What is required to file for unemployment with Washington ESD - need checklist

You'll need your Social Security card, driver's license or state ID, and employment history for the last 18 months. Make sure you have exact dates of employment, employer names and addresses, and your gross wages for each job. Also get your bank account info for direct deposit setup.

Don't forget about the reason for separation! If you're being laid off, get a letter from HR stating it's due to lack of work. If you're fired, make sure you understand the reason they're giving. This affects whether you'll be eligible right away or if there will be an adjudication process.

File your claim the first week you're unemployed, not before your last day of work. You can file online at secure.esd.wa.gov or by phone, but the online system is usually faster. The phone lines get crazy busy and you might wait hours to get through.

Make sure you register with WorkSource Washington too! It's required for job search compliance. You need to create an account and start logging your job search activities from week one. Some people don't realize this and get in trouble later.

ugh the whole process is such a nightmare... i filed 2 months ago and still dealing with adjudication issues. make sure ALL your info is 100% accurate because any tiny mistake can delay everything for weeks

Here's a complete checklist: 1) SSN and ID documents 2) Complete work history with exact dates and wages 3) Reason for separation documentation 4) Bank info for direct deposit 5) Register with WorkSource WA 6) File your initial claim online 7) Complete your weekly claims every week without fail

One thing that caught me off guard - they ask for your alien registration number if you're not a US citizen. Make sure you have that ready if it applies to you. Also, if you worked in multiple states recently, the process gets more complicated.

Pro tip: take screenshots of everything when you file online. The system sometimes glitches and loses information. I always save confirmation numbers and print out my weekly claim confirmations just in case.

If you run into any issues with your claim or need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, don't waste hours on hold. I discovered claimyr.com recently - they help you get through to actual agents. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me so much time when I had adjudication questions.

also make sure you file your weekly claims EVERY week even if your initial claim is still pending. missing even one week can mess up your whole claim and you might lose benefits for that week permanently

Don't forget about the waiting week! In Washington, you don't get paid for your first week of unemployment. So if you file today, week 1 is your waiting week, and you'd get paid starting week 2 (assuming your claim is approved).

What about if you have vacation pay or severance? I think that affects when you can start collecting but I'm not sure how it works.

The medical documentation is important too if you have any health issues that might affect your ability to work. You need to be able and available for work to qualify, so if you have restrictions, make sure you understand how that impacts eligibility.

I made the mistake of not updating my address before filing. Make sure all your contact info is current because Washington ESD will mail important documents and you don't want to miss them.

If your claim gets stuck in adjudication (which happens more often than it should), that's when services like Claimyr become really valuable. The phone system is just overwhelmed and getting through to resolve issues can take weeks if you're trying on your own.

The job search requirement starts immediately, so don't slack on that. You need to be actively looking for work from day one, not just going through the motions. They do audit job search logs and can disqualify you if you're not really trying.

honestly the system is pretty straightforward if you have all your info ready. the horror stories are usually from people who didn't prepare or made mistakes on their application. take your time and double check everything

One last thing - set up your online account before you actually need it. Sometimes there are delays with account verification and you don't want to be scrambling on your first day of unemployment.

Perfect timing for this question - having everything organized ahead of time makes the whole process much smoother. You're smart to plan ahead instead of scrambling after the fact like a lot of people do.

Just remember that even with perfect preparation, the system can still have hiccups. Don't panic if something doesn't go exactly as planned - there are always ways to resolve issues. The key is staying on top of your weekly claims and responding quickly to any requests from Washington ESD.