What is required to apply for Washington ESD unemployment - complete checklist needed

Thanks! Do I need exact dates or can I estimate? My memory isn't perfect on some of the older jobs.

Try to be as accurate as possible but estimates are okay if you don't have exact dates. Washington ESD will verify with employers anyway.

Good point, I'll grab my banking info. Is there anything else financial I need?

Nope just routing and account number for direct deposit. Way faster than waiting for checks.

An hour?? I thought it would be quick. What takes so long?

all the employer info entry and the system is slow. plus if you mess up you have to start over sometimes

The system has improved a lot recently but yes, give yourself plenty of time and don't rush through it.

Interesting, I didn't know services like that existed. Is it legit?

Yeah it's legitimate, they just help you get through the phone queue faster. Saved me hours of calling and getting busy signals.

How much does something like that cost? Seems too good to be true.

It's worth checking out their site for details. For me it was worth it just to avoid the phone frustration.

Wait, there are job search requirements right away? I thought I'd have time to recover from being laid off.

You have to be able and available for work to qualify for benefits. The job search requirement kicks in after your first week usually.

Correct, you need to register with WorkSourceWA.com and start job search activities. It's part of maintaining eligibility.

The Washington ESD website has a preparation checklist under the 'Apply for Benefits' section. Print it out before you start.

I wish I had known about that checklist when I applied! Would have saved me from having to restart the application twice.

Oh no! Can you save progress or do you have to do it all at once?

i think you can save but I didn't know that at the time. learned the hard way

The system does have a save feature now. Look for the 'Save and Continue Later' option during the application.

I did get a small severance. Does that mean I can't get unemployment right away?

It might delay when your benefits start depending on the amount. Washington ESD will calculate it based on your weekly benefit amount.

Severance is considered wages for unemployment purposes. You'll need to report the exact amount and dates it covers.

What do you mean by the correct week? Does the day matter?

Your benefit year starts the Sunday of the week you file. So timing can affect your claim dates.

Generally you want to file as soon as possible after becoming unemployed, but yes the benefit week runs Sunday to Saturday.

What do you do if a previous employer went out of business?

I just put the last known address and noted in the comments that the business closed. Washington ESD figured it out.

That's exactly why I mentioned Claimyr earlier - it cuts through all that phone frustration. The regular Washington ESD lines are impossible.

I might have to look into that. This is ridiculous that you can't reach them.

yeah the phone situation is a joke. they tell you to call but then you can't get through

Good advice! I'll start a folder for all the unemployment paperwork.

Smart move. Trust me, you'll reference these documents multiple times during your claim.

My whole department got eliminated due to budget cuts. Is that different from a regular layoff?

That's still a layoff but you can be specific about lack of work/department elimination. The more detail the better.

Exactly right. Be specific about the circumstances - it helps Washington ESD process your claim faster.

How long did it take to get approved?

About 2 weeks for me, but I've heard it can take longer if there are any issues with your claim.

Even before I'm approved? That seems weird.

yep you have to file weekly claims starting the week after you apply. if you miss weeks you can't go back and claim them

This is correct. Weekly claim filing starts immediately and you must continue filing even during adjudication periods.

Gross income before deductions. Washington ESD needs your total wages to calculate your benefit amount.

Thanks! I was worried I was doing it wrong.

But how do you call when you can't get through to anyone?

Again, this is where Claimyr really helps. I was able to get specific questions answered about my application when I couldn't reach Washington ESD directly.

That's actually a good point. The phone situation really is impossible otherwise.

Can you do that without it affecting anything?

Yeah you can look at the application questions without starting an official claim. Just don't hit submit until you're ready.

This has been really helpful everyone. I think I'm ready to start gathering my documents and get this done. Thanks for all the advice!

Good luck with your application! Take your time and be thorough. It's worth doing it right the first time.

yeah good luck! it's not as bad as it seems once you get started