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Thanks everyone for the info. This cleared up a lot of confusion about when unemployment actually starts. Wish Washington ESD made this stuff clearer on their website.
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else in this situation - I filed my claim about 3 weeks after losing my job because I thought I needed to wait until I was "sure" I wouldn't find work immediately. Big mistake! Not only did I lose those 3 weeks of potential benefits, but then I had to serve the waiting week on top of that. So essentially lost a full month of support when I needed it most. The lesson here is definitely file immediately even if you think you might get hired somewhere quickly - you can always stop claiming benefits if you find work, but you can't go back and claim those missed weeks.
One more thing to be aware of - if his claim shows active but doesn't reflect his most recent employment, he might need to call and have them add missing wages. This is especially important if he worked for a different employer since his last claim. The system sometimes doesn't automatically pick up all employers. If the wages and benefit amount look correct based on his recent work history, then you're probably good to go and just need to wait for processing.
Just went through this same process in January! My claim also showed active immediately with the benefit amount calculated. I got my first payment exactly 8 days after filing my first weekly claim. One tip - make sure he's checking his eServices account regularly for any messages or requests for additional information. Sometimes they'll ask for clarification on something and if you miss it, it can delay the whole process. Also, since he's had previous claims, the system should have most of his info already which definitely speeds things up. Just keep filing those weekly claims on time every week - that's the most important thing right now!
Thanks again everyone! This thread has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about filing now. I'll update you all on how it goes!
Based on what you've shared, you should definitely qualify for unemployment benefits in Washington. With 18 months of work history and $28,000 in earnings, you're well above the minimum requirements. The store closure is a clear qualifying separation since it's through no fault of your own. I'd recommend filing your claim as soon as your last day of work is complete - don't wait! The sooner you file, the sooner you can start receiving benefits. The online application process is pretty straightforward, and you can always come back here if you run into any issues during the process.
my cousin only got 16 weeks even though he had over 1000 hours!!! said it was because he didnt work for 2 months during his base year or something like that. ESD is ALWAYS looking for ways to pay u less, dont assume u'll get 26 weeks just because thats what everyone is saying!!!
Your cousin's situation is unusual and might have been affected by other factors. The gap in employment shouldn't reduce weeks if the total hours requirement was met. It's more likely related to how his wages were distributed or possibly a disqualification issue. The OP should rely on their official monetary determination rather than anecdotal experiences.
Update: I just got my monetary determination letter today! You all were right - I qualified for the full 26 weeks since I had steady work over my base year. My weekly benefit amount is $844 and maximum benefit amount is $21,944. Thanks everyone for the help! Now I just need to make sure I keep up with those job search requirements.
That's great news Sean! $844/week is a solid benefit amount. For the job search requirements, make sure you're documenting everything properly - employer name, contact method, date, and position applied for. During winter construction slowdown, you can expand your search to related fields like maintenance, warehousing, or even indoor renovation work to meet the 3 weekly requirements. Good luck with your job search!
Aisha Jackson
Glad to hear you got it sorted out! For anyone else reading this thread - the key takeaways are: 1) The waiting week means no payment for your first eligible week (it's WA state law), 2) Always check your eServices notifications tab for important messages, and 3) "Payment pending" for more than 3 business days usually means there's a verification hold that needs to be cleared by speaking with an ESD agent. The system can be frustrating but most issues get resolved once you know what to look for!
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Lukas Fitzgerald
•This is such a helpful summary! I'm new to this whole unemployment process and this thread really cleared up a lot of confusion I had about the waiting week. I was worried I'd never get paid for that first week, but now I understand it's just how the system works. The tip about checking notifications in eServices is gold - I bet a lot of people miss important stuff there. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
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Omar Farouk
Just wanted to add my experience from getting approved in October - the waiting week thing caught me off guard too! What really helped me was setting up text alerts in eServices so I got notified immediately when there were new messages or updates. Also, if you're still waiting on payments after resolving any holds, they typically process overnight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from what I've observed. Keep checking your account balance in the morning on those days. The whole process is stressful but once it starts flowing it's pretty reliable. Hang in there!
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Mia Rodriguez
•Thanks for mentioning the text alerts! I had no idea you could set those up in eServices - that would have saved me so much stress checking the portal constantly. The Tuesday/Wednesday processing pattern is really helpful to know too. It's amazing how much easier this whole process becomes once you understand the system better. Wish they made this information more obvious upfront instead of having to figure it out through trial and error (or helpful community threads like this one)!
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