To summarize for the OP: Yes, you can collect unemployment if you're laid off. File immediately online at Washington ESD's website, be ready to do weekly claims, keep track of your job search activities, and don't be discouraged if you have trouble reaching them by phone - it's a common problem but there are workarounds.

One more thing to keep in mind - if you do get laid off, try to get written documentation from your employer about the reason for termination. Sometimes Washington ESD will contact your former employer to verify the circumstances, and having that paperwork can help avoid any confusion or delays in processing your claim. Also, if your company offers COBRA health insurance continuation, you'll need to decide on that pretty quickly since you typically only have 60 days to elect coverage.

Good luck with your claim! Most people who file right away and weren't fired for misconduct get approved pretty quickly. Just be patient during the adjudication process if it comes to that.

Just wanted to add - make sure you have your Social Security card, ID, and any pay stubs handy when you file. The system will ask for your SSN multiple times and having your recent pay info makes the wage verification process smoother. Also, if you're filing online and the site crashes or times out (which happens a lot), don't start over completely - your partial application usually saves and you can continue where you left off.

Bottom line - if you're expecting pandemic-level payments, you're going to be disappointed. Regular Washington ESD benefits are back to pre-covid levels and probably will stay that way unless there's another major economic crisis.

Just went through this myself! During covid I was getting around $800 total per week (my regular $500 WA benefit plus the $300 federal boost). Now with my new claim I'm only getting $520 weekly based on my wages. The calculation is still the same - they take your highest earning quarter from your base year and divide by 26. But yeah, no more federal money on top. Had to adjust my budget big time!

This thread has been super helpful! I was worried I was doing something wrong but it sounds like my payment timing is totally normal. Thanks everyone!

I've been on Washington ESD unemployment for about 4 months now and wanted to share what I've learned about payment timing. In my experience, payments almost always come Tuesday or Wednesday, with Wednesday being the most common day. I file my weekly claim every Sunday morning and can usually count on seeing the money in my account by Wednesday afternoon. The only times it's been different were during holiday weeks when it pushed to Thursday. One tip that really helped reduce my anxiety - I set up account alerts on my phone so I get notified the moment the deposit hits instead of constantly checking my balance. Hope this helps ease some of the stress for folks who are new to this process!

Bottom line - you get up to 26 weeks if you qualify, use the time wisely to find good employment, and make sure you follow all the rules so you don't get disqualified early. Good luck with your job search!

One thing to keep in mind is that Washington also has a "waiting week" - your first week of unemployment where you file a claim but don't receive benefits. So while you can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks, you'll actually be unemployed for 27 weeks total if you use the full duration. Make sure to factor that into your financial planning!