Where to sign up for Washington ESD unemployment benefits - need help finding the right place

You can file your initial claim completely online through the Washington ESD website at esd.wa.gov. There's no need to go anywhere in person unless there are specific issues with your claim. The online system is actually preferred and works 24/7. Just make sure you have your Social Security number, driver's license, and employment information for the last 18 months ready.

Make sure you file your claim right away! You want to file for the week you became unemployed, not when you get around to it. I waited a few weeks when I got laid off and lost out on those benefits because you can't backdate claims in most cases.

I had such a hard time getting through to Washington ESD when I needed help with my claim. The phone lines are always busy and I spent hours trying to reach someone. If you run into issues and need to talk to someone, I recently found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com that actually gets you through to ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works. Saved me so much frustration.

The whole process is online now. Go to esd.wa.gov and look for 'file a new claim' or something like that. took me about 30 minutes to complete when i did it last year after my restaurant closed

One important thing - when you file your claim, you'll create an account on SecureAccess Washington (SAW) if you don't already have one. That's the login system Washington ESD uses. Write down your username and password because you'll need to log in every week to file your weekly claim and check your claim status.

UGH the Washington ESD system is so confusing! I filed my claim 2 months ago and it's STILL in adjudication. Nobody can tell me what's wrong or how long it will take. The automated system just keeps saying 'your claim is being reviewed' over and over.

For anyone reading this, the key things you need to know: 1) File online at esd.wa.gov 2) File immediately, don't wait 3) You'll need employment info for last 18 months 4) Create your SecureAccess Washington account 5) File weekly claims every week 6) Do your job searches and log them. That covers the basics.

Just want to add that if you worked in construction like the OP, make sure you report ALL your employers from the last 18 months, including any short-term jobs or side work. Sometimes construction workers forget about smaller jobs but Washington ESD needs a complete work history.

whatever you do dont try to go to a worksource office thinking thats where you file unemployment. i wasted half a day driving around before someone told me its all online now. worksource is just for job search help

I'm going through this process right now too after getting laid off from my office job. The online filing was pretty straightforward but I'm nervous about the weekly claims. Do they really check if you did your job searches?

Pro tip: when you file your claim, you can choose direct deposit or they'll send you a debit card. Direct deposit is faster and more reliable in my experience. The debit cards sometimes have issues or get delayed in the mail.

One thing that caught me off guard - after you file your initial claim, Washington ESD sends a bunch of paperwork in the mail. Don't panic when you get multiple letters. Some are just informational, others might require you to send additional documentation. Read everything carefully.

I used Claimyr when I couldn't figure out why my weekly claims weren't being processed. Turns out there was a system glitch that required an agent to manually fix it. Would have taken me weeks to get through on my own but Claimyr got me connected in a few hours.

The most important thing is just to get started. Don't overthink it. The Washington ESD website walks you through everything step by step. I was so worried about messing something up but it was actually pretty user-friendly.

I need a extension on my unemployment

@Bruce Jones - Unfortunately, Washington state doesn't have automatic extensions like some other states do. Your regular unemployment benefits are limited to 26 weeks maximum. However, there are sometimes federal extension programs during economic downturns or emergencies. I'd recommend calling Washington ESD directly to ask about any current extension programs, or check their website at esd.wa.gov for updates. You might also want to look into other assistance programs like SNAP or local food banks while you continue your job search.