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Save time by filing your weekly claim online.
Claiming your unemployment benefits can be a long and frustrating exercise if you don’t know how the system works. If, like me, you hate talking to machines and being kept on hold for hours on end, this article is for you. We will explain in detail how to file your unemployment claim and prepare you for the answers you will be asked in the online forms.
Please understand that filing your weekly claim is vital if you want to receive your unemployment benefits. If you miss just one week, your payments will automatically freeze and your claim will be inactive until you reopen it.
Where do you file the claim?
Click here to visit Washington State’s online claim webpage.
What information must you supply?
Personal Information
Washington’s Employment Security Department must confirm you are who you claim to be. Answer all the questions truthfully. If you lie on this questionnaire you could be disqualified from receiving benefits altogether.
First, you must supply your Social Security Number twice, to avoid mistakes. You must read the terms and conditions of the website and click on “I agree”.
Fill in the contact information form. You will need to supply your first, middle, last and previous last name (if you have used it in the last five years). Fill in your mailing address, contact telephone number, email and click on the box allowing the ESD to contact you with information on your claim.
You must also supply your age, gender, date of birth, ethnic background, language spoken, your military background (if any) and details on any disabilities you have. The form also requests your citizen status in the U.S. If you are not a citizen you will need to answer four additional questions designed to determine if you are eligible for unemployment benefits.
Eligibility Questions
The ESD must also assess if you are eligible for unemployment benefits by asking pertinent questions. Questions include:
- Have you filed for Unemployment Benefits in any state other than Washington in the last 12 months?
- Do you get your work through a Union?
- Are you starting work for a new employer before X ? The date included in the question will be five Sundays from the date you are filing your claim.
- Did you work 17 or fewer hours each week during the one-year period beginning [ date ] and ending [ date ]? The date shown in your questionnaire will reflect the beginning and end of your base year (52 weeks before your first claim).
- Is there any reason you cannot seek or accept full-time work?
If your answer is no, be ready to offer a good reason or lose your benefits.
Tax Information
The form also asks if you want the UIA to withhold your 10 percent tax liability and send it on to the IRS. Saving for taxes when unemployed is extremely difficult. We recommend you allow the ESD withhold your taxes for you to avoid tax problems in the future.
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