Washington Unemployment Insurance (UI) program provides financial assistance for unemployed workers who have worked in the state of Washington in past 18 months and have lost their job due to no fault of their own. The benefits offered by the UI program are temporary in nature and only offer a partial wage replacement to ease off the unemployment burden on the state. Funds for UI program are contributed by employers.

Filing a claim for UI benefits in Washington is easy. You can submit your initial and subsequent weekly claim online using a user-friendly online services website. The amount of benefits you qualify to receive depends on wages you received during the base period.

Eligibility Requirements

Getting help with UI benefits in Washington

If you have questions about UI benefits and claim process in Washington, visit this FAQ page. It will answer most of your questions.

You will receive your benefits through a debit card but if you want to receive them using Direct Deposit, visit this link for information and instruction on how to apply for Direct Deposit in Washington.

If you still have questions and need assistance, you can speak to a UI representative by calling the UI Claim Center by dialing 800-318-6022.

If you need to contact Employment Security Department, you can contact your local office by visiting this page.

Managing UI claim

After you file your initial claim using the online or telephone application, you will need to file a claim each week to receive benefits for that week. You should file a claim even if you are waiting to find out about your eligibility or appealing a denial of benefits. If you do not file a claim during a week, you won't be able to receive benefits retroactively even if the eligibility/appeal decision comes in your favor.

If you need assistance filing a weekly claim, watch an instructional video here.

If you were blocked from filing weekly claims for any reason, you should visit this page and follow instructions to be able to file a weekly claim.

If your claim was closed because you found a job, you can re-open it again by visiting this link in case you are still within the claim period.

Learn more about UI benefits in Washington

For information about Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and claim process in Washington, visit Employment Security Department website.

Unemployment Application Instructions

You can file a claim for UI benefits online in Washington by using this online application.

You can file a claim at any time between Sunday midnight and Friday 4:00 PM. Online application is not available on public holidays.

You should read Claimant Handbook by downloading it here to learn about claim process.