How to sign up unemployment benefits with Washington ESD - need step by step help

First thing you need to do is go to esd.wa.gov and create an account through SecureAccess Washington (SAW). 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. Don't wait - file as soon as possible because there's a waiting week.

The whole process is pretty straightforward once you get started. Make sure you file your initial claim within the first week after your last day of work. You'll answer questions about why you're unemployed and your work history. After that you have to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits.

If you run into issues getting through to Washington ESD by phone, I recently discovered Claimyr.com which helps you actually reach a live agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Made a huge difference when I needed to resolve an issue with my claim status.

Don't forget you'll need to do job search activities once you start receiving benefits. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week and you have to log them. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking, etc.

ugh the washington esd website is so confusing, took me forever to figure out where to even start the application

Pro tip: when you create your SAW account, write down your username and password somewhere safe. I forgot mine and it was a nightmare trying to recover it. Also make sure you have a good phone number because they'll send verification codes.

How long does it usually take to get approved? I'm really worried about paying my bills.

Also make sure you understand the difference between your weekly benefit amount and your maximum benefit amount. Your weekly amount is what you get each week, but there's a total cap on how much you can receive during your benefit year.

Make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week, even if you haven't heard back about your initial claim yet. Missing a weekly claim can cause problems with your benefits.

The system crashed on me twice while I was trying to complete my application. Super frustrating but I just kept trying and eventually got through.

If you worked in multiple states recently, make sure you apply in the state where you worked the most or earned the most wages. For Washington residents that's usually Washington ESD but not always.

been unemployed for 2 months now and still waiting for my first payment, this whole system is broken

One thing that helped me was reading through all the FAQ sections on the Washington ESD website before calling. That way I understood the terminology and could ask more specific questions when I finally got through to someone.

Don't panic if your claim status shows 'pending' for a while. Mine said pending for almost 2 weeks before it got approved. As long as you keep filing your weekly claims you should be fine.

Make sure you have direct deposit set up so you don't have to wait for a debit card or check in the mail. It's much faster.

If you're getting anxiety about the whole process (I sure did), just take it one step at a time. File the initial claim first, then worry about the weekly claims after that. Don't try to figure everything out at once.

One last tip - keep copies of everything. Screenshot your confirmation numbers, save emails from Washington ESD, and keep records of all your job search activities. Documentation is your friend if any issues come up later.

Good luck with your claim! The first time is always scary but once you get through the initial setup it gets easier. Most people don't have major problems if they're eligible and file everything correctly.

Just wanted to add that if you have issues reaching Washington ESD customer service, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of calling.

The whole process took me about 30 minutes to complete the initial application once I had all my information gathered. The hardest part was just getting started and knowing what I needed.