Where to file for unemployment person in Washington state - need help finding the right place
I'm completely lost on where to actually file for unemployment benefits. I got laid off from my warehouse job last week and everyone keeps telling me different things about where to apply. Some people say go to WorkSource, others mention something called Washington ESD, and I've heard about online applications too. I've never done this before and I'm honestly confused about which website or office I'm supposed to use. Can someone please tell me exactly where I need to go to file my claim? I really need to get this started ASAP because bills are piling up.
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Zainab Mahmoud
You need to file online through the Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) website. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for the 'Apply for Benefits' link. Don't go to physical offices unless absolutely necessary - everything is done online now.
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Carlos Mendoza
•Thank you! Is that the same as the SAW website people talk about?
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Zainab Mahmoud
•SAW is SecureAccess Washington - that's the login portal you'll use to access your ESD account once you create it.
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Ava Williams
definitely file online at esd.wa.gov but be prepared for the website to be slow or crash. took me like 3 tries to get through the whole application
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Carlos Mendoza
•Oh great, that's what I was worried about. How long did the whole process take you?
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Ava Williams
•maybe 45 minutes if the site cooperates. have all your employment info ready before you start
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Raj Gupta
Here's exactly what you need to do: 1) Go to esd.wa.gov 2) Click 'Apply for Unemployment Benefits' 3) Create your SAW account if you don't have one 4) Complete the initial application. You'll need your Social Security number, employment history for the past 18 months, and banking info for direct deposit. Don't wait - file as soon as possible because there's a waiting week.
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Carlos Mendoza
•What's a waiting week? Does that mean I won't get paid for the first week?
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Raj Gupta
•Correct - the first week you're unemployed is unpaid. That's why filing immediately is important.
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Lena Müller
•Wait I thought they got rid of the waiting week during COVID?
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Raj Gupta
•The waiting week was reinstated in 2023. It's back to the old rules now.
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TechNinja
I struggled with this too when I got laid off. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible to get through to ask questions. I tried calling dozens of times and either got busy signals or sat on hold for hours before getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr that actually got me through to a real person at ESD. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.
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Carlos Mendoza
•That sounds too good to be true. How does it work exactly?
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TechNinja
•They basically call ESD for you and navigate the phone system. When they get a human, they conference you in. Saved me literally hours of trying to call myself.
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Keisha Thompson
•Never heard of this but honestly anything is better than trying to call ESD directly. That phone system is a nightmare.
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Paolo Bianchi
DONT GO TO WORKSOURCE FIRST!!! I made that mistake and they just told me to file online anyway. Complete waste of time. Start with the ESD website directly.
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Carlos Mendoza
•Good to know! I was actually planning to drive to the WorkSource office tomorrow.
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Paolo Bianchi
•Save yourself the trip. They'll literally just hand you a piece of paper with the website address on it.
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Zainab Mahmoud
Make sure you have all your documentation ready before starting the online application. You'll need employment dates, wages, reason for separation, and employer contact information for every job in the past 18 months. Having everything organized will make the process much smoother.
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Carlos Mendoza
•What if I don't remember exact start/end dates for a job from over a year ago?
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Zainab Mahmoud
•Do your best to estimate. You can always update information later if needed. The important thing is to get your claim filed.
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Yara Assad
•Check your old tax documents or pay stubs if you have them. That's where I found my exact dates.
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Olivia Clark
i filed like 2 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything back. is that normal?? getting really worried
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Raj Gupta
•Two weeks is pretty normal for initial processing. If there are no issues with your claim, you should hear something soon. Check your online account regularly for updates.
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Olivia Clark
•thanks that makes me feel better. this whole process is so stressful
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TechNinja
•If you need to check on your claim status and can't get through by phone, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really helps. They got me connected to ESD when I was worried about my claim.
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Javier Morales
The online application is pretty straightforward but make sure you answer the job separation question accurately. If you were laid off, select 'lack of work' not 'fired' or 'quit'. That distinction is really important for your eligibility.
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Carlos Mendoza
•What if my employer said it was a layoff but I'm not sure if they're going to contest it?
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Javier Morales
•Answer based on what actually happened. If it was truly a layoff due to business reasons, that's what you select. If they contest it later, you can appeal.
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Natasha Petrov
Pro tip: file your claim on a weekday morning if possible. The website tends to be less overloaded then. I tried filing on a Sunday evening and it kept timing out.
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Carlos Mendoza
•Good advice! I was planning to do it tonight but maybe I'll wait until tomorrow morning.
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Ava Williams
•yeah mornings are definitely better. learned that the hard way too
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Connor O'Brien
Don't forget that after you file your initial claim, you'll need to file weekly claims every week to actually receive benefits. A lot of people miss that step and wonder why they're not getting paid.
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Carlos Mendoza
•Weekly claims? How does that work?
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Connor O'Brien
•Every week you have to log in and certify that you're still unemployed and looking for work. Usually opens on Sunday for the previous week.
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Raj Gupta
•Exactly right. And you need to keep detailed records of your job search activities because they can audit those at any time.
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Amina Diallo
I remember being so confused about this too. The Washington ESD website has a step-by-step guide that's actually pretty helpful once you find it. Look for the 'New Claimant Guide' or something like that.
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Carlos Mendoza
•I'll look for that guide. Thanks for the tip!
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GamerGirl99
Whatever you do, don't try calling the ESD customer service line unless you have literally nothing else to do all day. I spent 6 hours on hold last month just to ask a simple question.
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Hiroshi Nakamura
•Six hours?! That's insane. No wonder people are looking for alternatives.
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TechNinja
•This is exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. Life's too short to spend all day on hold with ESD.
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GamerGirl99
•Never heard of Claimyr but honestly might check it out if I need to call ESD again. This is ridiculous.
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Isabella Costa
Make sure you file even if you think you might not be eligible. Let ESD make that determination. I almost didn't file because I wasn't sure about my situation, but it turned out I qualified.
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Carlos Mendoza
•Good point. I was wondering if I should file since I was only at my last job for 6 months.
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Isabella Costa
•Definitely file. They look at your entire work history over 18 months, not just your last job.
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Malik Jenkins
esd.wa.gov is the only official place to file. Don't fall for any scam websites that look similar. There's only one legitimate Washington state unemployment website.
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Carlos Mendoza
•Thanks for the warning. Are there really scam sites?
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Malik Jenkins
•Unfortunately yes. Always make sure you're on the official .gov website.
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Freya Andersen
been there done that with unemployment filing. the whole system is designed to make you give up. but stick with it because once you get through the initial application its not too bad
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Carlos Mendoza
•That's encouraging to hear. I was starting to think this was going to be impossible.
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Freya Andersen
•nah just tedious. the hardest part is getting started and dealing with any issues that come up
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Eduardo Silva
One more thing - when you create your SAW account, write down your username and password somewhere safe. You'll be logging in weekly for claims and it's a pain to reset if you forget.
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Carlos Mendoza
•Good reminder! I'll make sure to save all that info.
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Eduardo Silva
•Trust me on this one. I locked myself out twice trying to remember my login details.
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Leila Haddad
If you run into any problems during the application process, don't panic. The system saves your progress so you can come back to it later. I had to restart mine like 3 times due to website issues.
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Carlos Mendoza
•That's a relief! I was worried about losing everything if the site crashed.
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Leila Haddad
•Yeah it's actually pretty good about saving your info. Just make sure to finish each section before closing the browser.
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Emma Johnson
The unemployment process in Washington is actually not that bad once you know what you're doing. The hardest part is just figuring out where to start, which you now know. Good luck with your claim!
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Carlos Mendoza
•Thank you everyone for all the help! I feel much more confident about filing now. Going to start the application first thing tomorrow morning.
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Raj Gupta
•You're welcome! Feel free to come back here if you run into any issues during the process.
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TechNinja
•And remember, if you need to actually talk to someone at ESD about your claim, Claimyr is there to help get you through their phone system. Made all the difference for me.
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