Washington ESD unemployment benefits sign up process - step by step guide needed

Everything is done online now through the Washington ESD website. You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Start at esd.wa.gov and look for the 'Apply for Benefits' link.

You need to file your initial claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's usually a one-week waiting period before you can receive benefits, so don't delay. Make sure you're available for work and actively seeking employment - they require job search activities.

Just went through this myself last month. The online application took about 30 minutes to complete. Make sure you have all your employer information accurate because any mistakes can delay your claim. After you submit, you'll get a confirmation and then have to wait for them to process it.

Pro tip - if you run into issues or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, the phone lines are brutal. I spent hours trying to get through. Recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which actually got me connected to an agent. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Don't forget you need to create a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't already have one. That's how you'll access all the Washington ESD online services.

omg the whole process is such a nightmare!! took me forever to figure out all the requirements and then my claim got stuck in adjudication for weeks with no explanation whatsoever

Make sure you understand the difference between being laid off vs. fired vs. quitting. Each situation has different requirements for eligibility. If you were fired for misconduct or quit without good cause, you might not qualify.

One thing that caught me off guard - you have to file weekly claims even after your initial application is approved. Every week you need to certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work.

Also be prepared for identity verification. Washington ESD has gotten really strict about this due to fraud issues. You might need to upload documents or even do a video call to verify your identity.

The whole system is honestly broken. I applied 2 months ago and still haven't received a penny. Every time I call they say it's 'under review' but can't give me any timeline or specifics.

Don't make the same mistake I did - read ALL the instructions carefully. I missed some important details about reporting part-time work and it caused issues with my payments later.

Just want to echo what others said about having your employment history ready. They want exact dates and addresses for all employers in the past 18 months. I had to dig through old emails to find some of this info.

The WorkSourceWA integration is something to be aware of too. You'll probably need to register with them for job search services, especially if your claim goes on for a while.

Bank info!! Don't forget to have your bank routing and account number ready if you want direct deposit. Otherwise you'll get a debit card which has fees for some transactions.

honestly the washington esd website is confusing as hell... took me three tries to submit my application because it kept timing out and losing my information

One more tip - keep records of EVERYTHING. Screenshot confirmation pages, save emails, print important documents. If something goes wrong later you'll need proof of what you submitted and when.

The monetary determination letter is important - that tells you how much you'll receive per week and for how many weeks. Don't panic if it takes a few days to show up.

Just to add another success story - I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned when my claim got stuck and they helped me get through to resolve an issue with my employer separation information. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person.

Final reminder - be 100% honest on your application. Unemployment fraud penalties are serious and not worth the risk. Answer all questions truthfully even if you think it might hurt your chances.