Washington ESD - how to collect unemployment benefits step by step?

You need to file your initial claim as soon as possible - don't wait! Go to esd.wa.gov and click on 'Apply for Benefits.' You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, and dates worked. The system will ask about your reason for separation from your job.

Filed mine 2 months ago and still waiting... the adjudication process is taking forever. Make sure you answer all the questions correctly because any mistakes can delay your claim for weeks.

After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to actually get paid. Don't skip any weeks even if you haven't heard back about your claim status yet. You also have to do job search activities - keep a log of everywhere you apply.

If you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me reach an actual person. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. It was a lifesaver when my claim got stuck in adjudication.

Make sure you set up your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one already. That's how you'll access your unemployment account online to file weekly claims and check your payment status.

Don't forget about the waiting week! Washington has a one-week waiting period before you can receive your first payment, even if your claim is approved right away.

ugh the whole system is so confusing!! I messed up my first application and had to start over. took me 3 tries to get it right

Here's the complete process: 1) File initial claim online at esd.wa.gov 2) Wait for determination letter 3) File weekly claims every week 4) Complete required job search activities 5) Keep detailed records of everything. Most people get approved within 2-3 weeks if there are no issues with their claim.

Make sure you report ANY income you earn while collecting unemployment, even small amounts. Washington ESD will find out eventually and you could face an overpayment if you don't report it upfront.

The Washington ESD customer service line is always busy but if you call right at 8am when they open you have a better chance of getting through. I've also heard good things about that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier.

One thing they don't tell you clearly - you can file your claim on Sunday for the previous week. Don't wait until Monday because the system gets overloaded and crashes sometimes.

been on unemployment 3 times in the last 10 years and the process keeps changing but the basics are the same. file early, file every week, look for jobs, keep records. dont overthink it

If you worked in another state recently, make sure to mention that in your application. Sometimes you can get higher benefits by filing an interstate claim, but the process is more complicated.

Don't panic if your claim goes into adjudication - it's not necessarily bad news. Mine was in adjudication for 3 weeks just because they needed to verify my employment dates with my previous employer.

Register with WorkSource too - it's connected to your unemployment claim and you'll need to use it for job search activities. Some people forget this step and it can cause issues later.

I used Claimyr when I couldn't get through to resolve an issue with my weekly claim certification. Cost me some money but saved me weeks of frustration trying to reach Washington ESD on my own. Sometimes it's worth paying for help when you need your benefits to come through.

The key is to start the process immediately. Every day you wait is potentially money lost because you can't backdate your claim very far. Get your initial application submitted today if possible!

Make sure you understand the difference between being 'able and available' vs 'standby' status. Most people need to be actively seeking work every week, but standby is for specific situations like temporary layoffs.

just remember that if you mess up your weekly claim you usually cant fix it yourself - youll need to call washington esd and good luck getting through! thats why that claimyr thing might be worth it if you make mistakes