What do I need for Washington ESD unemployment benefits - complete requirements list?

You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment history for the last 18 months. That includes employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Also need your banking info for direct deposit. File as soon as possible after your last day of work - there's a waiting period but you want to get the process started.

Make sure you have all your employer contact information ready - not just the company name but full addresses and phone numbers. Washington ESD is really picky about complete info and if something's missing they'll delay your claim.

I had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed to verify some employment info during my application. Kept calling and getting busy signals or hung up on. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) which actually got me connected to an agent who helped clarify what documents I needed. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

Don't forget you need to register with WorkSource too for the job search requirements. That's separate from your initial unemployment application but you'll need it eventually.

ugh this whole system is so confusing why can't they just make it simple

One thing I wish someone had told me - if you worked in multiple states you might need to file in the state where you earned the most wages, not necessarily where you live now. Washington ESD can help determine which state you should file in.

Make sure you have your alien registration number if you're not a US citizen. They ask for that during the application process.

Also important - be prepared to explain your separation reason clearly. If you were laid off, fired, or quit makes a big difference in your eligibility. Have any documentation about your job loss ready in case they ask for it later.

One more thing - if you have any vacation pay or severance coming that might affect when your benefits start. Washington ESD needs to know about any pay you're getting after your last work day.

The whole process took me about 30 minutes to complete online. Just take your time and read each question carefully. You can save your progress if you need to step away and gather more information.

been there done that, system crashed on me twice while filling it out so save frequently!

If you run into any issues during the application process and need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does help. I ended up using it again when I had questions about reporting my vacation payout.

Remember you have to file weekly claims even if your initial claim is still being processed. Don't skip weeks thinking you'll file them later - you can't go back and claim missed weeks.

Don't stress too much about having everything perfect. You can always provide additional information later if they need it. The important thing is getting your claim filed sooner rather than later.

One last tip - set up your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one already. You'll need it to access your unemployment account and file weekly claims.

good luck with everything, the waiting is the worst part but you'll get through it

You've got this! The initial application really is the hardest part. Once that's done it's just a matter of filing weekly claims and waiting for approval.

Make sure to keep copies of everything you submit, just in case they need you to resend something later.

If your claim goes into adjudication don't panic. It just means they need to verify some information. Can take a few weeks but most claims get approved eventually.

And if you do need to speak with Washington ESD during adjudication or for any other reason, definitely check out that Claimyr service. Getting through to an actual person can be really tough otherwise.