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Helping others in your community
Do you work with Washingtonians who need support accessing ESD's benefits and services?
This page includes resources designed to help nonprofits and community partners who are helping people with limited English proficiency, disabilities, limited internet or other access needs.
Core customer services and benefits at ESD
SharedWork (business sustainability program)
Free educational webinars and how-to videos
Unemployment
Paid Family and Medical Leave
- What is Paid Family and Medical Leave?
- How to apply
- File a weekly claim
Reemployment services
SharedWork (employers)
- Program overview
- Business friendly programs webinar
Community organization resources
Unemployment Insurance Navigator Program
The Employment Security Department (ESD) is inviting community organizations to participate in the Navigator Program. Navigators will assist potential claimants from underserved communities file their unemployment claims and to better understand the unemployment process.
Navigators will also help ESD lower or remove existing barriers to unemployment benefits for disadvantaged communities. They help ensure these benefits are available and accessible to all qualified Washington workers.
All Navigators will be required to:
- Receive training focused on the initial stages of the customer journey. This training will ensure Navigators understand how the process of applying for and receiving UI benefits works.
- Meet regularly with ESD (virtual or in-person) to share best practices and review emergent challenges.
- Provide ongoing feedback and suggestions on how ESD can improve its services and help ensure these benefits are available and accessible for everyone.
- Conduct targeted outreach, education and support activities communities who have been historically underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. This may include promoting awareness of other social safety net programs.
How to apply
Participate in the Navigator Program by applying through the Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS) system. Organizations must create a WEBS account to apply. WEBS is a platform that allows businesses and other organizations to look up public agency solicitations for goods and services.
Award range
Up to $500,000
Applications
For questions or feedback concerning RFA bids or regarding the UI Navigator Program, contact esdgpbids@esd.wa.gov.
Program requirements
Community-based organizations who receive funding must report the following to the Employment Security Department:
- Budget and expenses at least once a month.
- Performance measures, such as services provided or clients served, at least once a month.
- Barriers to equitable access and potential solutions at least quarterly.
ESD will work with each organization to determine specific performance measures and capabilities based on the people they serve.
Organizations will not need to report data into any Employment Security Department database and will not have access to the agency’s databases or systems.
Training
Selected community-based organizations will receive training from Employment Security Department staff.
The initial training will take place over three days, but this could change depending on the organization’s needs.
Funding
Program funding can pay for temporary staff. Organizations should include whether they plan to hire staff in the budget section of the application.
Funding will not cover some costs. ESD will work with each organization to determine whether the program covers specific items in the organization’s budget.
Organizations will receive funding for the entire program term, which ends June 14, 2025. Organizations will not receive funding each year.
Resources
Unemployment Insurance Navigator Grant applicants' conference slide deck (Sept. 13, 2023)
Shareable resources
Unemployment
Paid Family and Medical Leave
In-language resources
The Employment Security Department website and eServices are available in English and Spanish. For all other languages: To apply for unemployment benefits, file a weekly claim, or get general help, call the Language Access line at 800-410-0758.
Dial the extension below for help in your language. Interpreters are available for free. You can also find information on the in-language webpages linked below.
አማርኛ - Amharic, extension 14
فارسی - Farsi, extension 18
中文(简体) - Chinese, extension 15
Chuuk - Chuukese, extension 27
Kajin majeļ - Marshallese, extension 24
ខ្មែរ - Cambodian, extension 20
العربية - Arabic, extension 16
한국어 - Korean, extension 17
ຄົນລາວ - Laotian, extension 31
Afaan Oromoo - Oromo, extension 21
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ - Punjabi, extension 25
Русский - Russian, extension 11
Soomaali - Somali, extension 12
Tagalog - Tagalog, extension 34
Tiếng Việt - Vietnamese, extension 10
Tekoi er a Belau - Palauan, extension 29
Burmese, extension 22
Cantonese, extension 13
French, extension 23
German, extension 33
Italian, extension 32
Japanese, extension 28
Samoan, extension 30
Tigrinya, extension 19
Ukrainian, extension 26
All other languages: extension 35
Paid Leave application packets are available in additional languages on paidleave.wa.gov.
Equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations
If you are supporting someone who is having trouble accessing our services, they may be eligible for a reasonable accommodation. The person seeking the accommodation should contact the service they are seeking directly, if possible.
Equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations for unemployment benefits
Equity and access for Paid Family & Medical Leave
Equal opportunity is the law
Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Language assistance services for limited English proficient individuals are available free of charge.
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