Can you collect unemployment if your company shuts down for a week in Washington?

Do I need to file a whole new claim or just the weekly certification? I've never filed for unemployment before.

You'll need to file an initial claim first if you've never filed before, then submit the weekly claim for the week you had no work. The process is pretty straightforward through the Washington ESD website.

Ugh tell me about it. The phone system is impossible. I tried calling for weeks about my adjudication issue.

Actually, I discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have this demo video (https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ) that shows how it works. Saved me so much frustration when I needed to resolve my claim issues.

That sounds too good to be true. How does it actually work?

It's legit - they basically handle the calling part for you so you don't have to sit on hold forever. Really helpful when you need to talk to someone about claim specifics.

What kind of documentation? They just sent an email saying we don't need to come in that week.

That email might be enough, but Washington ESD may contact your employer to verify the temporary nature of the shutdown. Keep that email saved.

How long does it usually take to get paid for those single weeks?

Usually pretty quick since it's straightforward. Maybe 3-5 business days after I submit the weekly claim, assuming no adjudication issues.

Good question. For temporary layoffs like this, Washington ESD typically waives the job search requirement since you have a definite return-to-work date. But you should double-check when you file.

That makes sense. Would be pretty silly to make someone apply for jobs they don't want when they're just temporarily off.

What do you mean? How would I know if they're doing something shady?

If they're telling you it's not a layoff or that you can't file for unemployment, that's a red flag. Any time you're not working through no fault of your own, you should be able to file.

This is good advice. I always file my weekly claims on Sunday evenings and never have delays.

Thanks! I'll make sure to file right away. Better to be proactive than scrambling later.

I don't think one week would affect much, but it's worth asking when you call Washington ESD if you have other questions.

Speaking of calling Washington ESD, that's where Claimyr really helped me out. Instead of spending my whole day trying to get through, I just used their service and actually got to talk to someone about my specific situation.

That's reassuring! Did she have to do anything special when she went back to work?

Nope, just went back to her regular schedule. The temporary claim didn't affect her job at all.

They haven't mentioned anything about pay for that week, just that we shouldn't come in. I'll ask HR tomorrow.

Definitely worth asking. If they do pay anything, you'll need to report that income when you file your weekly claim.

Absolutely. Honesty is key with unemployment claims. Better to over-explain than leave them guessing.

Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about filing now.

Did you have to provide any proof from your employer or did the email notice work?

The email was sufficient for my case. Washington ESD verified with my employer directly, but I never had to submit additional documentation.

For temporary layoffs with a definite return date, the waiting period is often waived in Washington. But it's good to verify when filing.

Yeah, when I had questions like this about waiting periods and claim specifics, I used Claimyr to actually get through to talk to someone at Washington ESD. Much easier than trying to figure it out from the website alone.

Thanks! I really appreciate everyone's help and advice. Makes this whole process feel much less intimidating.