Just want to add that you should file your Washington ESD claim as soon as possible. Even if the interstate wage verification takes a couple weeks, your benefit year starts from when you first file, not when they finish processing everything.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Moved from Idaho to Washington and got laid off a few months later. Definitely file with Washington ESD since that's where you're residing now. The interstate wage request process was actually pretty smooth - took about 3 weeks for them to get my Idaho wages, but once they had everything, my benefits were calculated using wages from both states and I got back-pay for the waiting period. The key is to file your initial claim right away and keep doing your weekly claims even while they're waiting for the out-of-state wage info. Don't stress too much about it - Washington ESD handles interstate claims all the time and they've gotten pretty efficient at it.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. Filed on a Tuesday and was panicking about when I'd see money. The one-week waiting period is real, but here's what I learned: even though you don't get paid for your first week, if you filed last Thursday, you should start getting paid for this current week (assuming your claim gets approved). The key is to keep filing those weekly claims religiously - I cannot stress this enough. Also, don't panic if it takes 2-3 weeks total from filing to first payment, that's pretty normal even for straightforward cases. The direct deposit usually hits within 1-2 business days once they actually process your payment. Keep checking your account status and make sure you're doing the job search requirements from day one. You've got this!

I looked on my account it said payment date was the 17th, Its now the wednesday the 20th. When should i recieve it?

Hi Emma! I'm also pretty new to the unemployment system and this thread has been incredibly helpful to read through. I just wanted to add one more resource that I discovered - the WorkSource website (worksourcewa.com) actually has a really detailed guide specifically for ESD job search requirements that breaks everything down step by step. I found it way easier to understand than the main ESD website. Also, something that's been working well for me is keeping a simple spreadsheet with columns for: Date, Company, Position, How I Applied, and Contact Info. I update it right after each application so I don't forget details later. When it's time to file my weekly claim, everything is right there organized by date. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure you're applying to jobs that you're actually qualified for or could reasonably do. I applied to a bunch of jobs way outside my experience level thinking it would be easier to hit my 3 activities, but an ESD rep told me they want to see "suitable work search" which means jobs you could actually perform. Just wanted to share that in case it helps! You've gotten such great advice from everyone here and it sounds like you're on the right track.

I did not see a place to add the 3 job search activities. However, this is also my first week applying. Started process this Monday. Is that because this is my waiting week? If I missed where to add the activities, can I go back and update? Thanks to all!

Just want to add that if you're close to the 680 hour requirement, you might want to wait a bit before filing if you're still working. Sometimes waiting another month or two can put you over the threshold if your base period shifts.

This has been such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - working part-time and worried about my eligibility. One thing I wanted to add is that I found it really helpful to create a simple spreadsheet to track my hours and wages by quarter. It made it much easier to see if I was meeting the requirements rather than trying to do all the math in my head. For anyone who's still unsure about their eligibility, I'd definitely recommend using that calculator on the Washington ESD website that was mentioned earlier, and don't be afraid to call them if you need clarification on your specific situation.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my claim 10 days ago after getting laid off from my warehouse job. Still showing 'processing' status but reading through all these responses is really reassuring! Sounds like I'm right on track for the typical 2-3 week timeline. Going to make sure I keep filing my weekly claims like everyone mentioned. Thanks for asking this question, saved me from panicking!

I applied about 10 days ago, now my status just says active. Above that is a weekly benefit amount. Can anyone tell me what this means? I filed last week, my dead week. This is my first time, so I have no idea what this means.