Where do I go to file for unemployment in Washington state?

Thank you! Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after losing my job or should I file right away?

File as soon as possible! Your claim starts the week you file, not the week you lost your job. Don't wait.

Thank you! Do I need pay stubs or anything like that when I apply?

Nope, you don't need pay stubs for the initial application. Washington ESD will verify your wages with your employer directly.

Thank you! I was getting confused because I saw so many different sites when I googled it.

yeah there's lots of fake sites out there trying to charge people, stick with the official .gov site

Good to know, thanks for the warning!

What's WorkSource Washington? Is that separate from the unemployment filing?

It's the job search requirement system. You have to register there and do job searches every week to keep getting benefits. It's required unless you're on standby with your employer.

Never heard of that service. Is it legit or just another scam?

It's legit - they basically handle the waiting on hold for you and call you back when they get an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration.

Good to know there are options if I can't get through! Hopefully I won't need to call them but this is helpful.

Do I need pay stubs or will they verify my wages some other way?

Washington ESD will verify your wages through their system, but it's good to have your pay stubs handy in case there are any discrepancies.

The phone lines are absolutely terrible. I spent weeks trying to reach someone at Washington ESD about my claim issues.

Actually, I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to Washington ESD when I needed to talk to someone. They have this system that calls for you and gets you connected to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

ugh same problem here, been trying for days

I had the same issue until I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to an actual agent. They have this system that calls for you and waits on hold, then connects you when someone picks up. Check out claimyr.com - they even have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

That sounds too good to be true, is it legit?

Yeah it's real, I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got connected to an agent in about 30 minutes instead of spending all day redialing.

Ha! Good thing you told me, I was about to drive to the nearest office.

WorkSource is different from Washington ESD anyway. WorkSource helps with job searching, Washington ESD handles the unemployment claims.

Good to know, I'll file today then. How long does the whole process usually take?

If everything goes smoothly, you should get your first payment within 2-3 weeks. But if your claim goes into adjudication for any reason, it can take much longer.

Adjudication is when Washington ESD needs to review your claim for some reason - could be a question about why you left your job, conflicting information, or just a random review. Most claims go through without any issues.

Oh okay, that makes sense. Thanks for explaining!

How do I file the weekly claims? Same website?

Yes, same site. You log into your account and file your weekly claim every Sunday. It asks about work you did that week and if you were available for work.

Wait really? I thought it would backdate to when I got laid off.

Nope, that's a common misconception. Washington ESD benefits start from your filing date, so time is money here.

This is wrong actually. You can get benefits backdated up to one week before you file if you meet certain conditions.

That's reassuring, I was worried it would be really complicated.

It's not too bad but make sure you have a good internet connection. The site timed out on me twice and I had to start over.

How do I do the weekly claims? Is that on the same website?

Yes, same website. You'll get instructions after your claim is processed. You have to do it every week to keep getting benefits.

That's exactly how I'm feeling right now. Did you eventually get it figured out?

yeah eventually but it took like 3 weeks to get my first payment because i messed up some of the initial info

What would cause it to go into adjudication? I was laid off due to company downsizing.

Layoffs are usually straightforward, but they might still need to verify with your employer. Just be completely honest about everything and you should be fine.

My claim was in adjudication for 6 weeks! They said they were verifying my work history but never told me what the holdup was.

What does backdating mean exactly?

It means they can start your claim from when you actually became unemployed instead of when you filed, so you don't lose those weeks of benefits.

Great advice, thank you. I'll make sure to document everything.

This is so important! I had to prove I filed my weekly claim because their system didn't show it and I almost lost a week of benefits.

What's SAW? Is that different from the Washington ESD website?

SAW is the login system Washington state uses for all their online services. You create one account and use it for unemployment, licensing, taxes, everything.

What counts as a job search contact? Just applying for jobs?

Applying for jobs, networking events, career fairs, even some online training courses can count. There's a list on the Washington ESD website of approved activities.

Good tip! I'll try to file during off-peak hours.

How much does that service cost? I'm already tight on money.

It's definitely worth it when you consider how much time you save not having to redial constantly. Way better than spending entire days trying to get through.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week?

It depends on your situation but usually 3 job search activities per week. Can be applications, networking, interviews, etc.

UI just means unemployment insurance - that's what Washington ESD calls the benefits program.

Yeah it's confusing at first but you get used to it. The important thing is getting that initial claim filed.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved?

About 2 weeks for me, but I had a simple layoff situation. If your case is more complicated it might take longer.

Seems like a lot of people have trouble reaching Washington ESD directly. Good to know there are alternatives.

Yeah the phone system is terrible. I spent hours trying to get through before finding out about services like that.

I was laid off due to company downsizing, so that should be straightforward, right?

Yes, layoffs are usually the most straightforward. Just make sure you have any paperwork from your employer about the layoff.

There's a waiting week? I thought benefits started right away.

Most states have a waiting week but I think Washington eliminated theirs. You should still check though.

That's reassuring to hear. Hopefully I won't need to use it again after this time!

I've only worked in Washington so that shouldn't apply to me.

That's not as bad as I thought it would be. Thanks for the reassurance!

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice. I feel much more confident about filing now.

We've all been there. The unemployment system isn't perfect but it's there to help when you need it.

I'll definitely keep that in mind if I run into any issues. Thanks again everyone!

Have you tried calling first thing in the morning? I heard that's when you have the best chance.

Tried that, tried lunch time, tried different days of the week. Nothing works.

This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. The regular phone system is just broken. At least with their service you don't have to sit there listening to hold music for hours.

Good advice, I'll set that up right now.

Yeah the website crashes a lot during peak times. Monday mornings are the worst.

What kind of documents do they want for ID verification?

Usually driver's license, Social Security card, and sometimes additional documents like utility bills or bank statements.

Thanks for the encouragement, I really needed to hear that.

patience is key for sure, but sometimes you need to be persistent too especially if something goes wrong with your claim

This! I wasted half a day at the Tacoma office only to leave with a printout of the website URL.

Weekly claims? I thought you just filed once and then got paid automatically.

Nope, you have to file a weekly claim every week to get paid. It's like checking in to prove you're still eligible.

And make sure you keep track of your job search activities! Washington ESD requires you to look for work and keep records.

How much does that cost? Seems sketchy to pay someone to make phone calls for you.

It's legitimate - they just use technology to get through the busy phone system faster than doing it manually. Way less frustrating than trying to call yourself.

What if I don't remember exact dates? I've had a few different jobs.

Do your best with approximate dates. Washington ESD will verify the details with your employers anyway.

Yeah I noticed this too. Try filing during off-peak hours if you can.

Thanks everyone! This has been super helpful. I'm going to file online today.

Good luck! The hardest part is just getting started. Once you're in the system it gets easier.

Ugh more websites? How many different systems do I need to deal with?

I know it's annoying but it's just part of the process. WorkSourceWA is where you'll log your job search activities.

Set a reminder on your phone! I almost forgot one week and it would have messed up my whole claim.