You can also call the Claims Center at 800-318-6022 to use the automated system (12 a.m. Sunday – 4 p.m. Friday, unless Friday is a holiday) or speak with a claims agent during regular business hours . You will need to spe a k with a Claims Center agent if you wish to re quest claims for the past weeks that you missed .
For current Claims Center contact information and hours go to: https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/unemployed-workers-contact . People with hearing or speech disabilities may dial 711 to be connected to a Washington Relay Service operator.
NOTE: As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, the claims center is experiencing an extremely high volume of calls and wait times to speak with an agent are long.
You should restart your account during the first week you are unemployed or wish to begin claiming again . Then you will be able to file your first claim for that week beginning the next Sunday. Remember to submit your weekly claims every week after that. When you are working full time again and no longer need unemployment benefits, simply stop filing claims.
