Washington Unemployment Weekly Claims

The Washington unemployment insurance program offers temporary financial aid to those who are without a job and actively looking for new employment. To remain eligible for this program, the state mandates that all applicants submit a claim every week. Once the weekly claim is submitted, the state can process your unemployment benefits.

Weekly claims maintain unemployment eligibility

After applying for unemployment benefits, each unemployed worker must submit weekly claims to the Washington Employment Security Department. This claim is important because it demonstrates that you are meeting the necessary eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance. You will need to submit this claim for every week you wish to receive UI benefits

The unemployment week is from Sunday to Saturday. When you submit your weekly claim, you are claiming benefits for the week that ended the previous Saturday at 11:59 p.m. The week you are claiming must be completed before you file a claim.

When submitting a weekly claim, be prepared to answer questions such as:

1. Were you physically capable and ready for work every day?
2. Did you meet the work search requirements for the week you’re claiming?
3. Did you refuse any offers for suitable work or miss a scheduled job interview?
4. Have you applied for or received workers’ or crime victim’s compensation?
5. Have you applied for or experienced any changes in your pension?
6. Will you receive holiday pay, vacation pay, sick pay, or pay in lieu of notice for any day during the week you’re claiming?
7. Did you serve on a jury?
8. Did you perform Military Reserve or National Guard duties for more than 72 consecutive hours?
9. Did you work for yourself (self-employment)?
10. Did you work for any employer last week?

If you worked during the week, you will also need to tell the department:

1. Wages earned that week, even if you haven’t received the payment yet.
2. The number of hours you worked during that week.
3. The name of your employer’s business.
4. The complete address of your employer’s business.
5. If you’re starting a new job and not continuing one from the previous week, you need to provide the date you started working.

After entering your earnings, you will be asked if you expect to work for the same employer next week. If your answer is no, you must provide the last day you physically worked and explain the reason, such as:

1. Lack of work
2. Being fired from the job
3. Quitting the job
4. Other

Before you submit your unemployment claim, be sure to carefully review all the information you provided to ensure its accuracy. It’s very important to be honest and not hide any details. If you’re found to be misrepresenting or withholding information, it can be seen as unemployment fraud.

Keep in mind that you should keep submitting your weekly claims, even if you are going through the appeals process. If you fail to file a claim, it may cause a delay or denial of unemployment compensation for each week that you do not file.

How to file weekly claims

There are two ways for unemployed workers to submit their weekly claims for Washington state unemployment insurance. The most convenient way is online using the SecureAccess Washington eServices portal, the other way is by phone.

Online

You will want to complete the following instructions to submit a weekly claim online:

1. Visit esd.wa.gov/home
2. Log in using your SecureAccess Washington credentials
3. Click the “UI Claim” under the “Summary” tab
4. Click “You have a weekly claim to file”
5. Choose the week you want to claim
6. Answer the questions on the screen
7. Review answers for accuracy
8. Click “Submit”

Phone

If you decide to file your weekly claims over the phone, you will need to call the UI claims center. You can do this on Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST.

You will need to create a PIN the first time you file your weekly claim by phone, and you will need to provide this PIN for each subsequent weekly phone claim.

How do I know if my weekly claim was successfully submitted?

When you submit your weekly claim through the eServices portal, a confirmation screen will appear when your claim is successfully submitted.

If you choose to submit your weekly claim by phone, you will hear a message saying, “Your claim has been accepted.” If more information is needed, you will be asked to stay on the line to speak with a claims agent or given a phone number to call. It’s important to follow the instructions and make the necessary calls to avoid any delays or denials in receiving your payment.

If you don’t receive a confirmation that your weekly claim has been processed, you can check the status of your claim in two ways:

1. Sign in to your eServices account, go to the “Summary” tab, and click on the “UI claim” link.
2. Call the Claims Center automated phone line after 24 hours have passed.

What if my weekly claim is late?

If you forgot to submit your weekly claim(s) and are not more than four weeks behind, you have two options to catch up:

1. Online through eServices: Click on the designated button that says “You have a UI weekly claim to file” and file your missed weekly claim(s). Your eServices account will show an alert for each week you are eligible to file for your unemployment insurance benefits.
2. By phone: Call the UI claims center to speak with a claims agent who will assist you in filing your missed weekly claim(s).

If you are more than four weeks behind in submitting your weekly claims and want to file for the missed weeks, you will need to make a request through eServices or contact the UI claims center to talk to a claims agent. In this case, you will receive a questionnaire asking why you were late in filing the claims. A decision will then be made to determine if you are allowed to submit the late claims.

How to collect payment

You have two options to receive your benefit payment:

1. Prepaid debit card—You can choose to receive your payments through a prepaid debit card. If you apply online using your eServices account, you can select this option. If you apply by phone, you will automatically receive a debit card.
2. Direct deposit—If you prefer your unemployment compensation be directly paid into your bank account, you can set this up using the eServices portal. If you require assistance, a UI claims center agent can help. For security purposes, direct deposit information cannot be submitted over the phone.

In both cases, your benefit funds will be deposited electronically, either onto the debit card or directly into your designated bank account.

Can I change my preferred payment method?

Yes, if you prefer to change your payment method or need to update your banking details, you can do so using the SecureAccess Washington eServices portal. Simply click “Settings” and then click “Update Payment Information.”