Washington Employment Security Department (ESD), Unemployment Claims Center

Washington · Unemployment

esd.wa.gov/get-financial-help/unemployment-benefits

State Unemployment Benefits in Washington

The Washington Employment Security Department administers unemployment compensation. A claimant must personally certify each weekly claim, so weekly filing ends at death. State rule makes one exception for a deceased claimant: an estate executor or administrator may file a claim for the last completed calendar week before the claimant died.

Steps to takeKey facts

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Contact the ESD Unemployment Claims Center at 800-318-6022 to report the claimant's death.
2
If you are the court-appointed executor or administrator, ask ESD to file a claim for the last completed calendar week before the death, which WAC 192-110-150 allows you to certify.
3
Ask the Claims Center what documents to submit; have your Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration and the death certificate ready.

State Unemployment Benefits in Washington: key facts

What Washington says4

Benefits at and after the death

WAC 192-110-150 requires a claimant to personally certify each weekly claim, so weekly filing ends at death. Its one exception lets an estate executor or administrator file a claim for the last completed calendar week prior to the claimant's death.1

Who may claim a final payment

WAC 192-110-150 bars an agent holding power of attorney from filing weekly claims, testifying in the claimant's place, or otherwise acting where a personal certification is required.1

A power of attorney also ends at death. Only a court-appointed executor or administrator may file the final week's claim.1

Reporting a death

A death is reported to the ESD Unemployment Claims Center, which states what it needs and what documents to submit with a final-week claim.2

Claimant portal

ESD eServices at esd.wa.gov handles the online claim and weekly filing.2

Governing law: WAC 192-110-150

Not in Washington's published guidance1

  • A deceased-claimant reporting form

Sources2

  1. 1.WAC 192-110-150
  2. 2.Unemployment benefits (Washington Employment Security Department)

Washington unemployment benefits

Washington Employment Security Department (ESD), Unemployment Claims Center

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Verified Aug 2026

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