Step-by-step guide on how to apply for unemployment benefits in Washington state

The entire unemployment application process is done online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. You'll need to create an account and provide your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months. Make sure you have your employer's contact information and dates of employment ready before you start.

Been through this process twice now unfortunately. The online application takes about 30-45 minutes if you have all your documents ready. You'll need pay stubs from your last employer, your separation notice if you got one, and bank account info for direct deposit. Don't skip any fields or your claim will get delayed.

Just went through this last month and it was way easier than I expected. The hardest part was actually getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. I spent hours on hold trying to reach an agent. Eventually found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that helped me get through to someone quickly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

omg yes the phone thing is horrible!! i called 47 times one day and never got through. the automated system just hangs up on you when they're too busy which is always

Here's what you need to know about the actual application steps: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov and click 'Apply for Benefits' 2) Create your SecureAccess Washington account 3) Complete the initial claim application 4) Wait for your monetary determination letter 5) Start filing weekly claims. The whole initial process usually takes 1-2 weeks if there are no issues.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements before you apply! You have to be actively looking for work and able to work. They require you to make job contacts each week and keep a log. If you're not ready to start job searching immediately, wait to file your claim.

I'm so confused about all this. Do I need to register with WorkSource too or is that separate? And what if I want to go back to school instead of looking for work right away?

The Washington ESD website has a really good checklist of everything you need before you start the application. Print it out and gather all your documents first. Don't try to wing it or you'll end up having to start over.

Been collecting unemployment for 2 months now and honestly the hardest part is the weekly claims. You have to file every week by Sunday night and answer the same questions about job searching and earnings. Set a reminder on your phone because if you miss a week, you lose that week's benefits.

Whatever you do, be 100% honest on your application. They verify everything and if they catch you lying about anything, you could be disqualified and have to pay back benefits. It's not worth the risk.

If you get stuck during the application process and need to talk to someone at ESD, try using Claimyr. I discovered it when I was having issues with my claim getting stuck in adjudication. Way better than trying to call directly.

Pro tip: File your claim early in the week if possible. I filed on a Tuesday and got my determination letter faster than friends who filed on Friday. Not sure if it actually matters but seemed to help.

Don't forget you'll need to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. They don't automatically withhold federal taxes unless you request it. I learned this the hard way last year.

The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Just take it one step at a time and don't stress too much about making mistakes. Most things can be corrected later if needed.

Make sure you have a good internet connection when you're filling out the application. Nothing worse than losing all your progress because the page timed out. Save your work frequently if the system allows it.

If you're worried about making mistakes on the application, consider calling ESD first to ask questions. Though like others mentioned, getting through can be tough. That Claimyr service might be worth looking into if you need to speak with someone urgently.

One last thing - make sure you understand what constitutes 'suitable work' for your situation. You can't just turn down any job offer once you're collecting benefits. There are specific rules about what jobs you have to accept.

Just want to add one more important detail - when you're gathering your employment information, make sure to include ALL employers from the past 18 months, even if you only worked there briefly or it was temporary work. Washington ESD uses something called your "base year" to calculate benefits, and leaving out any employment could reduce your benefit amount. Also, if you worked for multiple employers at the same time, list them all separately with their respective dates and wages. I made the mistake of combining part-time jobs on my first application and it caused delays.