What is the Washington ESD website for unemployment claims and weekly filing?

Thank you! So esd.wa.gov is just for information and secure.esd.wa.gov is where I actually file?

Exactly right. The secure site is where all the action happens - filing claims, weekly certs, checking payment status, everything.

This is confusing - so I need SAW AND the Washington ESD account? Or is it the same thing?

SAW is your login credentials, but once you're logged in through SAW you access your Washington ESD unemployment account. Think of SAW as the key that unlocks multiple state services.

Got it, that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!

Is that legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for weeks about my adjudication status.

Yeah it's real, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got through to someone who could explain why my claim was stuck in adjudication.

How much does something like that cost though?

I honestly don't remember the exact amount but it was worth it to finally get answers instead of calling for hours every day.

Good tip! I'll definitely bookmark it once I get logged in.

Also enable two-factor authentication if they offer it. My friend's account got compromised last year.

Sunday mornings are the WORST. I learned to file my weekly claim on Tuesday or Wednesday instead.

The whole system is ancient, they really need to upgrade their servers.

At least it works eventually. Better than some other states I've heard about.

Look for 'Apply for Benefits' or 'File New Claim' - it should be pretty prominent on the main page once you're logged in.

Make sure you have all your employment history ready before you start. The system will ask for details about your last 18 months of work.

Thanks! I'll gather all my pay stubs and W2s first.

I tried that number but got confused by all the prompts. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

Yeah the phone system is confusing at first. You need your Social Security number and PIN ready. Stick with the website until you're comfortable with the process.

Good point! Also clear your cache if you're having login issues.

I'm using Chrome so hopefully I'll be okay. Thanks for all the help everyone!

I don't think they have an official app, but the website works okay on mobile browsers. Not great, but it works.

I've been using my phone's browser for months. Just make sure you're connected to wifi because it can use a lot of data.

Thanks! I'll try the mobile browser version.

Yeah, I learned that the hard way. Got flagged for an overpayment because I reported my gross pay instead of net pay. Had to appeal and everything.

Wait, are you supposed to report gross or net? I've been reporting gross...

It's gross pay, not net. The person above might have had a different issue. Always report gross wages.

You're right, I got confused. It was actually a different reporting error on my part.

How long did it take them to get you connected to someone?

Maybe 20 minutes? Way better than the 3+ hours I was spending trying to get through on my own.

Two weeks isn't bad! Mine took over a month because they had to verify my previous employment.

The waiting is the worst part. Especially when you need the money for bills.

Hang in there, it does eventually get processed. Just make sure you keep filing your weekly claims even while waiting for approval.

Good luck with your claim! Don't hesitate to come back here if you run into any issues.

Will do! This community is amazing.

This is such important advice! I made the mistake of using my old college email when I first set up my account and almost missed a deadline because I wasn't checking it regularly. Had to scramble to update my contact info. Definitely use your main email address that you check daily.

Great point about keeping contact info current! I'd also suggest enabling email notifications for all claim-related activities if that option is available. I learned the hard way that Washington ESD doesn't always send physical mail for time-sensitive issues, so email is often the primary way they'll contact you about problems with your claim or required documentation.