Where to file for unemployment - Washington ESD application process help needed

Everything is done online through Washington ESD (Employment Security Department). You'll need to go to esd.wa.gov and create an account. The system is called SecureAccess Washington (SAW) and that's where you'll file your initial claim and do your weekly claims too.

The Washington ESD website can be tricky to navigate at first. Make sure you're on the official esd.wa.gov site and not some third-party site. You'll create your SAW account first, then file your unemployment claim through that portal.

I tried calling Washington ESD to ask questions before filing but couldn't get through after hours of trying. The phone lines are always busy. If you need to talk to someone, I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to actual ESD agents. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

make sure you file asap! there's a waiting week in washington but the sooner you file the sooner that week starts. don't wait thinking you need to have everything perfect

I'm going through this right now too. Filed three weeks ago and still waiting for my claim to be processed. It's been stuck in adjudication forever. Washington ESD is so slow with everything.

The key is to file your initial claim online at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible after your last day of work. You can file on Sunday through Friday, and the system is usually less busy early in the morning or late at night.

Whatever you do, don't go to a physical office. They're mostly closed for in-person services anyway. Everything has to be done online through the Washington ESD website.

Once you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to continue receiving benefits. This is also done through your SAW account. Don't miss a week or you could lose benefits for that period.

Also be prepared for the job search requirements. Washington requires you to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. This starts after your waiting week.

I had trouble with the SAW system last year - kept getting error messages. If that happens to you, try a different browser or clear your cache. The system can be finicky sometimes.

honestly the whole system is a mess but you just gotta push through it. took me like 2 hours to file my initial claim because i kept having to go back and fix things

Make sure you have your bank information ready if you want direct deposit. It's much faster than waiting for a check in the mail.

One more thing - if you have any questions about your claim status or need help with issues, that Claimyr service mentioned earlier is really helpful. I used it when I couldn't get through to Washington ESD about an adjudication issue. Much better than spending hours on hold.

Don't forget to keep records of everything! Save confirmation numbers, print out your claim summary, and keep track of all your job search activities. You might need them later.

UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that I finally got through to someone at Washington ESD using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Turns out my employer hadn't responded to their request for information, which was holding up my claim. The agent was able to escalate it for me.

For the original poster - the most important thing is to file your initial claim at esd.wa.gov as soon as possible. Don't overthink it, you can always call later if you have questions. The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits.

Good luck with your claim! Just remember to file your weekly claims every week and keep up with the job search requirements. The system works if you follow the rules.

One last tip - if you get denied for any reason, don't panic. You can appeal the decision. Washington ESD makes mistakes sometimes and appeals are pretty common.

yeah and if you do need to appeal or have other issues, that claimyr thing is probably worth it. beats sitting on the phone all day trying to get through to someone

Welcome to the unemployment club! It's not fun but at least Washington has decent benefits compared to some states. Hope your claim goes through quickly and smoothly.