Can I file for ESD benefits after getting a job but before first paycheck?

First off, congratulations on the new job! Yes, you can absolutely continue filing weekly claims until you receive your first paycheck. You'll need to report your hours worked each week (even if unpaid), and your benefits will be reduced according to the hours/earnings. Make sure you accurately report your work hours starting on Feb 6th, even though you haven't been paid yet. ESD calculates eligibility based on when you WORK, not when you get paid. So your benefits will likely reduce or stop after you start working, regardless of when the paycheck arrives.

congrats on the new job! i had this exact situation last year. u do have to report the hours u worked even if u havent been paid yet, so ur benefits will prob stop once u start the job. its annoying but thats how the system works. make sure u report honestly or they might hit u with an overpayment later!!!

This is one of ESD's most frustrating policies. You must report hours worked in the week you work them, regardless of when payment occurs. If you work full-time hours (32+ hours/week), you'll be considered fully employed and ineligible for that week, even with zero dollars in your bank account. A few important points to remember: 1. You MUST continue filing weekly claims during this transition period 2. Report ALL hours worked accurately 3. Answer "YES" to the question about looking for work until your first day 4. After you start, answer "NO" to looking for work and provide your employment details 5. ESD will automatically calculate your benefit reduction based on reported hours If you don't receive your full wages when expected, you can potentially file a wage claim with L&I, but that doesn't help with the immediate income gap.

I'm going through the same thing right now! Started my job on January 15th but don't get paid till the 5th of February. ESD disqualified me as soon as I reported my hours worked - even though I literally have $0 income for 3 weeks. I called and called but couldn't get through to anyone at ESD to explain my situation. The system is completely insensitive to the reality of starting a new job with delayed pay schedules. I ended up having to use credit cards to survive the gap.

There's actually some nuance here that others haven't mentioned. The ESD handbook states that you must report HOURS WORKED when you work them, but here's the important part: if your employer has an established, regular pay schedule that results in your first check being delayed, you should document this. In rare cases, ESD may consider this when determining your eligibility during the transition period. That said, in most cases, once you start working full-time hours, your benefits will stop regardless of when you get paid. The system is designed for tracking work activity, not cash flow. It's definitely one of the most difficult transitions in the unemployment system. I'd recommend calling ESD directly to explain your situation and see if there are any special provisions that might apply in your case. Sometimes they can provide guidance specific to your situation that isn't clear in the general rules.

The rules are clear: you report hours when WORKED not when PAID. Your benefit eligibility ends when you start working full-time (32+ hours/week), period. No exceptions. I worked at WorkSource for 5 years, and this is one of the most common misunderstandings. The unemployment system was never designed to bridge pay gaps - it's to support people without work, not people who are working but awaiting payment. That said, there are other resources you can look into for the gap period: 1. Some utility companies offer payment plans 2. Local community action agencies sometimes have emergency assistance funds 3. If you explain the situation to your landlord with proof of employment, many will work with you 4. Some credit unions offer "bridge loans" specifically for this situation But don't expect ESD to pay benefits once you're working full-time hours, regardless of your pay schedule.

i heard if u call esd and explain ur situation sometimes they make an exception but good luck getting thru to them lol took me 2 WEEKS of calling to reach a person last time

Update: I called ESD this morning (took forever to get through) and confirmed what most of you said. I have to report my hours when worked even if unpaid, and once I start my full-time job, my benefits will stop regardless of when I get my first paycheck. The agent suggested I look into local emergency assistance programs to help bridge the gap. I've already talked to my landlord who's willing to accept a partial payment now and the remainder when I get paid, and I'm checking with my utility companies about payment extensions. Thanks everyone for your help and advice! This transition is stressful but at least I know where I stand with ESD now.

Great update! Sounds like you're handling this challenging situation really well by being proactive with your landlord and utilities. It's unfortunate that there's such a gap in the system for people transitioning from unemployment to work, but you're doing all the right things to manage it. Your experience will probably help other people in this community who face the same situation in the future. Best of luck with the new job - hopefully those first few weeks go by quickly and you'll be back on stable financial footing soon!

This is such a common but stressful situation - congrats on the new job! I went through something similar a few months ago and want to share a couple additional resources that helped me during the gap period. First, check if your local food banks have emergency assistance programs beyond just food - many offer small emergency grants or vouchers for utilities. Second, some churches and community centers have "job transition funds" specifically for people in your exact situation. You don't usually have to be a member to apply. Also, if you have any gig work skills (like DoorDash, Uber, freelance writing, etc.), you might be able to pick up a few small jobs during evenings/weekends before your main job starts to help bridge the gap. Just make sure to report any earnings to ESD! The system definitely isn't perfect, but you're handling it really well by being proactive.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation right now - just accepted a job offer that starts next week but my first paycheck won't come for almost a month due to their pay schedule. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has really prepared me for what to expect with ESD. It's frustrating that the system doesn't account for these transition gaps, but at least now I know to be proactive with my landlord and utility companies like AstroAce did. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and practical tips - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complicated situations!

This is such a valuable thread for anyone navigating the unemployment-to-employment transition! What strikes me most is how this situation reveals a real gap in our safety net system. You're doing everything right - reporting honestly to ESD, communicating proactively with landlord and utilities, and exploring community resources. One additional resource worth mentioning: many counties have "workforce development" or "economic opportunity" departments that specifically help people with job transition challenges. They sometimes have small emergency funds or can connect you with local organizations that do. Also, if your new employer uses a payroll company like ADP or Paychex, you might want to ask HR if they offer any earned wage access programs (apps that let you access a portion of earned wages before payday). The silver lining is that once you get through this tough transition period, you'll have steady income again. Hang in there - you've got this!

This thread has been incredibly enlightening! I'm bookmarking this for future reference since I know others in my network who might face similar transitions. What really stands out to me is how proactive communication seems to be the key - reaching out to landlords, utilities, and employers before you're in crisis mode rather than after. It's unfortunate that ESD's system doesn't have built-in flexibility for these common transition scenarios, but I'm impressed by how many community resources and creative solutions people have shared here. The suggestion about earned wage access programs is particularly interesting - I had no idea that was even a thing! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially AstroAce for the detailed updates. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes this community so valuable.

This is such an informative and supportive thread! As someone who works in HR, I see this exact situation come up regularly with new hires, and it's one of those systemic gaps that really impacts people during what should be an exciting transition. A few additional thoughts that might help others in similar situations: 1. When you accept a job offer, ask specifically about the pay schedule during the interview/negotiation process - some employers are flexible about advancing partial pay for the first period if you explain the situation upfront. 2. Many credit unions have "payroll advance" or "emergency loan" programs specifically designed for this gap period - usually much better terms than credit cards. 3. If you're in the Seattle area, the United Way has a 2-1-1 helpline that can connect you with local emergency assistance programs that aren't widely advertised. The fact that this thread exists and has so many helpful responses really shows how common this issue is. It would be great if ESD had some kind of informational resource specifically addressing this transition period, since it seems to catch so many people off guard. Kudos to everyone for sharing practical solutions and supporting each other through these challenging situations!

This entire thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and ended up scrambling because I had no idea what to expect. Reading through everyone's experiences and all the practical resources shared here really shows how much collective knowledge we have when we come together to help each other. A couple things I learned from my experience that might help others: 1. Document everything - keep screenshots of your ESD claims, copies of your job offer letter, and records of all your communications with landlords/utilities. This saved me when I had questions later. 2. Some employers have "new hire hardship" policies that aren't widely advertised - it's worth asking HR directly if they have any resources for employees dealing with pay schedule gaps. 3. Local libraries often have information about emergency assistance programs and some even have social workers on staff who can help connect you with resources. What really strikes me is how many people face this same challenge but there's so little official guidance about it. This thread should honestly be pinned as a resource for anyone starting a new job while on unemployment. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and making this transition less isolating for others!