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I went through this exact same situation last year with a construction layoff. The key thing is to file your claim the Sunday after your last day of work - that way you're officially unemployed and can start the clock on your waiting week. Don't file before your last day because that can cause issues, but don't wait too long either. I filed the Sunday after my Friday layoff and everything went smoothly. Make sure you have your employer info, Social Security card, and last few pay stubs ready when you file. The online system at esd.wa.gov works better than trying to call, especially on weekends when it's less busy. Also start thinking about your job search strategy now because you'll need to document 3 job search activities per week once you start filing weekly claims.
This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation - getting laid off from my job next week and wasn't sure about the timing. The Sunday after my last day makes perfect sense. Quick question though - when you say "start the clock on your waiting week," does that mean the waiting week begins when you file, not when you actually become unemployed? I want to make sure I understand the timing correctly so I don't accidentally delay my benefits.
Yes, exactly! The waiting week starts from when you file your claim, not from when you become unemployed. So if you file on Sunday after your last day (Friday), that Sunday marks the beginning of your benefit year and your waiting week. This is why filing promptly is so important - every day you delay filing is essentially delaying when you can start receiving benefits. I learned this the hard way when I waited an extra week thinking it didn't matter, and it just pushed everything back. The whole system runs on weekly cycles starting on Sundays, so that's the best day to get everything aligned properly.
I just went through this process a few months ago when I was laid off from my warehouse job. The timing advice here is spot on - file as soon as you're actually unemployed, not before. I made the mistake of overthinking it and waited almost a week because I was scared of doing something wrong. That week delay meant I had to serve my waiting week later and it pushed back my first payment. One thing I'd add is to make sure you understand exactly what "unemployed" means for filing purposes. In Washington, you're considered unemployed starting the day after your last day of work, even if that last day was paid. So if Friday is your last day and you work a full shift, you can file on Saturday. Don't wait until Monday just because it feels like a "business day" - the online system works 24/7 and weekends are actually less busy. Also, definitely have your bank account info ready for direct deposit when you file. Getting a debit card in the mail takes longer and you want your first payment to come as quickly as possible once you get through the waiting period. The whole process is much less intimidating once you actually start it - the hardest part is just getting over the initial anxiety about filing.
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it! I'm definitely overthinking this whole process. The point about being unemployed starting the day after your last day makes perfect sense - I was getting confused about whether I needed to wait until the following Monday or something. And good tip about having bank info ready for direct deposit. I hadn't thought about that but you're right that getting a debit card in the mail would just add more delays. Did you run into any issues with the online filing system, or was it pretty straightforward once you got started?
The online filing system was actually pretty straightforward once I got started! It walks you through each section step by step and saves your progress as you go, so you don't have to worry about losing everything if you need to take a break. The hardest part was just gathering all the information beforehand - employer details, dates of employment, reason for separation, etc. I'd recommend having all that written down before you start the application. The system did freeze on me once during the process, but when I logged back in everything was still there. Just make sure to answer all the questions honestly and completely. If you're not sure about something, it's better to provide too much detail than not enough. The whole application took me about 30-45 minutes once I had everything ready.
I went through this exact same situation last month! After hours of searching, I finally found my UI number on the "Notice of Application" letter that came about a week after I first applied. It wasn't labeled very clearly - it was in a section called "Claim Information" and listed as "UI Account Number." The letter itself looked pretty bland and official, so I almost threw it away thinking it was just another government form. If you can't find that specific letter, definitely try the Claimyr service that others mentioned - I've heard good things about it from other people in similar situations. Also, make sure to take a screenshot or photo of your UI number once you find it so you never have to go through this stress again!
This is super helpful! I've been looking through my papers but wasn't sure what to look for exactly. "Notice of Application" and "UI Account Number" - I'll search specifically for those terms. You're absolutely right about those government letters looking so official and bland that it's easy to overlook important details. I'm definitely going to screenshot it once I find it. The stress of potentially missing my filing deadline while being locked out of my own account has been overwhelming, so it's really encouraging to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing and found a solution!
I had the exact same problem a few months ago and was pulling my hair out! After trying everything everyone suggested here, I finally found my UI number in a really unexpected place - it was on a letter titled "Unemployment Insurance Claim Summary" that arrived about 10 days after I first applied. The UI number was listed in small text near the top right corner, not prominently displayed at all. It's a 10-digit number that's completely different from your claim number or SSN. If you can't find any physical mail, I'd definitely recommend calling ESD early in the morning (like 8:01 AM sharp) when they open - that's when you have the best chance of getting through. Don't stress too much about the deadline - they understand these access issues happen and won't penalize you if you can show you made a good faith effort to file on time. Keep documentation of your attempts to log in!
Good luck with your appeal! Most of these employer misreporting cases get resolved in favor of the claimant once all the facts come out in the hearing. Just be honest and thorough in presenting your case.
I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago! My employer somehow reported that I resigned when I was clearly laid off due to restructuring. The key thing that helped me win my appeal was getting a written statement from my former supervisor confirming the layoff details. If you can reach out to your supervisor or any HR contacts who were involved in the layoff decision, ask them to provide a brief written statement explaining what really happened. Even a simple email from them stating you were laid off due to downsizing can be powerful evidence for your hearing. Also, don't stress too much - these cases usually get resolved pretty quickly once the hearing officer sees the real facts.
That's a great idea about getting a written statement from my supervisor! I actually have a good relationship with the manager who delivered the layoff news - she seemed genuinely sorry about having to let us go. I'll reach out to her tomorrow and explain the situation. Hopefully she'll be willing to provide something in writing that clarifies I was definitely laid off and didn't quit. It's reassuring to hear that your case got resolved once the hearing officer saw the real facts. This whole thing has been such a nightmare but everyone's advice here is really helping me feel more prepared.
This has been a really helpful thread. I'm going to bookmark it for future reference and share with anyone else who has questions about Washington ESD payment timing.
Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through the Washington ESD system for about 8 months now. The Tuesday/Wednesday timeline is pretty accurate, but I'd also recommend setting up text alerts through your bank if they offer it. That way you'll know immediately when the deposit hits instead of constantly checking your account. Also, keep all your confirmation emails from ESD - they've been helpful when I've had to call about payment issues in the past.
Giovanni Marino
SUCCESS! Found it under Correspondence with the 'Show All' option. It was dated January 28th so it's been there for weeks - I just wasn't looking far enough back. Thanks everyone for the suggestions, especially about checking different browsers and clearing cache. You all saved me from a lot more stress!
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Jayden Reed
•This is such a relief to read! I was getting really worried about my tax deadline. Going to check that 'Show All' button right now - fingers crossed mine is hiding in there too. Thanks for updating us on what worked!
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Andre Moreau
•This whole thread has been so helpful! I was having the exact same issue and was about to panic about my tax deadline. Just checked my Correspondence section with 'Show All' and there it was - my 1099-G from January 30th. Can't believe I was only looking at recent documents this whole time. You all are lifesavers!
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Sophie Hernandez
I'm so glad to see people finding their 1099-G forms! For anyone still struggling, here's a quick checklist based on what worked for others in this thread: 1) Log into your SecureAccess Washington account and go to Correspondence 2) Click "Show All" to see older documents (this seems to be the key!) 3) Look for documents from late January/early February 4) Try different browsers if you're having issues 5) Clear your browser cache and log out/back in. If none of that works, the "Annual Statements" section mentioned earlier might be worth checking too. Don't give up - the form is almost certainly there somewhere!
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