Washington ESD weekly claim certification process - how to certify unemployment properly

Thanks! So I can do it any day between Sunday and Saturday? I don't have to wait for a specific day?

Exactly! Most people do it Sunday or Monday but you have the whole week. Just don't forget or you'll miss that week's payment.

Wait, I need to do 3 job searches every single week? Even if I just got laid off last week?

Yes, the job search requirement starts immediately unless you're on standby status. Keep detailed records of where you applied, when, and what type of position.

This is exactly why I had trouble with my claims at first. I didn't know about the job search requirement and got disqualified for two weeks.

That sounds too good to be true. How much does it cost?

I'm not sure about the cost but it was worth it for me. The video explains everything and it's way easier than sitting on hold for hours.

I used Claimyr too when my certification got stuck in pending status. They got me through to someone at Washington ESD who fixed it in 10 minutes.

What if I worked a few hours but didn't earn much? Do I still report it?

Yes, report ALL work and earnings even if it's just a few dollars. Washington ESD will reduce your benefit amount accordingly but you won't get in trouble for working part-time.

You can usually reopen a missed week by calling Washington ESD. They're pretty understanding about first-time mistakes.

thanks ill try calling tomorrow morning. hopefully i can get through

Good advice! I'm definitely going to set a Sunday reminder on my phone.

I do the same thing! Sunday morning certification has become part of my routine.

That's scary. How detailed do the job search records need to be?

Include company name, position applied for, date, and method of application. Some people also save job posting links or confirmation emails.

I keep everything in a spreadsheet. Makes it easy to reference during certification.

You have until Saturday to certify for that week. As long as you do it before the deadline you're fine.

Perfect, I'll make sure to do it before my flight on Friday. Thanks!

Yes, you can certify on your phone through the SecureAccess Washington mobile site. It's not the prettiest but it works.

Thanks! I'll try it on my phone next week.

That's reassuring. I'm nervous about making mistakes but it sounds like it gets easier.

Definitely gets easier! Just take your time the first few weeks and read each question carefully.

I'm not on standby, but good to know. How do you know if you're on standby status?

Your employer has to request standby status and Washington ESD has to approve it. You'd know if you were on standby.

I got a small severance payment when I was laid off. Do I report that every week or just the week I received it?

Usually just the week you received it, but check with Washington ESD to be sure. Different types of payments are handled differently.

Good to know! I would probably panic if I couldn't log in on Sunday.

Don't panic! The system is usually back up within a few hours. You have all week to complete it.

I'm going to bookmark that Claimyr site just in case I run into problems.

Smart idea. Better to have it ready than spend hours on hold when you're stressed about a certification issue.

Great advice! I'll start doing that from my first certification.

It's saved me from having to prove I certified on time more than once. Always good to have documentation.