How Do I Apply for Unemployment Benefits with the Washington Unemployment Insurance Claims Center?

Whether you were laid off work due to the Covid-19 or for other reasons, you should apply for unemployment benefits with the Washington Unemployment Insurance Claims Center as you may be eligible to receive payments that can help meet your needs until you find another job. You can apply for benefits by phone; however, due to a high call volume, there is a long wait time so it is recommended that you apply online, which you can do anytime. Make sure you have all the important information pertaining to your last job, ready so there won't be any delays.

Apr 28, 2020

The answer to your question, "How do I apply for unemployment benefits with the Washington Unemployment Insurance Claims Center?" can be found in this article.

What is Unemployment Benefits?

Unemployment benefits come from your former employer's paid taxes for partial payments that replace your former earnings to help meet your expenses until you find another job. These are not benefits based on financial need; rather they are to assist workers who lost their jobs as a no fault of their own result. You are responsible to look for work while receiving these benefits and should find a job as soon as possible.

How to Apply for Benefits

You can apply for benefits by phone (long wait time expected), but the quickest way to apply is online. There are no unemployment offices located in Washington state and even if you visit a Work Source office, they will tell you to apply for benefits by phone or online.

These simple steps will guide you through the unemployment process:

Step 1: Eligibility

If you recently lost your job and are not sure if you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits the following information may help:

• If you were laid off work due to the Covid-19, you are most likely eligible.

• If you are not sure of eligibility, you should apply anyway by completing an application.

Step 2: Apply by phone or online

Whether you apply by phone or online, make sure you have the information required ready before you begin. In either case, the systems will "time out" after a long pause to protect your personal information. Click here to apply online anytime with eServices. Note: you cannot apply with your mobile device, you can only apply with a desktop or laptop computer. If you don't own a computer, you can visit a Work Source center or local library.

How to use eServices

1. Follow the instructions on the eServices website to create a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account. Note: if you already have a SAW account from WorkSourceWA.com or other, use it to log in.

2. You must confirm the computer you are using when signing in for the first time with the device.

3. Fill out the application form to the best of your ability and click, "Submit". A confirmation page will appear once you have successfully submitted an application and a verification email sent to the email address you supplied.

Apply by Phone

Click here to apply by phone or speak to a representative for help.

Step 3: After Applying

After you apply you will soon receive an "Unemployment claim determination" to let you know the status of your claim and whether or not you are eligible. If you are eligible, it will also include how much benefits you will receive.

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Christian has been writing about long hold times and customer service call center experiences since 2010. He's been featured in Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe.
How Do I Apply for Unemployment Benefits with the Washington Unemployment Insurance Claims Center?

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Washington Unemployment Insurance Claims Center

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