How to start an unemployment claim with Washington ESD - complete beginner help needed

First thing - don't wait! File your claim as soon as possible because your benefit year starts the week you file, not when you lost your job. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for the 'Apply for Benefits' link. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates worked, and gross wages earned.

The online application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready. After you submit, you'll get a confirmation number - SAVE THAT! You should receive your first letter in the mail within a week explaining your weekly benefit amount and when to start filing weekly claims.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my application. Spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me connected to an agent in minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing exactly how it works. Was a lifesaver when I needed to check on my claim status.

Make sure you're ready for the job search requirements! You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. Don't wait until you start getting benefits to start looking - the requirements kick in immediately.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare. took me 6 weeks to get my first payment because they kept asking for more documentation. be prepared for delays and have savings if possible

One more important thing - you can't just file the initial claim and forget about it. You MUST file weekly claims every week even if you're still waiting for approval. If you miss filing weekly claims, you could lose benefits for those weeks permanently.

Also be aware that if you worked for multiple employers in the last 18 months, you need ALL their information. I forgot about a part-time job I had briefly and it caused delays in my claim processing.

The waiting week is gone now so you can get paid for your first week if you're eligible. Just remember that unemployment benefits are taxable income - you can choose to have taxes withheld or pay them later.

I remember being so confused about the difference between filing my initial claim and the weekly claims. The initial claim establishes your benefit amount and eligibility. Weekly claims are what you file every week to actually get paid for that week.

If you run into any issues with your claim getting stuck or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD, I can't recommend Claimyr enough. I was trying to figure out why my claim was in adjudication for weeks and their system got me through to an actual person who could explain what was happening.

Don't forget to check your online account regularly after filing. Washington ESD will send you messages through the system about your claim status, requests for information, and important updates. Missing these messages can delay your benefits.

One thing that caught me off guard was the Identity Verification process. If you're selected for it, you'll need to provide additional documents to prove who you are. Don't panic if this happens - it's random and doesn't mean anything is wrong.

Also keep in mind that if you're on any kind of standby status (temporarily laid off with a return date), the process might be different. Make sure to indicate that on your application if it applies to you.

The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. The hardest part is gathering all your employment information, but after that it's pretty straightforward.

Quick tip: if you worked in another state in the last 18 months, you might need to file an interstate claim. The system will guide you through this, but it can add some complexity to the process.

Remember that your weekly benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter in the last 18 months, not your most recent job. So even if your last job paid less, you might still get a decent benefit amount.

If you have any issues with the online system, try using a different browser or clearing your cache. I had problems with the application freezing and switching from Chrome to Firefox fixed it.

Last piece of advice - don't wait to file because you're not sure about something. You can always provide additional information later, but you can't backdate your claim to get benefits for weeks you didn't file. It's better to file and figure out the details as you go.