What do I need to bring to the unemployment office - Washington ESD appointment

Bring your ID, Social Security card, and any separation paperwork from your last employer. If you were laid off, bring the layoff notice. If you were fired, bring any documentation about the circumstances. Also bring your work history for the past 18 months - pay stubs, W-2s, anything showing wages and employment dates.

Don't forget bank statements if they're questioning any income you might have had. They asked me for 3 months worth when I went in. Also if you did any gig work or freelance stuff, bring records of that too.

I've been trying to get through to Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication issue and can't even get past the busy signal. At least you got an appointment! I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a live agent last week. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Might be worth checking out if anyone else is stuck in phone hell like I was.

BRING EVERYTHING. Seriously. I made the mistake of not bringing enough documentation and had to come back. Birth certificate, passport, driver's license, every pay stub you can find, tax returns from last 2 years, any unemployment paperwork you've received, your job search log if you've been keeping one.

Make sure you have your work search activities documented if you've been required to look for work. They might ask about that during your appointment.

i went last month and they wanted proof of my address too like a utility bill or lease agreement. also if youve moved recently bring old addresses

For adjudication appointments specifically, they're usually trying to verify information that seemed inconsistent or unclear on your initial application. Common issues include employment dates, reason for separation, or wage discrepancies. Review your original application before you go and think about any areas that might need clarification.

Bring a notebook and pen to write down anything important they tell you. These appointments can be overwhelming and you don't want to forget something crucial.

Make copies of everything before you go! Sometimes they want to keep original documents and you'll want copies for your records.

Does anyone know if they're still doing in-person appointments? I thought everything was phone/online now.

I had my appointment 2 weeks ago and it went smoothly. Main thing is be honest and straightforward. Don't try to hide anything or give answers you think they want to hear. They can usually tell and it just makes things worse.

If you have any medical issues that affected your work or ability to work, bring medical documentation. Even if you don't think it's relevant, it might come up.

Update on that Claimyr service - I used them again this week when I had questions after my appointment and got through immediately. Really saves the headache of calling Washington ESD directly. Wish I'd known about it months ago.

PROTIP: Get there early. I arrived exactly on time and had to wait 2 hours because they were running behind. The earlier appointments seem to stay more on schedule.

Bring your phone charger if you have to wait. Some offices have outlets but not all. Also pack snacks because the vending machines are usually broken.

If you've been getting any kind of severance or COBRA documentation, bring that too. They need to know about any ongoing payments from your former employer.

Most important thing is your ID and Social Security card. Everything else is secondary. I've seen people get turned away because they forgot basic identification.

Last suggestion - if you have a smartphone, take photos of all your documents before you go. Just in case you forget something or they ask for something you didn't bring.

Good luck with your appointment! It's stressful but having all your documentation ready makes it much smoother. You've got this!