State Unemployment Benefits in Washington

State Unemployment Benefits in Washington: key facts

Administering agency

Employment Security Department (ESD), Unemployment Claims Center.

Claimant portal

esd.wa.gov eServices (online claim and weekly filing).

Claims Center phone

800-318-6022 (Washington Relay 711 for hearing or speech disability).

After a death

Report the death so weekly payments stop; any payment issued for weeks after the date of death must be returned to ESD.

Reporting a death

Call the ESD Unemployment Claims Center at 800-318-6022 to report the death and stop benefit payments. No online reporting form is specified in state regulations.

Who may claim the final payment

An estate executor or administrator may file a claim for the last completed calendar week prior to the claimant's death (WAC 192-110-150). General power of attorney is not sufficient — only a court-appointed executor or administrator may certify the final week claim.

Documentation for final payment

WAC 192-110-150 authorizes the estate executor or administrator to file; ESD specifies documentation at the time of the call (800-318-6022). Bring proof of your appointment (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) and the certified death certificate when contacting ESD.