Good luck with your claim! The process seems intimidating but most people get through it fine. Just stay organized and don't hesitate to ask questions if you get stuck.

One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you understand the difference between "able and available" vs "actively seeking work." You have to be physically and mentally able to work, available during normal business hours, and actively looking for work. I got confused about this initially and thought being available meant I could be picky about hours or location, but Washington ESD expects you to be genuinely ready to accept suitable work. Also, keep copies of everything you submit - your initial application, weekly claims, job search logs, etc. You never know when you might need to reference something later if there are questions about your claim.

Just want to add that persistence is key. I called for 4 days straight before finally getting through, but once I did they fixed my issue in 10 minutes. Don't give up!

I feel your pain! I went through the exact same thing last month. What finally worked for me was using multiple strategies at once - I'd call right at 8am while also having that Claimyr service working in the background. The key is not putting all your eggs in one basket. Also, if you do get through to someone, ask them about setting up a callback appointment for future issues. Some agents can schedule specific times to call you back which avoids the whole hold nightmare. Don't lose hope - that error message is usually something they can fix quickly once you actually reach a human!

Glad you found it! Thanks for sharing both navigation paths - that will definitely help others. Make sure to download and save a copy for your records.

Just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble accessing eServices, you can also try using a different browser or clearing your browser cache. I had login issues last month and switching from Chrome to Firefox solved it immediately. Also, make sure you're using the secure.esd.wa.gov URL and not any other ESD website - there are some fake/scam sites out there that look similar but won't actually let you access your real account information.

this whole thread should be pinned somewhere, i bet tons of people have this same worry when theyre job hunting after unemployment

I completely understand your worry about this - it's such a common fear that keeps people up at night when job hunting! I went through the exact same anxiety when I was looking for work after being on unemployment for several months. But everyone here is absolutely right - your Washington ESD claim information is completely confidential and protected by privacy laws. Employers literally cannot access this information through background checks or any other means. I've been hired at two different companies since my unemployment period ended, and it never came up once. The only thing that matters is how you explain any employment gaps (just say you were laid off and looking for the right opportunity), not whether you filed for benefits. You have nothing to worry about - focus your energy on highlighting your skills and experience instead!

Thanks for this thread everyone. Really helpful to see real experiences instead of just the vague info on the Washington ESD website.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my initial claim about 10 days ago after being laid off from my marketing job. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really reassuring. It sounds like 2-3 weeks is pretty typical for straightforward layoff cases. I've been diligently filing my weekly claims and keeping up with the job search requirements. The uncertainty is definitely stressful when you're trying to budget, but it helps knowing others have gone through this successfully. Thanks for sharing all these real-world timelines!