Can I collect unemployment until my first paycheck arrives in Washington?

You need to stop filing weekly claims as soon as you start working, not when you get paid. Washington ESD bases eligibility on when you're working, not when you receive payment. If you file for a week where you worked, that's considered fraud even if you haven't been paid yet.

Actually had the same situation last year. Washington ESD is very clear that you report work for the week you perform it, regardless of when payment is received. You'll need to answer 'yes' to working that week on your weekly claim.

If you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD to confirm this or have other questions about your claim, I used Claimyr recently to get through to an agent. Their website at claimyr.com helped me bypass the busy phone lines. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of calling.

The key thing is honesty on your weekly claim. If you work ANY hours during a week, you must report it. Washington ESD will calculate partial benefits if you work part-time, but full-time work usually disqualifies you for that week entirely.

Been through this exact scenario. Washington ESD considers you employed the moment you start work, not when you get paid. I made the mistake of filing for one extra week and had to pay it back later as an overpayment.

wait so if I start a job on Wednesday of a claim week, I can't get benefits for that entire week? Even though I only worked 3 days?

Congrats on the new job! I know it's tight financially but better to end your claim properly than deal with overpayment issues later. Washington ESD can be really strict about that stuff.

Check if your new employer offers any kind of signing bonus or advance on your first paycheck. Some places will do that if you explain the situation.

I'm confused about the weekly claim timing. If I start work on Monday, do I report that on the claim for the week starting that Monday or the following week?

The Washington ESD handbook is pretty clear about this if you can find it online. Work = no benefits for that week, unless it's part-time and under your benefit amount.

Just wanted to follow up on the Claimyr thing - I used it again this week to check on a different issue with my claim. Really convenient when you need to talk to someone at Washington ESD without spending hours on hold.

This is why I hate the gap between starting work and getting paid. It's like the system expects you to have savings but if we had savings we probably wouldn't need unemployment lol

Can you reopen your claim later if the job doesn't work out? Just wondering about options.

Food banks might help bridge the gap if money is really tight before your first paycheck. Just a thought.

Washington ESD does random audits too so definitely don't risk filing incorrectly. They cross-reference with employer records.

Tried Claimyr myself after seeing it mentioned here. Worked great for getting through to Washington ESD when I had questions about my job search requirements. Way better than the endless busy signals.

Bottom line - be honest on your weekly claims and you'll be fine. Washington ESD may be slow but they're thorough about checking things.

Good luck with the new job! Hopefully they'll be understanding about the financial gap between starting and first pay.

One more tip - make sure to keep records of when you stopped filing claims in case Washington ESD ever asks about it later. Documentation is your friend.

Also worth noting that some employers offer direct deposit setup before your first day, which can speed up getting that first paycheck. Ask HR if they can expedite the paperwork so you get paid on the earliest possible pay cycle. Many companies are willing to help new hires with this kind of timing issue if you explain the situation upfront.