Can you claim unemployment until your first paycheck from Washington ESD?
Just got hired for a new job that starts Monday but I won't get my first paycheck for another two weeks. I've been collecting unemployment benefits for the past 6 weeks through Washington ESD. Can I keep filing my weekly claims until I actually receive my first paycheck, or do I need to stop claiming as soon as I start working? I'm worried about the gap between when I stop getting UI benefits and when I get paid from my new job.
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Isabella Santos
No, you need to stop claiming unemployment the week you start working, not when you get your first paycheck. Washington ESD considers you employed from your first day of work, regardless of when you get paid. If you keep claiming after starting work, that's considered an overpayment and you'll have to pay it back.
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Malik Davis
•That's what I was afraid of. So there's going to be a two week gap with no income at all?
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Isabella Santos
•Unfortunately yes, that's pretty common. The important thing is to be honest on your weekly claims to avoid overpayment issues later.
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StarStrider
This is one of those situations where you really need to talk to someone at Washington ESD directly to make sure you're doing everything right. I tried calling their main number for weeks but kept getting disconnected. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at ESD. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you want to get a definitive answer.
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Malik Davis
•I've been trying to call them for days but can never get through. I'll check out that Claimyr thing, thanks!
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Ravi Gupta
•How much does that service cost? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay to talk to our own state agency.
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StarStrider
•I get the frustration but honestly it was worth it to get through and avoid making a mistake that could cost me way more in overpayments.
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Freya Pedersen
The rule is pretty clear - you stop claiming when you start working, not when you get paid. But there might be exceptions for part-time work or if you're still looking for additional work. You should definitely verify your specific situation with Washington ESD.
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Malik Davis
•It's full-time work so I think I'm out of luck. Just wish the timing worked out better.
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Omar Hassan
•Yeah that gap sucks but at least you have a job now. Better than being stuck in adjudication hell like some people.
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Chloe Anderson
Wait, I'm confused. I thought you could claim unemployment until you actually receive income? That's what happened with my friend in Oregon...
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Isabella Santos
•Different states have different rules. In Washington, it's based on when you start work, not when you get paid.
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Chloe Anderson
•Oh that makes sense. I was mixing up the rules between states.
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Diego Vargas
This exact thing happened to me last year. I kept claiming for one extra week thinking it would be okay since I hadn't been paid yet. Big mistake - Washington ESD sent me an overpayment notice for $462 that I had to pay back. Don't risk it.
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Malik Davis
•Yikes, that's exactly what I was worried about. Definitely not worth the risk.
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CosmicCruiser
•Did you have to pay it back all at once or could you set up a payment plan?
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Diego Vargas
•They let me set up a payment plan but it was still a hassle. Just better to be safe and stop claiming when you start work.
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Anastasia Fedorov
The system is so broken. They make it impossible to get through on the phone but then expect us to know all these specific rules. I've been trying to get clarification on my own claim status for weeks.
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Sean Doyle
•Same here. I've probably spent 20 hours on hold just to get hung up on. It's ridiculous.
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StarStrider
•That's exactly why I ended up using Claimyr. After getting hung up on for the tenth time, I was willing to try anything to actually talk to someone.
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Zara Rashid
Congratulations on getting the job though! That's the important part. The two week gap will be tough but at least you'll have steady income again.
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Malik Davis
•Thanks! Yeah, I'm definitely grateful to have found work. Just trying to make sure I don't mess anything up with the transition.
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Luca Romano
Make sure you keep good records of your last day claiming and your first day of work. If there's ever a question later, you'll want to be able to prove you did everything correctly.
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Malik Davis
•Good point. I'll make sure to document everything.
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Nia Jackson
•Yes, save screenshots of your last weekly claim and your employment start date. Better safe than sorry with Washington ESD.
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NebulaNova
I had a similar situation but with a temp job that only lasted a week. When it ended, I had to figure out how to restart my claim. It was a nightmare trying to get through to someone who could help.
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Malik Davis
•Oh wow, that sounds complicated. Were you able to get it sorted out?
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NebulaNova
•Eventually, but it took weeks and I missed out on benefits during that time. The phone system is just terrible.
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Mateo Hernandez
•I heard about that Claimyr service too. Might be worth it for situations like this where you really need to talk to someone.
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Aisha Khan
This is why I always tell people to have some emergency savings if possible. That gap between benefits and first paycheck can be brutal.
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Malik Davis
•Definitely learned that lesson the hard way. I'll be better prepared next time.
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Ethan Taylor
•Easier said than done when you've been unemployed for months though. Hard to save when you're barely getting by on UI benefits.
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Yuki Ito
Check if your new employer offers any kind of advance or if they pay weekly instead of bi-weekly. Some companies are flexible about this stuff, especially if you explain the situation.
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Malik Davis
•That's a good idea. I'll ask HR about it tomorrow.
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Carmen Lopez
•Worth a shot. The worst they can say is no, but some employers understand this situation and will work with you.
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AstroAdventurer
Also double-check that you don't have any outstanding weekly claims or requirements to complete before you stop claiming. Washington ESD can be picky about that stuff.
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Malik Davis
•Good point. I'll make sure my job search log is up to date before I file my last claim.
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Andre Dupont
Just remember that if you ever need to file for unemployment again in the future, having a record of properly ending your claim will help avoid any complications.
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Malik Davis
•Hopefully I won't need to file again anytime soon, but I'll keep that in mind.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
The whole system needs an overhaul. It shouldn't be this confusing to figure out basic rules about when to stop claiming.
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Jamal Wilson
•Agreed. Other states seem to handle this stuff better than Washington does.
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Mei Lin
•At least the website is better than it used to be. Remember when you had to mail in paper forms for everything?
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Liam Fitzgerald
If you're still worried about it, you could try using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Better to get confirmation from an actual ESD representative than guess and potentially get an overpayment.
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Malik Davis
•Yeah, I think I'm going to try that. The peace of mind would be worth it.
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Lucas Kowalski
I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago. The rule is definitely that you stop claiming the week you start work, not when you get your first paycheck. I know it creates a financial gap, but it's way better than dealing with an overpayment situation later. One thing that helped me was asking my new employer if they could do a small payroll advance to help with the transition - many companies are understanding about this kind of situation. Also, make sure to keep all your documentation showing your last claim date and first work date, just in case ESD ever asks questions down the line.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I'm definitely going to ask about a payroll advance tomorrow - hadn't thought of that option. And you're right about keeping documentation, seems like that's something everyone here is emphasizing. Did your employer end up being able to help with the advance?
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Rami Samuels
•Yes, they were able to give me a $500 advance on my first paycheck which really helped bridge that gap. They just deducted it from my next few paychecks in small amounts. Most HR departments have dealt with this situation before since the timing issue is pretty common. The key is being upfront about it and asking early - I brought it up during my first day paperwork. Also wanted to add that I found it helpful to screenshot my final weekly claim submission showing the last week I claimed benefits, just as extra documentation for my records.
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
•That's really encouraging to hear! I'm definitely going to approach HR about a payroll advance first thing Monday morning. The screenshot idea is smart too - I'll make sure to do that when I file my final claim this week. It sounds like being proactive and documenting everything properly is key to avoiding headaches later. Thanks for the detailed advice, it's exactly what I needed to hear from someone who's been through this exact situation.
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