Need help finding Washington ESD how to file for unemployment brochure - where to get it?

Washington ESD moved most of their resources online, but you can still find downloadable PDFs on their website. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for the 'How to Apply' section. There's usually a printable guide there that covers the basics of filing your initial claim.

Your local WorkSource office might still have physical brochures available. They're required to provide assistance with unemployment claims, so they usually keep some printed materials on hand. Call ahead to make sure they have what you need before making the trip.

Honestly, even with a brochure, the Washington ESD system can be confusing for first-timers. If she runs into issues or needs to talk to someone at ESD directly, you might want to check out Claimyr.com. They help people get through to Washington ESD agents when the phone lines are jammed. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

I still have the old brochure from 2019 somewhere but it's probably outdated now. The online application process has changed quite a bit since then, especially after all the pandemic updates.

The key things she'll need to know: have her Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and reason for separation ready. The brochure will list everything but those are the big ones that trip people up.

ugh the whole system is so complicated now. I remember when you could just walk into an office and they'd help you fill out a simple form. Now everything's online and if you make one mistake you're stuck waiting weeks

One thing to mention in addition to getting the brochure - she should apply as soon as possible after her last day of work. There's no waiting period in Washington, and benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you lost your job.

Libraries sometimes have printed materials too. The main branch libraries often keep government forms and brochures available for people who don't have reliable internet access.

When I filed last year, I printed out the whole online application first and filled it out on paper before entering it online. That way I could take my time and not worry about timing out of the system.

Is there a phone number she can call to request a brochure be mailed to her? Some agencies still do that for people who specifically request it.

Make sure she understands the weekly claim filing requirement too. That's something that catches a lot of first-timers off guard - you have to file every week even if you haven't found work yet.

tell her not to stress too much about the application. The questions are pretty straightforward and if she makes a mistake she can usually fix it later. The important thing is just getting it submitted

Does anyone know if the brochures are available in Spanish? My neighbor is going through the same thing but English isn't her first language.

I went through this process last month after getting laid off from my job in Tacoma. The hardest part was just getting started, but once I had the brochure to follow along it wasn't too bad. Definitely recommend getting that printed guide.

Another tip - have her create her SecureAccess Washington account ahead of time if she doesn't already have one. That's a separate step that can slow things down if you try to do it all at once.

If she runs into problems during the application process and can't reach anyone at Washington ESD by phone, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier might be worth trying. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked when I needed to get my pending issues resolved.

Update us on how it goes! I'm curious which method ends up working best for getting the brochure. Might help other people in similar situations.

One last thing - make sure she knows about the job search requirements. She'll need to be actively looking for work and keeping track of her job search activities. The brochure should cover this but it's easy to overlook.

Hope your sister gets everything sorted out quickly. Losing a job is stressful enough without having to navigate a complicated benefits system on top of it.

Just remembered - some local social services offices also keep unemployment brochures available. Places like community action centers or food banks often have them since their clients frequently need this information.