How to File for Unemployment in Washington

Apply online through your ESD eServices account (secure.esd.wa.gov). File your first weekly claim the Sunday after you apply, even if your claim is still being reviewed, and file every week after that. Each weekly claim reports your job search, any hours worked and gross earnings, and any holiday, vacation or sick pay.

You need at least 680 hours of work in your base year, and at least some of your wages must be from Washington. The base year is generally the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you do not have 680 hours, ESD can use an alternate base year of the last four completed quarters.

Unless ESD tells you otherwise, complete at least 3 approved job search activities every week, starting the week you want benefits to begin. Activities that count include applying for jobs that fit your skills, interviewing, reporting to a union hiring hall if you are a member, and using reemployment services at a WorkSource center. Keep a job search log for at least 30 days after your benefit year ends.

Washington's Employment Security Department (ESD) eServices is where you file weekly unemployment claims online (available 12 a.m. Sunday to 11:59 p.m. Saturday): log in and look under "Account alerts" for "You have a UI weekly claim to file." A claim week runs Sunday through Saturday and can't be claimed until it ends; file for each week you want benefits (your first eligible week is an unpaid waiting week). You can also file by phone at 800-318-6022 (automated system 12 a.m. Sunday through 4 p.m. Friday), which is also the number to call to correct an error on a filed claim. Washington Relay: 711.