What do you need to apply for unemployment benefits in Washington - complete checklist?

Do I need the exact addresses of all my employers or just the company names?

Exact addresses are required. Washington ESD will verify your employment history with each employer so they need complete contact information.

What if I can't remember the exact dates I worked at a job from 2 years ago?

Get as close as you can with month and year. They understand you might not remember exact days but try to be accurate.

How much does that cost? I'm already broke from losing my job.

It's way cheaper than missing work to keep calling all day. Plus you actually get through instead of wasting time.

I'll have to check that out. I've been trying to reach ESD for weeks about my application.

How soon after filing do I need to register with WorkSource?

I think it's within the first week but double check when you file your claim. The requirements are pretty strict about timing.

You can put 'unknown' or 'not available' for supervisor names if you truly can't remember. The important thing is the company information and your job duties.

oh really? i thought everything had to be perfect or they'd deny my claim

Can you change the bank info after you submit the application?

Yes but it's a pain. You have to call or log into your account and update it. Just double check before submitting.

What if I only have my final paystub? Will that show gross wages for the whole time I worked there?

Your final paystub should show year-to-date gross wages which is what you need. If not, you might need to contact your former employer for a wage statement.

How long do you have before it times out?

I think it's like 20-30 minutes of inactivity. Just have everything written down beforehand.

This is good advice. I always screenshot each page as I go in case something goes wrong.

I was never military or federal so I don't need those right?

Correct, those are only if you had federal employment in your work history.

I looked but found it confusing. That's why I came here for real people's experiences.

Fair enough. The website isn't super user-friendly. This forum is definitely more helpful for practical advice.

When do you start filing weekly claims? Right after submitting the application?

Yes, you should file for the week you become unemployed even if your claim is still pending. You can lose those weeks if you don't file.

This is super important! I lost 2 weeks of benefits because nobody told me this.

What's the difference in requirements?

If you say you're looking for full-time work, you generally need to be available for full-time positions. Part-time has different availability requirements.

Good to know there's a way to get actual help if needed. The automated system is pretty limited.

Exactly. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person who can look at your specific situation.

Why would those be different dates?

If you got paid vacation time or severance after your last day of actual work. Or if you worked Monday but got paid on Friday.

I'm only 28 so no pension issues for me, but good to know for others.

Yeah, it's mainly for older workers but the system asks everyone.

I wasn't in a union. Does that matter at all?

No, if you weren't in a union just select 'no' when asked. Only matters if you were a member.

Same here! It's so stressful not knowing if you did everything right.

This is exactly when Claimyr helped me. I was able to call and check on my claim status instead of just waiting and wondering.

That's really smart advice. I'll definitely do that.

Yeah, learned that the hard way when ESD said they never received information I was sure I had submitted.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. Going to gather all my documents and apply today.

Good luck! Feel free to post here if you run into any issues during the application process.