What to bring to unemployment office Washington ESD appointment - complete document list?

Thanks! I didn't think about bringing a pen. Do I need bank statements too?

Bank statements can help if there are questions about your financial situation or if they need to verify direct deposit info.

I've been keeping a job search log but it's pretty basic. Is there a specific format they want?

nah they just want to see you're looking for work. mine was just a simple list with dates and company names

What if you don't have the separation paperwork? My employer never gave me anything official when they let me go.

You should still go to the appointment. Explain the situation and they may be able to contact your employer directly. Don't let missing one document derail your claim.

Same here! I've called probably 50 times and either get busy signals or hung up on. This is ridiculous.

I found this service called Claimyr that actually helped me get through to a real person at Washington ESD. They handle the calling for you and connect you when an agent picks up. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Is that legit? I'm so desperate at this point I'll try anything to reach someone at Washington ESD.

Good point about multiple copies. Should I bring originals or are photocopies okay?

Bring originals so they can verify them, but have copies too in case they need to keep something on file.

Ugh, 2 hours? Was it at least productive or just a lot of waiting around?

Mostly waiting but once I got seen they were actually helpful. My claim got approved that same day after being stuck for months.

Where do I find my customer ID? Is it on my determination letter?

It should be on any correspondence from Washington ESD, including your determination letter and weekly claim confirmations.

I did some Uber driving between jobs. Do I need to bring records of that?

Yes, bring any 1099 forms or records of that income. It could affect your benefit calculation.

I don't have a lawyer but should I consider getting one? My case seems pretty straightforward.

For a basic claim you probably don't need a lawyer, but if there are complications or appeals involved it might be worth considering.

How do I know which employers are in my base period? I've worked for several companies in the past year.

Your base period is usually the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim. Check your determination letter - it should list the base period employers.

Good thinking! I probably would have forgotten that and my phone always dies at the worst times.

Yeah I was planning on business casual. Thanks for the reminder!

Agreed. Treat it like a job interview. Professional appearance shows you're serious about finding work.

That's frustrating! I've been trying to call but can never get through to ask what I need.

That's where Claimyr really helped me out. Instead of spending hours trying to call Washington ESD myself, they got me connected to an agent who could tell me exactly what to bring to my appointment. Saved me a lot of time and stress.

I'm not on medical leave but I did have a minor injury that kept me out of work for a few days. Should I mention that?

If it was just a few days you're probably fine, but if it affected your job search activities it might be worth mentioning.

Great advice! I'll write down all my questions beforehand so I don't forget anything important.

Definitely this! I got so nervous during my appointment that I forgot to ask half the things I wanted to know.

I'm not receiving other benefits but good to know in case my situation changes.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I feel much more prepared now. Hopefully this appointment will finally get my claim moving.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes. Fingers crossed they approve your claim quickly after the appointment.