What all do I need to file for unemployment benefits with Washington ESD?

You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment history for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates worked. Your last pay stub is helpful but not required. The W2 is good backup documentation. You don't register with WorkSource during the initial application - that comes later as part of your job search requirements.

Make sure you have your bank account info ready for direct deposit setup. Way faster than waiting for a check. Also they ask about any severance pay or vacation payout you might get.

Been through this process recently and had trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone when I had questions. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually connects you with ESD agents without the crazy wait times. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting disconnected.

don't forget you need to be able to work and actively looking for work. they'll ask about any medical issues that might prevent you from working. also if you quit vs got fired makes a difference in the application

Important: Apply as soon as possible after your last day of work. Your benefit year starts the week you apply, not when you lost your job. Don't wait thinking you need to gather more documents - you can always provide additional info later if needed.

The online application is pretty straightforward but takes about 30-45 minutes to complete. Make sure you have a quiet space and won't be interrupted. If you make mistakes you might have to call to fix them and good luck with that.

Make sure your employment info is accurate because they verify everything with your employers. If there's any discrepancy it can delay your claim for weeks while they sort it out.

Update: Just finished the application and it wasn't as bad as I expected. Took about 40 minutes like someone mentioned. Now it says I need to file my first weekly claim on Sunday. Thanks everyone for the help!

Just want to add - if your claim goes into adjudication (which happens more often than you'd think), that's when services like Claimyr become really valuable. Took 6 weeks to get through to someone about my adjudication status until a friend told me about them.

The Washington ESD website has a good checklist of what you need before you start. Wish I had looked at that first instead of starting and stopping the application three times.

Pro tip: screenshot or write down your confirmation number when you submit. You'll need it if you have to call about your claim later.

Does anyone know if you need to report unemployment income on your taxes? This is my first time dealing with this.

Washington ESD system has gotten better over the years but still has glitches. Save copies of everything and keep records of when you submit your weekly claims.

Been on unemployment twice in the last five years. Second time was way smoother because I knew what to expect. The waiting period feels long but benefits usually start within 2-3 weeks if there are no issues.

Remember you can work part-time while on unemployment but you have to report all earnings on your weekly claims. They'll reduce your benefits accordingly but you can still get partial payments.

The job search requirements kick in after you start receiving benefits. You'll need to log your job search activities every week. WorkSource registration comes later too.

Had a friend who got denied initially because of a mistake on the application. The appeal process took months. Really worth double-checking everything before you submit.

If you do run into issues and need to talk to someone at ESD, definitely consider using Claimyr. Saved me so much frustration when my claim got stuck in adjudication. Worth every penny to actually get through to a human being.

One more thing - make sure your address is current in the system. All important notices come by mail and if you miss something like an eligibility review or hearing notice, you could lose benefits.

Overall the process isn't too complicated if you have your info ready. Just be patient with the system and don't panic if it takes a few weeks to get your first payment. That's normal.