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

You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment history for the past 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Also gather any separation documents like termination letters or layoff notices. Pay stubs aren't required but can be helpful.

You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment history for the last 18 months. That means employer names, addresses, dates worked, and reason you left each job. Also need your most recent pay stub if you have it.

make sure you have your bank account info ready too for direct deposit setup. way easier than waiting for checks in the mail

I struggled with getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my application. If you run into issues reaching them by phone, I discovered this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you connected to ESD agents without the usual hold times. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Really saved me when I needed to clarify some employment dates.

make sure you have your bank account info for direct deposit too. routing and account numbers. way faster than waiting for a check in the mail

Important thing people forget - you need to know WHY you left each job in the last 18 months. Washington ESD will ask if you quit, were fired, laid off, etc. Be honest because they verify everything with your employers. If you were fired, you'll need to explain the circumstances.

Don't forget you need to register with WorkSource Washington too as part of the job search requirements. You can do this at worksourcewa.com. It's separate from your initial UI application but required to keep receiving benefits.

Had trouble getting through to Washington ESD when I needed help with my application last month. Their phone lines are always busy and the website can be glitchy. Found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me connected to a real person at Washington ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of trying to call.

ugh this whole process is such a nightmare. I filed 2 months ago and still dealing with adjudication issues because they couldn't verify one of my employers from 2 years ago

also need to be ready to start filing weekly claims right away even if your initial claim is still being processed. you have to certify every week that you're looking for work and available to work or you lose benefits for those weeks

Pro tip: file your application on Tuesday-Thursday if possible. Mondays are crazy busy and the system sometimes glitches.

Don't forget about the job search requirements! Washington ESD requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log. You can do this through WorkSourceWA or keep your own records, but you need to be actively looking for work.

Update: I started gathering everything and realized I don't have contact info for one job I had briefly 8 months ago. Will this be a problem?

MOST IMPORTANT THING - file your claim ASAP! Benefits start from the week you file, not the week you lost your job. I waited two weeks thinking I'd find something quickly and lost out on $800 in benefits I could never get back.

Make sure you know WHY you lost your job because they ask specific questions about it. Was it layoff, termination, quit, etc. Each has different requirements.

I wish someone had told me about the waiting week before I filed. You don't get paid for your first week even if you're eligible.

The Washington ESD website asks for a lot of specific dates so have your employment timeline ready. Start date, end date, last day worked, last day paid - they want exact dates not just months. Also gross wages earned in your last quarter.

Another thing - if you worked in multiple states in the past 18 months, that complicates things. You might need to file in a different state depending on where you earned the most wages.

been through this process twice now and honestly the hardest part is getting through to someone at Washington ESD when you have questions. their call center is overwhelmed

Just to follow up on my earlier comment about getting help - when I used Claimyr to reach Washington ESD, it was specifically because I needed to verify some employment information that was holding up my claim. The regular phone system kept hanging up on me after hours of waiting. Worth considering if you hit any snags.

Don't overthink it too much. I was super stressed about getting everything perfect but the application is pretty straightforward. Just be honest and thorough.

One thing that tripped me up - you need to report ANY income you receive after filing, even if it's just a final paycheck or unused vacation pay. Washington ESD will find out anyway and it can cause overpayment issues if you don't report it upfront.

Also have your alien registration number ready if you're not a US citizen. And if you were in the military, you'll need your DD-214. Washington ESD has specific requirements for different situations.

the system will ask if you want to have taxes withheld from your benefits. definitely think about this because you'll owe taxes on unemployment income at the end of the year

Make sure you understand the difference between filing your initial claim and filing weekly claims. The initial claim determines if you're eligible and how much you'll get. Weekly claims are what you do every week to actually receive payments. Both are required.

heads up that if your claim goes into adjudication it can take weeks to get resolved. happened to me even though everything seemed straightforward. washington ESD has to investigate certain things and it takes forever

Pro tip: create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first before starting your unemployment application. You'll need it to access your claim online and it can take a few minutes to set up.

don't panic if the website is slow or times out while you're applying. washington ESD system gets overloaded sometimes. just keep trying or try during off-peak hours like early morning

Remember that your benefit amount is based on your highest quarter of earnings in the base period, which is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters. So if you had one really good quarter, that helps your weekly benefit amount.

FINALLY - keep copies of everything! Screenshot confirmation pages, save emails, print important documents. If something goes wrong with your claim you'll need proof of what you submitted and when.

Make sure you understand the difference between being 'able and available' for work versus being on standby status if your employer might call you back. Different requirements for each.

One more thing - create your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account first if you don't have one. That's what you'll use to access your unemployment account online.

Just filed mine last month. The whole process took about 45 minutes once I had everything together. Don't put it off - benefits are retroactive to when you file, not when you lost your job.

My biggest mistake was not keeping track of my job search activities from day one. Start a log immediately even before you file.

If you get stuck during the application process, don't give up. I had to start over twice because of browser issues but eventually got it submitted.

Final thought on getting help if needed - that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really comes in handy when you need to actually talk to someone at ESD about specific issues with your claim. Their regular phone system is just brutal to get through.

Thank you everyone! I feel much more prepared now. Going to gather all my documents tonight and file tomorrow. Really appreciate all the detailed advice.

Hope it goes smoothly for you. Keep us posted on how it turns out!