What documents are needed to file for unemployment with Washington ESD?

Thanks! I have most of that. Do I need exact addresses for all my previous employers or just the company names?

Exact addresses are required. Washington ESD needs to verify your work history with each employer, so they need complete contact information.

I struggled with this part because one of my old jobs was at a restaurant that closed down. Had to do some digging to find the old address.

Good point about the bank info. I only worked in Washington so that shouldn't be an issue.

Wait, what if I worked in Oregon for 3 months last year but live in Washington now? I'm so confused about which state to file in.

@profile8 You usually file where you earned the most wages. If most of your income was in Washington, file here. If it was Oregon, file there.

I'm a citizen so that doesn't apply to me, but good to know for others reading this.

The DD-214 requirement caught me off guard when I filed. Luckily I had it saved digitally from when I separated from the Army.

Never heard of Claimyr before. Did it actually work for getting through to someone at Washington ESD?

Yeah, got connected within about 10 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait times. Was able to clarify what documents I needed for my specific work history.

I'm skeptical of third-party services, but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so broken that I might try anything at this point.

You don't typically need tax documents for the initial filing, but having your W2s handy can help verify employment dates and wages if there are any questions.

Okay that's a relief. I was panicking thinking I needed to track down every single tax document.

I was laid off due to business being slow, so that should be straightforward. Do I need any documentation proving that?

Your employer might send separation documents to Washington ESD directly, but having your own copy of any layoff notice or final paycheck stub helps.

I got fired for attendance issues and was honest about it. Still got approved after they reviewed my case, so don't panic if your separation wasn't perfect.

Just basic info - employer name, address, dates, position title, and wages. You don't need detailed job descriptions for the initial application.

Perfect, that makes it much simpler. I was overthinking it.

Good point! I had a weekend catering gig along with my main restaurant job. Need to include both.

Yes! I forgot about my Uber driving and had to update my claim later. It was a hassle.

Exactly. Better to include everything upfront rather than having to correct it later and potentially delay your benefits.

You don't need job search proof for the initial filing, but you'll need to start documenting your job search activities immediately after filing. Washington ESD requires 3 job search activities per week.

What counts as a job search activity? Just applying for jobs or other things too?

Applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, creating/updating your resume, taking skills assessments on WorkSourceWA. Keep detailed records of everything.

That's a good reminder. I'll double-check all my employment dates before submitting.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved after you filed?

About 2 weeks, but I had straightforward employment history. Some people wait longer if there are complications or if their claim goes into adjudication.

Thanks for the warning! I'll make sure to use my home wifi instead of trying to do it on my phone.

The online system is so glitchy. Sometimes it's worth calling instead, but good luck getting through to anyone.

Oh wow, I didn't think about tips! I'll need to look through my old pay stubs to see what was reported.

Yeah, it's usually on your paystubs as 'declared tips' or something similar. Some restaurants track it differently, so you might need to estimate if the records aren't clear.

I had issues with this too. My restaurant didn't track tips well and I had to provide my own estimates. Washington ESD accepted it after some back and forth.

Smart idea. I'll take screenshots as I go through each page.

This saved me when my claim got flagged for review. Having the original documents made it much easier to answer their questions.

A few people have mentioned Claimyr now. Might be worth looking into if I run into issues.

I was skeptical at first but used it when my claim got stuck in adjudication. The agent I spoke with was able to see my file and explain exactly what was holding things up.

Is WorkSourceWA separate from the main Washington ESD website?

Yes, it's a different system but they're connected. You'll use WorkSourceWA for job searching and reporting your work search activities.

You have to register with WorkSourceWA within a certain timeframe after filing, so don't put it off too long.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I feel much more prepared now. Going to gather everything this weekend and file early next week.

Good luck! Come back and let us know how it goes. It helps other people who are in the same situation.

Great advice! I'll keep a notepad handy while I'm filling everything out.

This would have saved me so much time. I got an error code but didn't write it down, then couldn't remember it when I finally got through to someone on the phone.

That's reassuring. I was worried about wasting their time since I'm not 100% sure about my eligibility.

Exactly. The system is there to help people who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Better to apply and find out than to struggle financially while wondering if you qualified.

That's the third mention of Claimyr in this thread. Seems like people have had good experiences with it.

I checked out their website after seeing it mentioned here. The service makes sense given how impossible it is to get through to Washington ESD normally.

Good point! I was laid off last Friday so I should file this week rather than waiting.

Exactly. The sooner you file, the sooner your claim can be processed and your benefits can start. Time is money when you're unemployed.