Where do I go to file unemployment in person - Washington ESD office locations?

That's the site that keeps crashing on me though. Is there really no other option?

Try using Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari, and clear your browser cache first. Sometimes that fixes the timeout issues.

Good idea, I'll try that tomorrow morning. Did you have any other issues after filing?

Yeah the adjudication took forever but that's normal. Just be patient with the process.

That's worth a shot. Do you know their address or phone number?

You can find all the WorkSource locations on their website. They do have computers there you can use if yours is the problem.

Never heard of that service before. How does it work exactly?

It basically helps you get through the phone queue to talk to a real person at Washington ESD. I was on hold for hours before trying it, then got connected in like 15 minutes.

Interesting, I might look into that if I can't get the website working tomorrow.

I understand the frustration. Do you have any family members who could help you file online? Or maybe someone at the library could assist?

my grandson might be able to help but he's always busy with his own stuff

Awesome! Glad that worked for you. Now the waiting game begins for your claim to get processed.

Great news! Make sure you file your weekly claims on time once your initial claim is approved.

That's really helpful! Which community center do you work at?

I'm in Tacoma but most community centers in King County offer similar services. Just call and ask.

Yeah I learned that the hard way. Had to start over twice because I was hunting for my W2s.

Been there! Also make sure you know your gross wages for each employer in the last 18 months.

Was it worth it? I'm getting desperate trying to reach them about my claim status.

Definitely. My claim was stuck in adjudication and the agent was able to tell me exactly what documents they needed. Saved me weeks of waiting.

How much does that Claimyr thing cost though?

It's reasonable considering how much time it saves. Way better than taking unpaid time off work to sit on hold all day.

Good point, I already started applying places but wasn't keeping track. How detailed does the log need to be?

Pretty detailed. Company name, position, date applied, method of contact. They do audit these sometimes.

The help text is confusing though. Like what's the difference between 'quit' and 'discharged'?

Quit means you left voluntarily, discharged means you were fired or laid off. Very important distinction for benefit eligibility.

Oh that makes sense. I was laid off so that would be discharged then.

Yes, you can file for partial unemployment benefits in Washington. You'll need to report your weekly earnings when you file your weekly claims.

That's great news! I didn't know that was an option. Thank you!

I hear you. The adjudication process is way too slow. Did you ever find out why it took so long?

something about verifying my identity even though i sent them everything they asked for. complete joke.

Good tip! Also make sure your pop-up blocker isn't preventing the forms from submitting.

That's really helpful! Do you find that people have specific common problems with the site?

Usually it's browser compatibility issues or people not having all their employment documentation ready. The site is actually pretty straightforward once you know what to expect.

Is that service legit? Sounds too good to be true.

Totally legit. They have a demo video that shows exactly how it works. Just helps you navigate the phone system more efficiently.

You can file up to one year after your separation date, but benefits can only be paid going forward from when you file, not retroactively. So definitely file ASAP.

Good thing I got mine filed this week then. Thanks for the reminder about the time limit.

Probably cost and efficiency. Online filing reduces errors and processing time when it works properly.

I guess that makes sense from their perspective but it's really hard for people who aren't tech savvy.

And check your spam folder! I almost missed an important message because it went to spam.

Great advice, I'll make sure to whitelist the ESD email addresses.