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

You file everything online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. There's no in-person filing anymore - it's all digital now. You'll need to create an account on their SecureAccess Washington (SAW) system first, then you can file your initial application through there.

just go to the esd website and click apply for benefits, its pretty straightforward once you get started

The official Washington ESD application portal is at esd.wa.gov/unemployment. Make sure you're on the legitimate state website - there are scam sites that look similar. The whole process is online now and has been since 2020. You'll create your account, file your initial claim, then file weekly claims every week to get paid.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I filed last year. The website would crash constantly and when I tried calling for help I could never get through to an actual person. If you run into problems trying to file online, there's actually a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can help you get connected to ESD agents when you need to talk to someone. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

ugh the washington esd website is such a nightmare to navigate, took me forever to find the right forms when i filed

One important thing to remember - you need to file your initial claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. There's no waiting period in Washington, so don't delay. Once you file, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits.

I filed mine about 6 months ago and the whole process was actually pretty smooth. The website worked fine for me and I got approved within 3 weeks. Just make sure you have accurate employment dates and wage information.

Make sure you keep track of all your job search activities from day one. Washington requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and you have to report them on your weekly claims. Keep a log with company names, dates, and how you contacted them.

Does anyone know if you can file unemployment if you were a contractor? I was technically 1099 but worked for the same company for 2 years.

btw make sure you use a secure internet connection when filing, dont do it on public wifi since youre entering personal info

The Washington ESD system has gotten so much better over the past few years. I remember when it used to take months to get through to anyone, but now the online system is pretty reliable. Just be patient if there are delays - they process thousands of claims every week.

If you do run into issues and need to talk to someone at Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I was skeptical at first but when my benefits got stopped for some reason I couldn't figure out online, they helped me get through to an agent who fixed it in like 10 minutes.

Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I'm going to file online tonight. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly.

One more tip - take screenshots of everything when you file your claim. Sometimes the system glitches and you'll want proof that you submitted everything correctly and on time.

Also don't panic if your claim goes into adjudication - it sounds scary but it just means they need to verify some information. Mine was in adjudication for 3 weeks but eventually got approved with back pay for the whole period.

washington esd really needs to improve their customer service though. i spent weeks trying to get help with my claim and kept getting different answers from different people

I'm actually a former ESD employee and I can tell you that the online filing system really is the best way to go. The staff there are doing their best but they're overwhelmed with the volume of calls. If you can handle your issue online, that's always going to be faster than trying to call.

For anyone else reading this thread, here's the direct link to apply: esd.wa.gov/unemployment/apply-for-benefits. Don't get sidetracked by other websites that might charge you fees to file - the state service is completely free.

I helped my dad file his claim last month after he got laid off from his job of 15 years. The process was actually pretty straightforward once we got started. The hardest part was gathering all his employment history information. Make sure you have contact info for all your employers from the past 18 months before you start.

Just want to echo what others have said about that Claimyr service - I used it when I couldn't get through to ESD about a payment issue and it actually worked. Sometimes you just need to talk to a real person and the regular phone lines are impossible.