Step by step process to file for unemployment in Washington - need detailed walkthrough

First step is to 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, dates worked, and reason for separation. Don't rush through it - take your time to be accurate.

Make sure you apply within the first week after your last day of work. There's no waiting period anymore but you want to get your claim established ASAP. The sooner you file, the sooner your weekly benefit amount gets calculated.

Here's the complete step by step: 1) Create SAW account at SecureAccess Washington, 2) Complete the initial application with all employment history, 3) Wait for your monetary determination letter, 4) Start filing weekly claims every Sunday, 5) Complete your job search activities and log them. The whole process can take 2-3 weeks before you see your first payment.

ugh the whole system is such a nightmare!! took me 6 weeks to get my first payment and that was WITH everything filled out correctly. good luck dealing with washington esd

Don't listen to the horror stories - most claims go through fine if you fill everything out correctly the first time. The key things Washington ESD looks for: accurate employment dates, correct reason for separation, and complete employer information. Double check everything before submitting.

Pro tip: gather all your documents before you start the application. You'll need: ID, Social Security card, employment history, bank account info for direct deposit, and any separation paperwork from your employer. Having everything ready makes the process much smoother.

Make sure you understand the job search requirements too. You'll need to make 3 job search contacts per week and keep detailed records. WorkSource has good resources for this.

What happens if your claim goes into adjudication? Mine has been pending for 2 weeks now and I can't get anyone on the phone to explain why.

been there! the waiting is the worst part. just remember to keep filing your weekly claims even if your payment is delayed. you don't want to lose any weeks.

One more important thing - set up direct deposit when you file your initial claim. Paper checks take much longer and can get lost in the mail. You'll need your bank routing and account numbers.

The monetary determination letter is key - that tells you your weekly benefit amount and how many weeks you're eligible for. Don't panic if it takes a week or two to arrive.

seriously though if you run into problems getting through to washington esd, don't waste weeks trying to call. i found this service called claimyr that actually got me connected to someone who could help with my adjudication issue. saved me so much time and stress.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Oh wait, they eliminated that. Never mind, you can get paid for your first week now if you're eligible.

make sure you answer all the weekly claim questions honestly. they ask about work, income, availability, etc. being dishonest can disqualify you and create overpayment issues later.

The whole process is actually pretty straightforward if you have all your info ready. Just take it step by step and don't rush. Most people who have problems either made mistakes on the initial application or didn't provide complete employment history.

One last tip - if you have any questions during the process, the Washington ESD website has pretty good FAQs and tutorials. Also check WorkSource for job search help since that's required.

Just wanted to add - when you're gathering your employment history, make sure to include ALL employers from the last 18 months, even short-term or part-time jobs. Washington ESD uses this to calculate your base period wages, so leaving out any employment could actually hurt your benefit amount. Also, if you worked for any temp agencies or contractors, include those too with the agency name as the employer, not the client company where you actually worked.