What happens when you file for unemployment with Washington ESD - confused about the process

The process isn't too bad once you understand it. After you file your initial claim on the Washington ESD website, they'll review your work history and wages to determine if you qualify. You'll get a monetary determination letter showing your weekly benefit amount. Then you have to file weekly claims every week to actually receive payments. You also need to register with WorkSource and start your job search right away.

just so you know you have to do job searches every week too. its like 3 jobs minimum and you gotta keep records of everything

One thing that might help - if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone to ask questions about your claim, I found this service called Claimyr that actually gets you connected to a real person. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Way better than spending hours on hold or getting hung up on.

Here's the complete timeline: 1) File initial claim online 2) Complete WorkSource registration within 1 week 3) Wait for monetary determination 4) If approved, file your first weekly claim 5) Continue filing weekly claims every week 6) Complete required job search activities 7) Receive payments via direct deposit or debit card. The key is staying on top of the weekly claims - miss one and your benefits can be delayed.

THE SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN! I filed 6 weeks ago and still haven't gotten a single payment because my claim is stuck in 'adjudication' whatever that means. Nobody at Washington ESD will tell me what's going on or how long it takes. This is ridiculous when people need money to pay rent!

also dont forget you gotta report any work you do even if its just a few hours. they will find out and make you pay it back

been there done that - the waiting is the worst part but once you get approved the money comes pretty regularly. just make sure you file your weekly claims on time every week

Important point about job search requirements - you need 3 job search activities per week. This includes applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking events, or interviews. Keep detailed records with dates, company names, and contact information. Washington ESD audits these regularly.

One thing that caught me off guard was the tax situation. Washington state doesn't tax unemployment benefits but federal taxes still apply. You can have taxes withheld from your payments or pay them later. I wish someone had told me this upfront.

For anyone struggling to get through to Washington ESD for questions about their claim status or requirements, seriously check out claimyr.com. I was spending hours every day calling and getting nowhere. Their service connected me to an actual ESD agent who walked me through exactly what I needed to do. Game changer.

My biggest advice is don't panic if your first weekly claim shows $0. Sometimes it takes a week or two for everything to sync up in their system. As long as you keep filing every week you won't lose benefits.

ALSO - if you quit your job you probably won't qualify unless you had 'good cause' like harassment or unsafe working conditions. They're really strict about this. If you were laid off or fired (not for misconduct) you should be fine.

the whole thing is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. just file your weekly claim every week and keep looking for work. dont overthink it

One last thing - make sure your direct deposit information is correct when you set up your account. Wrong bank info can delay payments for weeks while they sort it out. Double check all your personal information too.

The WorkSource registration is actually pretty useful too. They have job search tools and sometimes local employers post openings there first. Don't just treat it as a requirement - use it as a resource.

Just to follow up on the phone support thing - I know some people are skeptical about services like Claimyr, but honestly the Washington ESD phone system is so overwhelmed that sometimes you need alternatives. The video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ shows exactly how it works if anyone wants to see before deciding.

bottom line is file your claim asap, register with worksource, start looking for jobs, and file your weekly claims every week. if you do those things youll get your money. dont stress too much about the details

Remember that your benefit year lasts 52 weeks from when you filed, but you only get a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits (unless there are extended benefits available). Make sure you're actively job searching because the goal is to get back to work, not to collect the full 26 weeks.

One more tip - if you start a new job, make sure you report it immediately even if you haven't gotten your first paycheck yet. They want to know about work when it starts, not when you get paid.

honestly the whole system could be so much simpler but at least once you figure it out its not too bad. just wish they made the website more user friendly for first timers