What you need to apply for unemployment benefits in Washington - complete checklist

You'll definitely need your Social Security number and ID, but make sure you also have your complete work history including employer names, addresses, phone numbers, and dates of employment for the last 18 months. Washington ESD also requires the reason you're no longer working at each job. If you were laid off, have any layoff notices or termination letters ready.

Don't forget you'll need your bank account information for direct deposit! Also, if you worked for the federal government or military in the last 18 months, you'll need your SF-8 or SF-50 forms. The Washington ESD application asks for pretty detailed wage information too.

Ugh, I spent forever trying to get through to Washington ESD by phone when I had questions during my application. The hold times are absolutely insane! I kept getting disconnected after waiting for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to an agent in like 15 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Totally worth it when you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD about your application.

Make sure you have your alien registration number if you're not a U.S. citizen. Also, if you're married, you might need your spouse's Social Security number depending on your situation. The application asks about household income in some cases.

One thing that tripped me up was having the exact dates of employment. Don't just guess - Washington ESD will verify everything with your employers. If you're not sure about start/end dates, check your pay stubs or W-2s first. Also, if you had any side jobs or contract work, you'll need that information too.

If you were in the military, you'll need your DD-214. If you worked out of state, make sure you have all that employment info too since Washington ESD needs to coordinate with other states for your wage records.

also make sure you know WHY you're unemployed specifically. like were you laid off, fired, quit, seasonal work ended, etc. washington esd is really picky about this and it affects whether you get benefits or not

Don't forget about your work search requirements! You'll need to be actively looking for work and keeping track of your job search activities. Washington ESD requires you to make job contacts and log them in WorkSourceWA. Start setting that up early.

If you're applying online (which you should), make sure you have a good internet connection and set aside at least an hour to complete the application. Don't rush through it - mistakes can delay your claim processing.

One more thing - if you have any union information, have that ready too. Washington ESD asks about union membership and any union benefits you might be receiving. Also, if you're collecting a pension from any previous employer, you'll need those details.

Just went through this process last month and it was actually pretty straightforward once I had everything organized. The key is being thorough and honest about everything. Washington ESD will fact-check your information anyway, so don't try to hide anything or fudge dates.

Make sure you have your email address and phone number that you check regularly. Washington ESD communicates mostly through their online portal, but they'll also send important notices to your email. Set up your SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't have one already.

Pro tip: take screenshots or photos of all your important documents before you start the application. Sometimes the system asks you to refer back to specific information and it's easier if you have everything saved on your phone or computer.

I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times when I had questions about my application and could never get through. Someone mentioned Claimyr earlier and I finally tried it last week - got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. Really helped me get my application issues sorted out quickly.

One last thing - if you're a student or recent graduate, you might need information about your school enrollment. Washington ESD has specific rules about student eligibility for unemployment benefits. Have your enrollment dates and class schedule ready just in case.