New to Washington - how does unemployment work here?

Welcome to Washington! Yes, you'll file with Washington ESD (Employment Security Department). You can apply online at esd.wa.gov. The process involves creating an account, filling out your application with work history, and then filing weekly claims once approved. Usually takes 2-3 weeks for approval if there are no issues.

Welcome to Washington! You'll need to file with Washington ESD (Employment Security Department). Since you worked 4 months, you might qualify but it depends on your wages. You need to have earned enough in your base period (first 4 of last 5 quarters). The process starts at esd.wa.gov where you create your SecureAccess Washington account.

The weekly benefit amount is based on your highest earning quarter in the last 18 months. Washington ESD will calculate this automatically. You'll also need to do job search activities - usually 3 job contacts per week and register with WorkSource.

One thing to know - if you worked in another state recently, that might affect your claim. Washington ESD might need to coordinate with your previous state for wage records. This can add some processing time but it's normal.

The weekly claims are what you file every week to get paid. You have to report any work you did and wages earned that week, even if it's just a few hours. You also have to confirm you're able and available for work and actively searching for jobs.

Fair warning - if you need to contact Washington ESD by phone, it's incredibly difficult to get through. The phone lines are constantly busy and you'll get disconnected a lot. I spent weeks trying to reach someone about my claim issues. Recently discovered Claimyr.com which actually got me through to an agent - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week even if your initial claim is still processing!! this is super important or you could lose benefits for those weeks

Just a heads up - if you have any issues with your claim or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, their phone lines are absolutely brutal. I spent weeks trying to get through. Recently discovered this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to an agent without the endless hold times. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Don't forget you'll need to register with WorkSource too for the job search requirements. It's Washington's job matching system and you'll need to create a profile there.

The Washington ESD website can be confusing at first. Your main account will be through SecureAccess Washington (SAW). That's where you'll log in to file claims, check your status, and view payment history. Get familiar with navigating it early.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I filed 2 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything back. My claim just says 'pending' with no explanation

One thing to watch out for - if your claim goes into adjudication, that means they need additional information to determine your eligibility. This happens if there are questions about why you left your job, wage disputes, or other issues.

Make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even if your initial claim is still pending! A lot of people make the mistake of waiting and then lose out on benefits for those weeks.

The job search log is super important too. Washington ESD can audit your job search activities at any time and if you can't prove you did the required activities, they can disqualify you and make you pay back benefits.

Ugh the whole system is such a mess. I've been waiting 3 weeks for my adjudication to complete and no one can tell me what's going on. The automated system just says 'in progress' forever.

Since you're new to the state, make sure your address is updated everywhere. Washington ESD will mail important documents to your address on file, including your debit card for payments. Any address issues can delay everything.

Also heads up about the waiting week - Washington has eliminated the waiting week so you should be eligible for benefits starting your first week of unemployment if you qualify.

The waiting week thing used to be confusing but Washington eliminated it during COVID and never brought it back. So you should get paid for your first week if you're eligible, unlike some other states.

Quick question - you mentioned you worked 4 months. Was that full-time? The wage requirements can be tricky if you were part-time or had gaps in employment.

just a heads up the job search requirements are pretty strict here. you have to be able and available for work and actively seeking employment. if you're planning to take time off or travel you need to report that on your weekly claims

If you run into issues or your claim gets complicated, don't hesitate to reach out for help. I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier when my claim went into adjudication and I needed to speak with someone urgently about missing wage information.

One more thing about contacting Washington ESD - if you do need to reach them for claim issues, the Claimyr service I mentioned earlier has been a lifesaver for me and several people I know. Worth considering if you run into problems that need agent assistance.

Don't stress too much about the process. Once you get the hang of filing weekly claims it becomes routine. The hardest part is usually the initial setup and waiting for approval.

One more tip - set up direct deposit when you file your claim. Paper checks take much longer and can get lost in the mail. The debit card option is faster than checks but direct deposit is the quickest way to get your benefits.

Just remember the Washington ESD system can be glitchy sometimes, especially on Sundays when everyone is filing their weekly claims. If you get error messages, try again later or use a different browser.

Overall the Washington unemployment system is pretty good compared to other states I've heard about. Yes there are frustrations and delays sometimes, but the benefits are decent and the online system usually works well once you figure it out.

Don't stress too much about the process. Washington's unemployment system isn't perfect but it generally works. Just make sure to file everything on time and be honest about your work search activities. Most people get approved without major issues.

Also worth mentioning - if you have any issues with your claim getting denied or put into adjudication, you have appeal rights. Don't just accept a denial without understanding why it happened.

Speaking of appeals, if anyone else is dealing with adjudication delays, I finally got through to Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Turns out my employer hadn't responded to their request for information, which was holding everything up. Agent was able to follow up and my claim got approved two days later.

Quick tip for the OP - when you do your weekly claims, pay attention to the questions about work and earnings. If you do any freelance work or odd jobs while collecting unemployment, you need to report that income. Even small amounts.

The WorkSource registration requirement is important too. You'll need to create a profile there and keep it updated. Sometimes Washington ESD checks to make sure you're actually registered and using the job search tools.

I went through this whole process last year and the key thing is staying organized. Keep records of everything - your job applications, contacts with employers, any communication from Washington ESD. You never know when you might need to reference something.

One last thing - don't be surprised if your first payment takes a while even after you're approved. There can be delays with the debit card being mailed or direct deposit being set up. Just be patient and make sure your banking/address info is correct.