not come for 3-4 weeks after you file. There's the waiting week plus processing time plus they usually hold the first payment until they verify everything. Budget accordingly.

i filed three weeks ago and still waiting for my first payment. anyone else having delays?

If you run into any issues during the application process or afterward, seriously consider using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. I wasted so much time trying to call during regular hours. Their system basically calls for you and gets you connected to an actual person who can help with your specific situation.

Quick tip - take screenshots of every page as you're filling out the application. If something goes wrong, you'll have proof of what you entered. Also, print out your confirmation page when you're done.

The Washington ESD website has gotten better over the years but it's still not super user friendly. Take your time going through each section and don't rush. Better to get it right the first time than have to deal with corrections later.

Don't forget to register with WorkSource Washington too. It's required for most claimants and you'll need to create a profile there for your job search activities. The integration between Washington ESD and WorkSource can be confusing at first.

Just want to add that if you were fired or quit your job, Washington ESD will investigate the circumstances. This is called adjudication and it can delay your benefits. Be honest about what happened but make sure you understand your rights.

The waiting week was eliminated during COVID but I think it might be back now? Can someone confirm if there's still a waiting week for new claims?

The waiting week is gone now, so you should be able to get paid for your first week if you're eligible. But remember, you won't get paid until after you file your weekly claim for that week, so there's still a delay.

Be prepared for the system to be slow or crash, especially on Sundays when everyone is filing their weekly claims. I usually try to file mine on Tuesday or Wednesday to avoid the rush.

If you get stuck in adjudication like I did, don't just wait around hoping it resolves itself. I wish I had known about services like Claimyr earlier - I wasted 2 months trying to get through to Washington ESD on my own. Sometimes you need professional help to navigate their system.

Don't forget to set up your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one already. You'll need it to access your unemployment account and file claims.

File as soon as possible after you lose your job. Benefits are backdated to when you file, not when you lost your job, so every day you wait is money you're potentially losing.

One more thing - if you have any severance pay or vacation payout, that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD considers that income and you might have to wait until that period ends before benefits kick in.

The most important thing is to be completely honest on your application. Don't try to hide anything or exaggerate - if they find out later, you could be charged with fraud and have to pay back everything plus penalties.

Good luck with your application! The system can be frustrating but most people do get approved eventually. Just be patient and persistent, and don't hesitate to get help if you need it.

whatever you do dont lie on your application. they will find out and it will cause way more problems than its worth

I remember being so overwhelmed when I first applied. The key is just taking it step by step. The Washington ESD website actually has pretty good instructions if you read through them carefully. Don't try to rush through the application.

One more thing about getting help if you need it - I really can't stress enough how much easier things got once I used Claimyr to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD. Sometimes you just need a human to explain things or fix an issue that's blocking your claim.

Final tip - after you submit your application, you should receive a monetary determination letter within about a week. This tells you how much you're eligible to receive. Then you'll start filing weekly claims every Sunday. Set a reminder so you don't forget - missing a week can complicate things.

just remember to keep track of everything - screenshots, confirmation numbers, dates you called, etc. you never know when youll need that info later

The whole process stressed me out so much when I was going through it. But once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes pretty routine. Hang in there!

make sure your email is set up right in the system so you get notifications about your claim status and any issues that need attention

If you have any military service, there might be additional benefits or considerations. Just something to keep in mind during the application process.

The most important thing is just getting started. Don't overthink it - you can always contact Washington ESD later if you have questions about your claim.

Quick tip - if you worked in multiple states in the last 18 months, Washington might not be the right state to file in. You usually file in the state where you worked most recently, but there are exceptions. The Washington ESD website has info about interstate claims.

After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. You can't skip weeks and come back later - you have to be consistent about filing every single week even if you worked some hours that week.

One last thing - keep copies of everything! Your initial application, confirmation numbers, any correspondence from Washington ESD. If there are ever any issues you'll need that paper trail to sort things out.

If you run into problems or your claim gets stuck in adjudication, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier is really helpful. I used it twice when I couldn't get through to resolve issues with my weekly claims. Much easier than spending all day trying to call Washington ESD directly.