


Ask the community...
Based on everything discussed here, it sounds like you should definitely file. 8 months of work should be enough if you made decent money, and being laid off due to lack of work is a qualifying reason. Worst case scenario, they deny you and you're in the same position you're in now.
One last tip - make sure you have all your employment information ready when you file. Employer names, addresses, dates of employment, reason for separation, etc. It'll make the application process much smoother.
The worst part is not knowing if you did something wrong or if it's just slow. I kept second-guessing every answer I gave on my application thinking maybe I messed something up.
Update for anyone still following - got my determination letter today (day 12) and my claim was approved! First payment should hit my account in the next few days. So for me it ended up being about 2 weeks total which seems to be pretty typical based on what everyone here said.
Just to circle back to the Claimyr thing someone mentioned earlier - I was skeptical at first but honestly it saved me so much time and frustration. When you're dealing with claim issues, being able to actually talk to someone at Washington ESD is huge.
Hope everything works out with your job situation OP. At least now you know you'd likely qualify for benefits if worst comes to worst!
Just to give you some hope - my payment situation was similar and my first payment came through on a Wednesday morning in week 3. Woke up to a nice surprise in my checking account!
One last thing - if you do end up needing to contact Washington ESD about your claim, have all your information ready (SSN, claim number, dates of employment, etc.) so you don't waste time when you finally get through to someone.
Good advice, I'll put together a little cheat sheet with all my info in case I need to call. Thanks everyone for all the help and reassurance!
You're welcome! And seriously, if the phone system keeps giving you trouble, check out that Claimyr service. It made such a difference for me when I was in your situation.
Sophia Carson
The whole system can be confusing but once you get your first payment it becomes more routine. Just make sure to file your weekly claims on time every week - you can do it online or by phone.
0 coins
Elijah Knight
•What happens if you miss filing a weekly claim?
0 coins
Sophia Carson
•You can sometimes file late claims but it's better to stay on schedule. Set a reminder for the same day each week.
0 coins
Brooklyn Foley
Bottom line is that unemployment benefits are meant to replace part of your income while you look for work, not all of it. Budget accordingly and use the time to focus on your job search.
0 coins
Emma Swift
•Good advice. I'm treating this as temporary assistance while I find my next opportunity.
0 coins
Brooklyn Foley
•That's the right attitude. Best of luck with your job search and the claims process!
0 coins