Washington ESD unemployment benefits - how to claim step by step process?

You need to file your initial claim as soon as possible. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for the 'Apply for Benefits' section. 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. Don't wait - you can't get benefits for weeks before you file your claim.

The process is pretty straightforward once you get started. After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. Make sure you register with WorkSource too - it's required for job search activities. Washington ESD will send you information about this after your claim is processed.

I went through this same process last year and honestly the hardest part was getting through to someone at Washington ESD when I had questions. Their phone lines are constantly busy and the wait times are insane. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to an actual agent. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling and re-calling.

Make sure you understand the difference between your waiting week and your benefit week. Washington doesn't have a waiting week anymore but some people get confused about when their benefits actually start. Your first payable week is the week after you file your claim, assuming you're eligible.

ugh the washington esd website is so confusing. took me forever to figure out where to even start the application. why cant they make it more user friendly??

One important thing - make sure you keep track of all your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and you need to log them in the system. Don't wait until they ask for proof because they do random audits.

PROTIP: File your weekly claims on Sunday mornings if possible. The system is less busy then and you're less likely to run into technical issues. I learned this after getting locked out multiple times trying to file on Monday evenings.

Just wanted to add that if you worked in multiple states in the past 18 months, you might need to file an interstate claim. Washington ESD will help you figure this out during the application process but it can add some complexity to your claim.

The thing that caught me off guard was the tax situation. Unemployment benefits are taxable income so you can either have taxes withheld from each payment or pay them when you file your tax return. Just something to think about.

I'm going through the same thing right now actually. Filed my claim two weeks ago and still waiting for it to be processed. The uncertainty is killing me but from what I've read online it's pretty normal for it to take a few weeks, especially if you've never filed before.

Make sure you have a good email address that you check regularly. Washington ESD sends a lot of important communications by email and you don't want to miss anything that could affect your benefits.

Another thing about Claimyr - I used them when my claim went into adjudication and I couldn't get answers about why it was taking so long. Finally got through to someone who explained exactly what was happening and how long it would take. Worth it just for the peace of mind.

Been on unemployment twice in the past 5 years and the process has gotten a bit better each time. The online system is more stable now than it used to be. Still not perfect but at least you don't get kicked out of the system constantly like in the old days.

dont forget to save copies of everything you submit. applications, weekly claims, correspondence, everything. if something goes wrong you'll need that documentation to sort it out

One last thing - if you have any questions after you file your initial claim, don't hesitate to reach out for help. The sooner you address any issues, the smoother the process will go. Good luck with your claim!

I tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier and it actually worked really well. Got connected to a Washington ESD agent in about 20 minutes instead of calling all day and never getting through. Definitely recommend if you need to talk to someone urgently.

Just remember that even though you filed late (a week after your last day of work), you can't get benefits for that first week anyway. So you haven't really lost anything as long as you file soon.

The whole process seems overwhelming at first but once you get into the routine of filing weekly claims it becomes pretty automatic. 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.

Good luck with everything! Hope your claim gets processed quickly and smoothly. Keep us posted on how it goes.