Where to apply for unemployment online - Washington ESD website confusion

You'll want to go to esd.wa.gov first, then look for the 'Apply for Benefits' link. It will redirect you to the secure site at secure.esd.wa.gov. Yes, you'll need to create a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account if you don't already have one. Make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment history for the past 18 months ready.

I applied last month and it was pretty straightforward once I found the right page. The hardest part was remembering all my job details from the past year and a half. Make sure you apply as soon as possible because there's a waiting week and benefits are calculated from when you file, not when you lost your job.

Just a heads up - if you have trouble getting through to Washington ESD by phone later (and you probably will), I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually got me through to a real person. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me hours of calling and getting hung up on.

THE WASHINGTON ESD WEBSITE IS HORRIBLE. I spent 3 hours trying to figure out where to apply and kept getting error messages. The SAW login system crashes constantly and their phone lines are always busy. This whole system is designed to make people give up before they get benefits.

same thing happened to me, got laid off and panicked about where to apply. turns out its not that complicated once you get started just takes forever to load

For anyone reading this thread, here's the step-by-step process: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov 2) Click 'Unemployment Benefits' 3) Click 'File a Claim' 4) Create your SAW account or log in 5) Complete the application with all required information. The system will guide you through each step. Make sure you file during your first week of unemployment to avoid delays.

I remember when I applied for unemployment back in 2019 it was so much easier. Now with all the changes and security updates it feels like they made it harder on purpose. But yeah the main Washington ESD site is where you start.

Update: I was able to get my application submitted! Took about an hour total including creating the SAW account. Thanks everyone for the help. Now I guess I wait to see if it gets approved. Fingers crossed!

Glad you got it figured out! I had a similar experience last year when I got laid off from my manufacturing job. The website was confusing at first but once you know where to go it's not too bad.

For future reference, you can also apply by phone if the website isn't working, but good luck getting through. I tried for 3 days straight and never got past the busy signal. That's actually when I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier - totally worth it to skip the phone nightmare.

just applied last week myself, the whole process is pretty straightforward if you have all your info ready. worst part is waiting to hear back

Make sure you keep checking your account regularly after applying. Sometimes Washington ESD will request additional information and if you don't respond quickly it can delay your claim for weeks. They don't always send email notifications so you have to log in and check.

The Washington ESD online system crashes so much I swear they do it on purpose to discourage claims. But persistence pays off eventually.

applied online about a month ago, still waiting for approval. apparently my case is in adjudication because my previous employer is disputing the claim. so frustrating

Pro tip: print out or screenshot your confirmation page after submitting your application. I forgot to do this and had to call later to verify my claim number, which took forever to get through.

The SAW account creation was the hardest part for me. Kept saying my information didn't match their records even though I was entering everything correctly. Had to try like 6 times before it worked.

washington esd website works fine for me, never had any problems. maybe people just need to be more patient with government websites

Applied 3 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything. Starting to wonder if I did something wrong during the application process. The waiting is the worst part.

Thanks for posting this question! I'm in the same boat and this thread answered all my questions about where to apply online. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences.

One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure you apply for the right type of benefits. There's regular unemployment and then there's stuff like standby pay for certain situations. I applied for the wrong one initially and had to start over.