What to file for Washington ESD unemployment - completely lost where to start
I just got laid off from my retail job yesterday and everyone keeps telling me I need to file for unemployment but I have absolutely no idea what that even means or where to start. Do I need to file something specific? Is there a form? I tried looking at the Washington ESD website but it's confusing and I don't know what I'm supposed to be filing. Can someone please explain what exactly I need to file and how to do it? I'm really stressed about money and bills.
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Freya Pedersen
You need to file an initial unemployment claim with Washington ESD. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for 'Apply for Benefits' - that's where you start the process. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the last 18 months, and your bank account info if you want direct deposit.
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Ravi Gupta
•Thank you! Do I need to have all my old paystubs or just remember where I worked?
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Freya Pedersen
•You don't need paystubs for the initial application, just employer names, addresses, dates worked, and your gross wages. Washington ESD will verify with your employers directly.
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Omar Hassan
yeah the washington esd site is super confusing at first but once you get through the initial claim its not too bad. make sure you have your ID ready too they ask for identification verification
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Ravi Gupta
•What kind of ID do they want? Just my driver's license?
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Omar Hassan
•drivers license works, they might ask for other stuff too depending on your situation
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Chloe Anderson
After you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to actually get paid. The initial claim just establishes your eligibility - the weekly claims are what trigger your payments. Don't skip weeks or you could lose benefits.
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Ravi Gupta
•Wait so filing unemployment isn't just one thing? I have to keep doing something every week?
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Chloe Anderson
•Exactly. The initial claim sets up your account and determines your benefit amount. Then every week you file a weekly claim certifying you're still unemployed and looking for work.
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Diego Vargas
•This is why I hate the unemployment system - they make it so complicated when people are already stressed about losing their jobs.
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CosmicCruiser
I went through this same confusion last year. Here's what helped me: I used claimyr.com to get through to an actual Washington ESD agent who walked me through the whole process over the phone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of confusion trying to figure it out on my own.
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Ravi Gupta
•Is that like a paid service? I'm already worried about money.
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CosmicCruiser
•It does cost something but honestly it was worth it to me to avoid all the stress and make sure I did everything right the first time. Plus I got connected to an agent same day instead of calling for weeks.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Never heard of that service but might be worth checking out if the regular phone lines are still impossible to get through to.
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Freya Pedersen
The basic process is: 1) File initial claim online, 2) Wait for determination letter, 3) Start filing weekly claims, 4) Complete job search activities. You also need to register with WorkSource within a few weeks of filing your initial claim.
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Ravi Gupta
•What's WorkSource? Another website I have to deal with?
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Freya Pedersen
•WorkSource is Washington's job search system. You register there and use it to log your job search activities. It's required for most unemployment claimants.
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Sean Doyle
ugh the whole thing is such a pain. took me 3 tries to get my initial claim filed correctly because i kept making mistakes on the employment dates
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Ravi Gupta
•What kind of mistakes? I want to make sure I don't mess it up.
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Sean Doyle
•just little stuff like getting the exact start and end dates wrong for my jobs, mixing up my gross vs net pay amounts
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Chloe Anderson
One important thing - file your claim as soon as possible after your last day of work. You can't get benefits for weeks before you file, so don't wait. Even if you're not sure about some details, file and correct them later if needed.
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Ravi Gupta
•So I should file today even though I just lost my job yesterday?
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Chloe Anderson
•Yes, absolutely. The sooner you file, the sooner your benefits can start. There's typically a one-week waiting period anyway.
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Zara Rashid
•This is good advice - I waited two weeks thinking I needed to get all my paperwork together first and lost those two weeks of benefits.
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Diego Vargas
The Washington ESD system is designed to be confusing on purpose I swear. They don't want people to actually get benefits so they make the process as difficult as possible.
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Luca Romano
•I don't think it's intentional but it definitely feels that way sometimes when you're trying to navigate it all.
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Diego Vargas
•Maybe not intentional but they sure don't seem motivated to make it user-friendly.
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Nia Jackson
Pro tip: keep detailed records of everything. Screenshot your claim confirmations, save all emails from Washington ESD, write down dates and times when you call or file claims. You'll need this info if anything goes wrong.
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Ravi Gupta
•Good thinking, I'll start a folder for all this stuff.
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Nia Jackson
•Smart move. I learned this the hard way when I had an issue with a payment and couldn't prove when I'd filed my weekly claim.
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NebulaNova
Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect on your first try. The important thing is to get your initial claim filed. You can always call Washington ESD later to make corrections or clarify things.
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Ravi Gupta
•That's reassuring, I was worried I'd mess something up and lose my benefits forever.
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Mateo Hernandez
•Good luck calling them though - the phone lines are always busy. That's actually why some people use services like Claimyr to get through.
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Aisha Khan
Make sure you understand the job search requirements before you start filing weekly claims. You need to be actively looking for work and document your search activities.
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Ravi Gupta
•How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?
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Aisha Khan
•It depends on your situation but typically it's 3 job search activities per week. Could be applications, networking, job fairs, etc.
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Ethan Taylor
the hardest part for me was figuring out how to report partial work if you pick up some hours while unemployed. make sure you understand how that works before you file your weekly claims
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Ravi Gupta
•I'm not planning to work while on unemployment, is that something I need to worry about?
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Ethan Taylor
•you might change your mind if money gets tight, just good to know the rules ahead of time
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Yuki Ito
Take your time filling out the application and double-check everything before submitting. It's easier to get it right the first time than to deal with corrections later.
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Ravi Gupta
•How long does the application usually take to fill out?
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Yuki Ito
•Probably 30-45 minutes if you have all your information ready. Don't rush it.
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Carmen Lopez
Watch out for adjudication issues - if Washington ESD needs to investigate anything about your claim, it can delay your benefits for weeks. Answer all questions honestly and completely.
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Ravi Gupta
•What would cause an adjudication issue?
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Carmen Lopez
•Things like being fired for misconduct, quitting without good cause, or conflicting information from your employer. Most layoffs don't have these issues.
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AstroAdventurer
I found claimyr really helpful when I got stuck during my application process. Their service connected me with a Washington ESD agent who helped me complete everything correctly. Way less stressful than trying to figure it out alone.
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Ravi Gupta
•Did you have specific problems or was it just general confusion like I'm having?
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AstroAdventurer
•Mostly general confusion plus I had some complicated employment history that I wasn't sure how to report. The agent walked me through each section.
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Andre Dupont
Remember you can file your claim 24/7 online, you don't have to wait for business hours. I filed mine at like 2am when I couldn't sleep after getting laid off.
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Ravi Gupta
•That's good to know, I might do the same thing tonight when I have time to focus on it.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
Once you get your determination letter showing you're approved, it gets much easier. The weekly claims become routine and you'll get into a rhythm.
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Ravi Gupta
•How long does it usually take to get the determination letter?
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•Usually 1-2 weeks if there are no complications. Then you can start filing weekly claims and receiving payments.
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Jamal Wilson
Don't forget to set up direct deposit during your application if you want faster payments. Otherwise they mail you checks which takes longer.
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Ravi Gupta
•Definitely want direct deposit, thanks for reminding me!
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Mei Lin
•Yes direct deposit is the way to go. I think checks take like an extra week or something.
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Liam Fitzgerald
Good luck with everything! The first claim is definitely the hardest part. Once you get through it and understand the system, it's much more manageable.
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Ravi Gupta
•Thank you everyone! I feel so much more prepared now. Going to file my claim tonight.
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GalacticGuru
•You've got this! Don't hesitate to come back if you have more questions after filing.
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Amara Nnamani
One last tip - if you run into problems and can't reach Washington ESD by phone, that claimyr service someone mentioned earlier is legit. I used it when my claim got stuck and couldn't get through on the regular phone lines. Worth checking out their demo video to see how it works.
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Ravi Gupta
•I'll keep that in mind if I run into issues. Hopefully the online application goes smoothly!
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