Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. Going through unemployment is stressful enough without having to worry about basic necessities like food. It's good to know there are options and that the systems can work together to help people get back on their feet.

Just wanted to share my recent experience - I applied for SNAP while on Washington ESD unemployment about 3 months ago and it's been a huge help. My weekly UI benefit is $380 and I was approved for $194/month in SNAP benefits as a single person household. The application process was straightforward once I had all my documents ready (unemployment determination letter, bank statements, lease agreement). The phone interview was actually pretty quick - maybe 15 minutes. One tip: make sure to keep copies of everything you submit because they might ask for the same documents again later if anything changes with your case. Don't let pride get in the way of getting help you're entitled to!

This is exactly what I needed to understand! I was so worried that I'd have to wait a whole week before I could even start the process, but now I see it's just that first week won't be paid. It's still frustrating when you're already stressed about money, but at least I know what to expect. I'll make sure to file that first weekly claim even though I won't get paid for it, and I'll start tracking my job search activities right away. Thanks everyone for breaking this down - the Washington ESD website really doesn't explain it clearly at all.

I just went through this exact same confusion when I filed my claim three weeks ago! The waiting week really threw me off too. What helped me was thinking of it this way: you're still "in the system" and following all the rules from day one, but Washington state just withholds payment for that first week. It's like they're testing to make sure you're serious about being unemployed and following through with all the requirements. The good news is that once you get past that first unpaid week, payments come pretty regularly if your claim is approved. Just remember to keep doing those 3 job search activities and log them in WorkSourceWA even during your waiting week - I made the mistake of thinking I could slack off that first week since I wasn't getting paid anyway, but you definitely can't!

Update: I called my bank this morning and they were actually super helpful! They moved my auto-drafts to Monday and waived the change fee since it's holiday-related. Also filed my claim right at midnight and got the confirmation email already. Thanks for all the advice everyone! Guess I'll find out Friday if the money shows up or not. Fingers crossed!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been on unemployment for almost a year now - the holiday payment delays are definitely real but not as bad as some people make them out to be. I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking my payment dates and here's what I've noticed: Thanksgiving week: Usually 1 day delay (Wednesday becomes Thursday, Thursday becomes Friday) Christmas/New Year: Can be 2-3 days depending on how the weekends fall Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th: Usually just 1 day The key is never cutting it close with bills during holiday weeks. I always assume worst case scenario and plan accordingly. Also pro tip - if you're really desperate, some credit unions will give you a small emergency loan against your expected unemployment deposit. Saved my butt last Christmas when ESD had a "system glitch" that delayed payments an extra 3 days. Hope everything works out for you! The stress is real but you'll get through it.

I went through this process about 6 months ago for my coffee shop. One thing that really helped was calling early in the morning (like right at 8am when they open) - much shorter wait times. Also, don't stress too much about getting everything perfect on the first try. You can always update your information later if needed. The hardest part is just getting started!

Just wanted to share my experience registering last month - the online registration actually worked pretty smoothly once I found the right page. I gathered all my documents first (EIN, business license, NAICS code) and it took about 20 minutes to complete. The trickiest part was figuring out my estimated quarterly payroll since I haven't hired anyone yet, but I just put a conservative estimate based on my business plan. Got my account number via email within 3 business days. Way easier than I expected after reading all the horror stories about their website!

I'm in almost the exact same situation - just got laid off from my job and filed my initial claim this week! I've been reading through all these responses and it's really helpful to see everyone's experiences. From what I'm understanding, the main thing is to make sure my total earnings (part-time work + any other income like holiday pay) stay under my weekly benefit amount + $5, and to work less than 40 hours. One question I have - when you report the holiday pay as "other income," do you need to specify what type of payment it is, or is there just a general dollar amount field? I'm expecting to receive some accrued PTO payout from my previous employer and want to make sure I categorize it correctly when I file my first weekly claim. Thanks to everyone who shared their actual experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the ESD handbook!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago! The waiting week rules can definitely be confusing at first, but here's what I learned from my experience: You're on the right track thinking about both the part-time work and holiday pay. The rule is that you can work during your waiting week as long as you: 1. Work less than 40 hours total 2. Your combined earnings (part-time wages + holiday pay) are less than your weekly benefit amount + $5 So you'll need to wait until ESD processes your claim and tells you what your weekly benefit amount is, then you can calculate whether your total income for that week will be under the threshold. When I filed my waiting week claim, I worked 20 hours at a temporary job ($300) and received a final paycheck with holiday pay ($150). My weekly benefit amount ended up being $485, so my total earnings of $450 were well under the $490 limit ($485 + $5). The key is being completely honest when you file your weekly claim. Report your part-time hours and wages in the regular work section, and put the holiday pay in the "other income" section. ESD's system will do the math and determine if your waiting week qualifies. Don't stress too much about the exact numbers until you know your benefit amount - just keep good records of everything you earn that week!