Where to apply unemployment benefits in Washington - need help finding the right place
I just got laid off from my construction job yesterday and I'm completely lost about where to apply unemployment benefits. I've never had to do this before and I'm seeing different websites when I search online. Is there a specific Washington ESD website I should be using? I don't want to accidentally apply somewhere wrong or get scammed. Can someone point me in the right direction please?
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Zadie Patel
The official Washington State Employment Security Department website is esd.wa.gov - that's where you need to go to file your initial claim. You'll create an account and go through the application process there. Don't use any other sites that might charge you fees.
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Ali Anderson
•Thank you! Is there anything I need to have ready before I start the application?
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Zadie Patel
•Yes, you'll need your Social Security number, driver's license, employment history for the past 18 months, and information about why you lost your job. Have your pay stubs ready too if you have them.
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A Man D Mortal
Make sure you apply as soon as possible! There's a waiting week but the sooner you file the better. I waited a week after getting fired and wish I had done it immediately.
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Ali Anderson
•Oh no, does that mean I already missed out on benefits for this week?
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Declan Ramirez
•No you're fine, you can still backdate your claim to when you lost your job. Washington ESD allows this for good cause.
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Emma Morales
I tried calling Washington ESD when I needed to apply but could never get through. The phone lines are always busy. I ended up using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get connected to an actual person at Washington ESD. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ. Saved me hours of trying to call myself.
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Katherine Hunter
•Never heard of that service before. Is it legit? I'm always worried about giving my info to third parties for government stuff.
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Emma Morales
•Yeah it's legitimate, they just help you get through to Washington ESD faster. They don't ask for your personal claim information, just help with the calling part.
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Lucas Parker
•I actually used Claimyr too when I had issues with my adjudication taking forever. Worth it to avoid sitting on hold for hours.
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Donna Cline
whatever you do dont use any sites that ask for money upfront!! Washington ESD is free to apply, anyone charging you is a scam
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Ali Anderson
•Good to know, thanks for the warning!
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Declan Ramirez
The process is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. You'll fill out the initial application on esd.wa.gov, then you'll need to file weekly claims to continue receiving benefits. Make sure you keep track of any work search activities because Washington has job search requirements.
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Ali Anderson
•What are the job search requirements? Do I need to apply to a certain number of jobs per week?
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Declan Ramirez
•Yes, you need to complete at least 3 job search activities per week. This can include applying for jobs, attending job fairs, networking activities, etc. Keep good records because they may audit your search log.
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Harper Collins
•I got audited last year and it was a pain. Make sure you document everything properly from the start.
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Kelsey Hawkins
Also be prepared for potential delays. My claim went into adjudication and took 6 weeks to get resolved. Construction layoffs sometimes trigger additional review.
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Ali Anderson
•Why would construction cause extra review? It was a legitimate layoff due to end of project.
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Kelsey Hawkins
•Seasonal work and project-based employment sometimes gets flagged for additional verification. Nothing you did wrong, just how their system works.
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Dylan Fisher
Make sure you have all your employer information exact - company name, address, dates of employment, reason for separation. Any mistakes can delay your claim.
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Ali Anderson
•Should I contact my old employer to get exact information or just use what I remember?
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Dylan Fisher
•Use your final paystub if you have it, or your W-2 from last year. That will have the exact employer information Washington ESD needs.
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Edwards Hugo
I'm going through this process right now too. The online application took me about 30 minutes to complete. They ask a lot of questions about your work history and why you're unemployed.
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Ali Anderson
•Were any of the questions confusing? I want to make sure I answer everything correctly.
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Edwards Hugo
•The hardest part was remembering exact dates for all my previous employers. The questions themselves are pretty straightforward.
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Gianna Scott
Pro tip: apply early in the morning or late at night when the website is less busy. I had trouble with timeouts during peak hours when everyone is trying to file their weekly claims.
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Alfredo Lugo
•This is good advice. I always file my weekly claims at like 6am on Sunday and never have issues.
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Sydney Torres
Don't forget you'll also need to register with WorkSource Washington for job search activities. It's a separate website but required for maintaining your benefits.
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Ali Anderson
•Is that something I do right away or can I wait until after I file my claim?
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Sydney Torres
•You can do it after filing your initial claim, but don't wait too long. You'll need it active for your job search requirements.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
Just to reiterate what others said - esd.wa.gov is the ONLY official site. I've seen fake sites that look similar so double check the URL.
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Ali Anderson
•Thanks everyone for all the help! I feel much more confident about getting started now.
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Caleb Bell
When I first applied I was so confused about the difference between filing the initial claim and filing weekly claims. The initial claim is just once to get started, then you file weekly claims every week to get paid.
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Danielle Campbell
•Yeah that confused me too at first. Weekly claims are what actually triggers your payments.
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Ali Anderson
•So I file once to apply, then file every week after that to keep getting benefits?
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Caleb Bell
•Exactly! The weekly claims ask if you worked, if you looked for work, and if you're able and available to work.
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Rhett Bowman
If you run into any issues getting through to Washington ESD by phone after you apply, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier really does work. I was stuck in adjudication hell and couldn't reach anyone for weeks until I used their calling service.
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Abigail Patel
•How much does something like that cost? I'm already tight on money being unemployed.
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Rhett Bowman
•It's worth checking out their website for pricing, but honestly the time it saved me was worth it. I was going crazy trying to get through on my own.
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Daniel White
Just remember that Washington ESD has pretty strict deadlines for everything. If they request additional information or documentation, respond quickly or your claim could get denied.
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Ali Anderson
•What kind of additional information might they ask for?
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Daniel White
•Could be anything - proof of earnings, verification of your job separation, identification documents. Just depends on your specific situation.
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Nolan Carter
The good news is once your claim is approved, payments usually come pretty quickly. I get mine via direct deposit every Tuesday for the previous week.
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Natalia Stone
•You can also get a debit card if you don't want direct deposit. Both options are free.
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Ali Anderson
•I'll probably do direct deposit. Seems faster and more convenient.
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Tasia Synder
Last thing - keep all your paperwork organized! You might need to reference dates, amounts, or other details later if any issues come up with your claim.
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Ali Anderson
•Good point. I'll start a folder with all my unemployment documents right away.
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