What you need to do each week to keep your benefits
Washington requires you to file a claim every week you want to receive unemployment benefits. This is not a one-time step — you must report your work search activity and any earnings each week, usually by Sunday night. The state uses your weekly claims to track your benefit payments and confirm you are still meeting the program's requirements.
You file through the Washington Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) using their online portal, by phone, or by mail. Most people use the online system because it is fastest and gives you when ready confirmation that your claim was received. If you do not file your weekly claim, you will not receive a payment for that week, even if you are otherwise may have access to to benefits.
Key Takeaways
- You must file a new claim every week, usually by Sunday at 11:59 p.m., to receive your weekly benefit payment.
- Washington's online filing system lets you report work search activity, any part-time earnings, and whether you refused any job offers.
- If you miss the important date, you can file a late claim within two weeks, but you will not receive payment for the missed week unless DEED approves the late filing.
- Your weekly benefit amount is set when your initial claim is approved and stays the same each week unless your earnings change.
- You must report any income you earned that week, including gig work and self-employment, or you risk overpayment and repayment demands.
How to file your weekly claim online
Log into your account on the DEED website using your Social Security number and password. You will see a button to file your weekly claim, which opens a form asking about your work search activity for that week. Washington requires you to report at least three work search contacts per week — these can be job applications, interviews, or direct contact with employers.
The form also asks whether you worked any hours that week and, if so, how many and what you earned. You must report all income, including part-time work, gig work through apps, and self-employment income. DEED uses this information to calculate your weekly benefit: if you earned money, your benefit is reduced by a portion of what you made, not dollar-for-dollar.
After you submit your weekly claim, you will see a confirmation message on screen. DEED processes most claims within one business day, and your payment is deposited to your debit card or bank account by the following Wednesday. Keep a record of your work search contacts — employers, dates, and how you applied — in case DEED asks you to verify them later.
important date and what happens if you miss one
Your weekly claim is due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday each week. This important date is firm: if you file after Sunday night, DEED will not process your claim for that week, and you will not receive a payment. The week runs Monday through Sunday, so you are reporting on work search activity and earnings from the previous seven days.
If you miss the Sunday important date, you have up to two weeks to file a late claim. DEED will review your late filing, but approval is not automatic. You must have a valid reason — illness, technical problems with the website, or a family emergency — and you must provide documentation if DEED asks for it. Even if your late claim is approved, you will receive payment only for the week you missed; you cannot receive retroactive payments for multiple weeks at once.
If you repeatedly miss important date, DEED may close your claim and require you to file a new initial claim to restart benefits. This can delay your payments by several weeks and may affect your benefit amount if your circumstances have changed.
Reporting work search activity correctly
Washington requires you to report at least three work search contacts per week. A work search contact means you took a specific action to look for work: submitting an online job process, calling an employer to ask about openings, attending an interview, or registering with a staffing agency. Passive activities — browsing job boards without explore, updating your resume, or attending a general job fair — do not count as work search contacts.
When you file your weekly claim, write down the employer name, the date you contacted them, and the method you used (online process, phone call, in-person visit, or email). Be specific: "Applied to ABC Company for warehouse position on Tuesday through Indeed" is much better than "Looked for jobs." DEED staff review claims randomly, and if they ask you to verify your work search, you need to be able to provide these details.
If you are in a work search waiver — a temporary exemption from the work search requirement — you still must file your weekly claim, but you do not need to report work search contacts. Waivers are rare and are usually granted only if you are in a training program or have a documented medical condition. Ask your DEED representative whether you may have access to before you skip reporting work search activity.
Reporting earnings and how it affects your payment
Any money you earned during the week must be reported on your weekly claim, including wages from a job, tips, bonuses, gig work income, and self-employment earnings. Washington reduces your weekly benefit by 25% of the amount you earned above $5 per week. This means if you earned $100, you would subtract $5, then take 25% of the remaining $95 ($23.75), and your benefit would be reduced by $23.75.
The reduction formula is designed to let you earn some money without losing your entire benefit. However, if you earn enough in a week, your benefit can be reduced to zero. For example, if your weekly benefit is $500 and you earn $2,000, the reduction will be larger than your benefit, and you will receive no payment that week — but you still must file your claim to keep your benefits active.
Report your earnings honestly and completely. If DEED discovers you underreported income, you will be required to repay the overpayment, and you may face a penalty of 15% to 25% of the overpayment amount. Repayment can be taken from future benefit payments or demanded as a lump sum.
What to report if you refused a job or had other issues
If an employer offered you a job and you turned it down, you must report this on your weekly claim. Washington allows you to refuse work if the job does not meet certain standards — for example, if the pay is significantly lower than your previous job, if the hours are unreasonable, or if the work is not in your field. However, you cannot refuse work straightforward because you do not like the employer or the location.
When you report a job refusal, explain why you turned it down. DEED will review your reason and decide whether it was valid. If they determine your refusal was not justified, you may lose your benefits for that week or longer. If you are unsure whether you have a valid reason to refuse a job, contact DEED before you turn it down.
You should also report if you were fired, quit, or had your hours reduced during the week. These changes do not automatically disqualify you from benefits, but DEED needs to know about them to may support your claim is accurate. If you quit without good cause, you may lose benefits; if you were fired for misconduct, you will likely be disqualified. Report the facts and let DEED make the information.
If you cannot file online or by phone
If you do not have internet access or a phone, you can file your weekly claim by mail. Request a paper claim form from DEED by calling 1-800-318-6022 or visiting a WorkSource office in person. Mail your completed form back to DEED so it arrives by the Sunday important date. Mailed claims take longer to process, so plan ahead if you use this method.
If you have a disability or language barrier that makes filing difficult, DEED offers accommodations. Call the main line to request a relay service, an interpreter, or information with the online portal. Do not wait until you miss a important date to ask for help — contact DEED as soon as you know you will need support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I worked part of the week and was laid off mid-week?
Report the hours and earnings from the days you worked. Your benefit will be reduced based on what you earned during those days. The layoff itself does not change your weekly claim process — you still file as usual and report the income you made before the layoff.
Can I file my weekly claim early, before Sunday?
Yes. You can file your weekly claim any day of the week, and DEED will process it when ready. Filing early does not change your benefit amount or payment date — you will still be paid by the following Wednesday. Filing early is a good way to make sure you do not miss the important date.
What happens if the DEED website is down on Sunday night?
If the website is unavailable due to a technical problem on DEED's end, you can file by phone at 1-800-318-6022. Keep a record of the time you called and the confirmation number you receive. If you cannot reach DEED by phone either, file as soon as the system is back up and explain the delay — DEED usually waives late filing penalties for system outages.
Do I have to report volunteer work or unpaid internships?
No. You only report paid work and earned income. Volunteer work and unpaid internships do not affect your benefit calculation. However, if your volunteer work prevents you from being available for paid work or from conducting your work search, it may affect your may be able to access — contact DEED if you are unsure.
What if I earned money but forgot to report it on my weekly claim?
Contact DEED when ready and ask to amend your claim. You can usually correct it within a few weeks. If you do not report it and DEED finds out later, you will owe back the overpayment plus a penalty. It is much better to report it late than not at all.