What do I file for Washington ESD unemployment - completely lost on where to start

Okay so it's like an online form? How long does it take to fill out?

Yeah, expect about 30-45 minutes if you have all your info ready. You'll need your social security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months.

What if I don't remember all my previous job dates exactly? I've had like 4 jobs in the past year and a half.

Do your best with approximate dates - Washington ESD will verify employment with your employers. Just don't leave anything blank or put down jobs you never had.

You can also check old pay stubs or tax documents if you have them saved. That helped me remember my start/end dates when I filed.

What's a waiting week? Does that mean I won't get money for the first week?

In Washington state there's no waiting week anymore, that changed a few years ago. You can get benefits starting the first week you file if you qualify. Don't listen to outdated advice about waiting weeks.

Is that like a paid service? I'm already broke so I can't afford to pay for help filing.

Yeah it costs something but honestly it was worth it for me since I needed to talk to someone urgently about my claim status. But for just filing initially, you might not need it - the online application is pretty straightforward.

I used claimyr too when I had an adjudication issue. Definitely helped me get answers faster than trying to call on my own.

How much is 'enough wages'? I made about $25,000 last year working different jobs.

That should be enough. Washington ESD looks at your wages in the 'base period' which is usually the first 4 quarters of the last 5 quarters. The minimum is pretty low, around $3,800 total.

Weekly claims? So I have to do something every single week?

yeah every week you answer questions about whether you worked, if you looked for jobs, stuff like that. takes like 5 minutes online

The weekly claim certification is required to continue receiving benefits. It's due every Sunday for the previous week. Miss it and you won't get paid for that week.

Good to know it's online now! I hate waiting in government offices.

Yeah the pandemic forced them to modernize everything. Much more convenient now.

They're going to call my old boss? That's awkward...

It's routine verification, nothing personal. They just confirm the dates you worked and reason you left. Your employer knows it's part of the process.

How long does it usually take to get the first payment?

If everything goes smoothly, about 2-3 weeks from when you file. But if they need to verify stuff or your claim goes into adjudication it can take longer.

What kind of bigger problems?

Fraud charges, having to pay back benefits, being disqualified from future claims. Not worth it to lie on your application.

Oh good point! I should gather all that info first instead of trying to remember it while filling out the form.

Exactly! Have your social security card, ID, and any old pay stubs or W-2s handy. Makes it much smoother.

That's a great idea! I learn better from videos than reading instructions.

What does adjudication mean? That sounds scary.

It just means they're reviewing your claim to make sure you qualify. It's normal, especially for first-time filers. Just wait it out unless they specifically ask you for more information.

That's exactly when I used claimyr - during adjudication when I needed to check on my claim status but couldn't get through on the phone. Really helped ease my anxiety about what was happening.

Great, another website to deal with. Is WorkSourceWA part of Washington ESD?

Yeah they're connected. WorkSourceWA is where you'll log your job search activities and it feeds into your unemployment requirements. You'll need to do at least 3 job search activities per week.

Noted! I'll try to avoid calling unless I absolutely have to.

That's why services like claimyr exist - the phone system is so overloaded. I finally broke down and used them when I had a time-sensitive question about my claim.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I feel way less overwhelmed about the whole process now.

Good tip! I'll screenshot everything and keep a folder.

Smart move. Also keep track of all your job search activities in case they audit you later. Better to have too much documentation than not enough.

That's still better than nothing! How do they calculate how much you get?

It's based on your earnings during the base period. Generally around 60-70% of your average weekly wage, but there are minimums and maximums. The system will calculate it automatically when you file.