Where do I file unemployment in Washington - confused about the process

Everything is done online through the Washington ESD website. You'll need to create an account at esd.wa.gov and file your initial claim there. Make sure you have your SSN, driver's license, and employment info from your last job ready.

Just went through this myself last month. The Washington ESD online system can be confusing at first but it's really the only way to do it now. Physical offices are basically appointment-only for special cases.

The hardest part honestly isn't filing - it's getting through to someone at Washington ESD when you have questions. I spent hours calling their customer service line and kept getting busy signals or hung up on. If you run into that problem, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to actual agents. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

Make sure you have all your wage information ready before you start filing. Washington ESD will ask for details about your last 18 months of employment including employer names, addresses, dates worked, and how much you earned.

ugh the whole system is such a pain. took me forever to figure out how to navigate their website when i got laid off

One thing to remember - after you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to keep getting benefits. Don't forget about that part!

I'm dealing with the same thing right now. Got let go from my restaurant job last week and still haven't filed yet because I keep putting it off.

Also worth mentioning - you'll need to register with WorkSource Washington as part of the process. They'll walk you through that during the initial claim filing.

The Washington ESD website is esd.wa.gov - don't accidentally go to some other state's site. I made that mistake when I first started looking into unemployment.

If you run into any issues during the filing process or afterward, definitely consider using Claimyr to get through to Washington ESD. I wish I had known about it earlier - would have saved me so much frustration trying to reach someone.

Pro tip: file early in the morning if possible. The website tends to be slower during peak hours when everyone's trying to file their weekly claims.

Don't forget to keep track of your job search activities from day one. Washington ESD requires you to look for work and keep records of your search efforts.

Filed mine online last year when I got laid off from Boeing. The process was pretty straightforward once I got started. Just make sure you answer all the questions honestly.

If your claim goes into adjudication for any reason, that's when you'll really want to be able to reach someone at Washington ESD to check on the status. The online system doesn't always give you clear updates.

The system asks for a lot of personal information so make sure you're on the legit Washington ESD website and not some scam site. Always double-check the URL.

same boat here, got laid off from my construction job and dreading dealing with all the paperwork and bureaucracy

One more plug for Claimyr - seriously, if you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD and can't get through on your own, it's a lifesaver. I used it when my weekly claim got stuck and I needed answers quickly.

Make sure you file in Washington since that's where you worked. Don't try to file in a different state even if you move - stick with Washington ESD.

The whole process stressed me out so much when I first did it, but looking back it really wasn't that bad. You've got this!

Quick question - do you need to be a US citizen to file for unemployment in Washington? Asking for a friend who's on a work visa.