Washington ESD unemployment claim questions - confused about weekly filing process

Thank you! So if I miss filing a weekly claim one week, does that mess up everything?

You can file late weekly claims but there might be delays in payment. Try not to miss any weeks if possible.

I've been trying to call for days but can never get through. The phone system is impossible.

Have you tried using Claimyr? It's this service at claimyr.com that helps you actually reach Washington ESD agents by phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. I used it last month when I couldn't get through and finally talked to someone about my claim status.

Yes it's 3 per week minimum. Job search activities include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, career counseling sessions, etc. Doesn't have to be just applications.

oh ok that makes more sense. so like if I go to a job fair that counts as one of the three?

Exactly. Job fairs, informational interviews, even some online career workshops can count as job search activities.

I'm starting to feel that way too. It shouldn't be this hard to get basic information.

That's exactly why I ended up trying Claimyr - I was getting nowhere with the regular phone lines. At least with their service I could actually have a real conversation with an Washington ESD agent who could look at my specific claim.

What happens if I answer one of those questions wrong by accident?

You can usually call to correct mistakes but it might delay your payment while they review it.

What kind of details do they want in the job search log?

Date, employer name, position applied for, method of contact, and any follow-up. I keep screenshots of online applications just in case.

Good advice on the screenshots. I also keep email confirmations when I apply through company websites.

Don't panic - as long as you're honest on your weekly claims and do your job searches you'll be fine. Fraud is when people intentionally lie or hide information.

ok that makes me feel a little better. i just want to make sure i'm doing everything right

You can file starting Sunday morning for the previous week. So this Sunday you'd file for last week Monday-Sunday.

got it thanks

How do I set that up? Is it in the online account somewhere?

Yeah log into your ESD account and look for payment options or direct deposit setup. You'll need your bank routing and account numbers.

How much does something like that cost though? I'm already broke from being unemployed.

I think it's worth checking out their site for the details, but for me it was worth it just to finally get answers about my claim instead of being stuck in phone tree hell.

This is all really helpful. I feel like I have a better handle on what I need to do now.

Glad we could help! The system is confusing at first but you'll get used to the routine pretty quickly.

Yes unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can choose to have taxes withheld from your weekly payments or pay at tax time.

ugh more taxes. but good to know, thanks

Same here! Nice to know other people were confused too and figured it out.

True, though sometimes the online account doesn't show everything or there are technical issues. Having a way to actually talk to someone when needed is important too.

It definitely could be more user-friendly, but once you get in the routine it becomes pretty automatic.