Washington ESD unemployment application process - need help getting started

The Washington ESD website has an online application at esd.wa.gov. You'll need your social security number, driver's license, and employment info for the last 18 months including employer names and addresses. It's pretty straightforward but take your time filling it out.

Thanks! Do I need pay stubs or just the employer information?

Just employer info for the application, but keep your pay stubs handy in case they ask for them later during the process.

Make sure you apply as soon as possible because there's a waiting week before benefits start. You can't backdate your claim to before you actually file, so don't delay. Also be prepared to do weekly claims every week to keep getting paid.

What exactly is a weekly claim? Do I have to do something every week?

Yeah every week you have to log in and answer questions about whether you worked, looked for jobs, etc. If you miss a week you won't get paid for that week.

This is so confusing, I wish someone could just call Washington ESD and ask these questions for me but their phone lines are always busy

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone too when I was applying last year. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

That sounds too good to be true, how does it work exactly?

Basically they handle the calling for you and get you connected when an agent is available. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked and I got my questions answered about my application.

Never heard of this but anything is better than trying to call Washington ESD directly, their hold times are insane

Here's what you need to know about the application process: 1) File online at esd.wa.gov, 2) Have your employment history ready for the last 18 months, 3) Answer all questions completely and honestly, 4) Submit your application, 5) Wait for them to process it which can take 1-3 weeks depending on if there are any issues. Simple as that.

What kind of issues could delay the processing?

Things like if you were fired for misconduct, quit voluntarily, or if they can't verify your employment. Most straightforward layoffs get approved pretty quickly.

Or if you have wages from multiple states, that can slow things down too

JUST A WARNING - make sure you have ALL your employment info correct because Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers. I made a small mistake on dates and it held up my claim for weeks while they investigated. Double check everything before you hit submit!

Yikes, what happens if I accidentally get a date wrong by a few days?

Small errors usually aren't a big deal but if there are major discrepancies they might think you're trying to fraud the system. Just be as accurate as possible.

This is why I always recommend keeping good records of your employment history even when you're working

The hardest part for me was figuring out what counts as 'looking for work' for the weekly claims. You have to do job search activities and keep a log. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week unless you're on standby status.

What qualifies as a job search activity?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, even updating your resume counts. Just keep detailed records of what you did and when.

I always wondered about this too, thanks for explaining

One thing nobody mentioned - you might be eligible to start receiving benefits immediately without the waiting week if you qualify for certain exceptions. Check if your situation qualifies when you're filling out the application.

What kind of exceptions?

Things like if your employer reduced your hours significantly or if you're in certain training programs. The application should ask about these situations.

Good point, I forgot about those exceptions since most people have to wait the week

i filed mine online took about 15 minutes once i had all my info together. pretty easy process tbh just dont overthink it

That's reassuring, I was expecting it to be way more complicated

nah its straightforward just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week after that

Does anyone know if you can edit your application after you submit it? I'm worried I might make a mistake and then be stuck with wrong information.

You can't edit it once submitted but you can contact Washington ESD to make corrections if needed. That's another situation where having a way to actually reach them helps.

Yeah this is where Claimyr really came in handy for me - I needed to update some employer information and actually got through to someone who could help me fix it.

Good to know there are options if I mess something up

Just want to add that the Washington ESD system asks for your last day worked, not your last day of employment. So if your last day of work was Friday but you were officially terminated the following Monday, use Friday's date.

That's a good distinction I wouldn't have thought of

Yeah it's one of those details that can cause confusion later if you get it wrong

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off, fired, and quitting because Washington ESD treats each situation differently for eligibility. If you were laid off due to lack of work you should be fine, but other situations might require additional review.

I was laid off because they eliminated my position, so I think I should be okay

That sounds like a straightforward case then, should process without issues

What if you were technically fired but it wasn't for misconduct?

Pro tip: create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first if you don't already have one. You'll need it to access the unemployment application and manage your claim online. It can take a few minutes to set up so do it before you start the actual application.

Thanks for the heads up! I'll do that first

Yeah it just saves time so you're not trying to create accounts in the middle of filling out your application

Been through this process twice unfortunately. The online application is definitely the way to go - much faster than trying to do it over the phone or by mail. Washington ESD's website walks you through each step pretty clearly.

Did you have any issues either time you applied?

First time was smooth, second time they had questions about why I left my job so it took longer to get approved. But eventually got sorted out.

At least you got through it both times, that's encouraging

One more thing - don't forget you can apply for benefits even if you're working reduced hours. If your hours got cut significantly you might still qualify for partial unemployment benefits through Washington ESD.

I didn't know that was possible, good to know for the future

Yeah a lot of people don't realize you don't have to be completely unemployed to get some benefits

The whole process seems overwhelming at first but it's really not that bad once you get started. Just gather your documents, take your time with the application, and don't stress too much about minor details. Washington ESD deals with thousands of applications so they're used to helping people through the process.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more confident about applying now

Good luck! Hope everything goes smoothly for you

And remember if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD for any reason, there are ways to get through without spending hours on hold