Can you apply for unemployment months later with Washington ESD?

So I basically lost out on 5 months of benefits? That's thousands of dollars...

Unfortunately yes. The effective date of your claim is when you file, not when you became unemployed. But file now so you don't lose any more time.

How long did it take for your claim to get approved after you finally applied?

took about 2 weeks but that was because I had all my documentation ready

Is that service legit? I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days and can't get through.

Yeah it worked for me. I was getting the busy signal constantly and this got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes.

I'll check that out, thanks. The Washington ESD phone system is impossible.

I tried the website but it keeps timing out. Is there a better time to try?

Early morning or late evening usually work better. Avoid peak hours between 9am-3pm.

Correct. Your benefit year starts the week you file your initial claim, not when you became unemployed.

This is so stupid. How are people supposed to know this?

It's on the Washington ESD website but yeah, it's not super obvious. I learned the hard way too.

I mean, it makes sense though. How would they verify you were actually looking for work months ago?

They could ask for job search records just like they do now. It's just another hoop to jump through.

Wish I had known this advice 5 months ago. Do you know if there are any exceptions to the no-retroactive-pay rule?

Very limited exceptions, usually only for things like being hospitalized or military deployment. Regular job search delays don't qualify.

What about if someone was waiting for severance to run out?

Severance might affect when benefits start anyway, so you'd still want to file and let Washington ESD determine eligibility.

How long did the whole process take for you?

About 3 weeks from filing to getting my first payment. Had to do a phone interview about why I was laid off.

How would I know if they contested it?

Washington ESD will send you a notice if there's a dispute. You'd have to provide your side of the story.

What field are you in? I'm in tech and it's been brutal.

Marketing/communications. Everything wants 5+ years experience for 'entry level' positions.

Same here in finance. The requirements are insane compared to what they're paying.

I have most of that stuff. Do I need anything else specific?

Your complete work history for the last 18 months with dates and gross wages. Washington ESD uses this to calculate your weekly benefit amount.

What counts as a job search activity?

Applying for jobs, networking events, career fairs, interviews, etc. Keep detailed records in case they audit you.

They can audit your job search? How often does that happen?

It's random but they do check. I got audited last year and had to provide 6 months of job search logs.

Good idea. I'll try that if the online system keeps crashing.

Some WorkSource offices are appointment only now so call ahead.

How much does it cost?

I'd rather not say the exact amount but it was worth it to actually talk to someone instead of listening to busy signals all day.

You're absolutely right. I'm going to try the website again first thing tomorrow morning.

Good luck! The earlier in the morning the better for the website.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure to do that.

Yeah, the weekly claims keep your claim active. Even if you're in adjudication, keep filing them.

Thanks, I appreciate the support. Definitely learned my lesson about filing immediately.