What happens when you get unemployment benefits approved in Washington ESD?

Congrats on getting approved! You'll need to file weekly claims every week to keep getting paid. It's basically reporting that you're still unemployed and looking for work. You can do it online through your SecureAccess Washington account or by phone. The first payment usually takes about a week after you file your first weekly claim.

You also need to do job searches every week. Washington ESD requires you to apply for at least 3 jobs per week and keep a log of where you applied. They can audit this stuff so don't skip it.

ugh the weekly claims are such a pain, especially when the website crashes on Sunday nights when everyone tries to file. I've been on hold with Washington ESD for hours trying to get through when I had issues. Found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you through to agents faster - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

Make sure you report ANY work you do, even part-time or gig work. I made the mistake of not reporting some cash work I did and got hit with an overpayment notice months later. Washington ESD doesn't mess around with that stuff.

The weekly benefit amount is based on your past earnings. Washington ESD looks at your highest earning quarter from your base period (usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters before you filed). You'll get paid for a maximum of 26 weeks unless there are extensions.

Don't forget about taxes! Unemployment benefits are taxable income. You can have taxes withheld automatically or you'll owe when you file your tax return next year.

been through this whole process twice now and honestly the hardest part is just staying on top of everything. File your weekly claims on time, keep applying for jobs, report any work. As long as you follow the rules you'll be fine.

Pro tip: set up direct deposit if you haven't already. Getting a debit card in the mail takes forever and you want your money as fast as possible when you're unemployed.

The job search requirement is no joke. I got audited after 3 months and had to provide proof of all my applications. Keep screenshots, confirmation emails, everything.

Whatever you do, don't ignore any notices from Washington ESD. I almost lost my benefits because I missed a letter asking for additional information. They give you deadlines and they mean it.

First payment can be slow but after that it's pretty regular. I get mine every Tuesday if I file my weekly claim on Sunday. Just be patient with that first one.

Make sure your contact info is always up to date in your Washington ESD account. If they can't reach you about something important, they'll stop your payments.

One thing that helped me was setting up calendar reminders for everything - weekly claims, job search activities, checking for new Washington ESD messages. Easy to forget when you're stressed about being unemployed.

If you ever have issues with your claim or questions you can't find answers to online, that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier really does work. I was stuck in adjudication for weeks and couldn't get through to Washington ESD. Used their callback system and finally got answers.

Don't stress too much about it. Thousands of people go through this process every week in Washington. Just follow the rules, file on time, and look for work. You'll get through it.

One last thing - if you find a job before your benefits run out, you still need to file a final weekly claim to report that you're working. Don't just stop filing or they might think you're committing fraud.

Welcome to the unemployment club nobody wants to be in! But seriously, Washington ESD has gotten better over the years. The online system works pretty well most of the time now.

WorkSource has free job search help and training programs if you need them. Sometimes Washington ESD even requires you to register with them depending on your situation.

Just remember that unemployment is temporary assistance while you look for work. Don't get too comfortable because the job search requirements get stricter the longer you're on benefits.

Honestly after dealing with Washington ESD call center wait times for months, services like Claimyr are a godsend. I probably would have given up trying to resolve my payment issues without it. Worth every penny when you actually need to talk to someone.