What do I need to sign up for unemployment Washington ESD - documents required?

You'll need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID, and employment information for the last 18 months including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and reason for separation. Also helpful to have your most recent pay stub showing year-to-date earnings.

Make sure you have bank account information for direct deposit setup too. Washington ESD strongly recommends this over waiting for a debit card in the mail.

Pro tip - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone to ask questions during your application, I recently discovered claimyr.com. It's a service that helps you actually reach an ESD agent without waiting on hold forever. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when I had questions about my claim.

Don't forget you need to register with WorkSource too for the job search requirements. It's separate from your unemployment application but required.

ugh the whole process is such a pain. took me forever to gather all my employment info from the past year and a half

If you were fired make sure you understand exactly why and how to explain it. The reason for separation can affect your eligibility and they will contact your employer to verify.

One thing that tripped me up - they ask for your gross wages, not net. Make sure you're looking at the right numbers on your pay stubs.

The Washington ESD website has a checklist somewhere that lists everything you need. Let me see if I can find the link...

File as soon as possible! There's no waiting period in Washington but you can't backdate your claim to before you actually file.

Make sure you have a good internet connection when you apply. The system can time out if it's slow and you might lose your progress.

If you worked in another state recently you might need to file an interstate claim. Washington ESD can help determine this.

honestly just start the application and it will tell you what you need as you go. that's what i did and it worked fine

Don't forget your alien registration number if you're not a US citizen. That's required for eligibility verification.

If you have any military service make sure you have your DD-214 handy. They might ask about it even if it's not directly related to your recent employment.

Just wanted to add that if you do run into any issues with your application or need to speak with someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. Sometimes you need to talk to a human to get things sorted out properly.

The hardest part for me was remembering exact start and end dates for all my jobs. Keep better records than I did!

Once you submit your application, you'll get a confirmation number. Screenshot it or write it down somewhere safe in case you need to reference it later.

After you file, you'll need to file weekly claims to actually receive benefits. Don't forget that part - filing the initial claim is just the first step.

Last thing - be 100% honest on your application. Washington ESD will verify everything and any false information can disqualify you permanently.