Do I have to apply for unemployment right away after losing my job in Washington?

You should definitely file as soon as possible! Washington ESD benefits start from the week you file your claim, not from when you actually lost your job. Every week you wait is basically money you're leaving on the table. The process isn't as scary as it seems - you can do it all online through your SecureAccess Washington account.

same boat as you last month, waited almost 2 weeks thinking id find something quick. big mistake - lost out on like $800 in benefits that i could have gotten. file now even if you think you might not need it

Filing immediately is crucial for several reasons. First, as others mentioned, your benefit year starts when you file, not when you became unemployed. Second, there's often an unpaid waiting week that needs to be served. Third, if there are any issues with your claim that require adjudication, getting that process started early gives you more time to resolve problems. You can always stop claiming benefits if you find work quickly, but you can't go back and claim weeks you didn't file for.

I struggled with this same decision and ended up using Claimyr to get through to an actual Washington ESD agent to ask about timing. They confirmed what everyone here is saying - file immediately. The service helped me get connected within minutes instead of trying to call for hours. There's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Honestly wish I'd known about it sooner because I wasted so much time trying to get through on my own.

THE WASHINGTON ESD SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU WAIT AND LOSE MONEY!!! They know most people don't understand the rules and will wait to file. Every week you don't file is money saved for them. File immediately and don't let them screw you over like they do to thousands of people.

I'm in a similar situation but I'm worried about applying because I'm not sure if I'll qualify. I was only at my job for 6 months and I've heard you need to work longer than that. Should I still file even if I might get denied?

also dont forget you have to do job search requirements even while your claim is processing. start looking for work right away because youll need to report your job search activities when you file your weekly claims

Honestly the whole system is confusing. I filed right away when I got laid off but then my claim got stuck in adjudication for like 6 weeks. Nobody could tell me what was wrong or when it would be resolved.

One thing to keep in mind is that even if you find a job quickly, having an active unemployment claim can actually help you. If the new job doesn't work out during your probationary period, you can often reopen your existing claim rather than starting completely over.

Just want to echo what everyone else is saying - FILE NOW! I waited 10 days thinking I'd find something quick and ended up kicking myself. Those 10 days would have been almost $400 in benefits. Don't make the same mistake I did.

One more thing - make sure you have all your employment info ready before you start the application. You'll need your Social Security number, employment dates, reason for separation, and your employer's contact info. Having everything organized will make the process much smoother.

I was in the same situation last year and made the mistake of overthinking it. Filed 3 weeks after my layoff and lost out on benefits for those weeks. The application process is actually pretty straightforward once you get started. Washington ESD's website walks you through everything step by step.

Quick question - if I file now but then find a job next week, do I need to do anything special to stop the benefits?

The timing question comes up a lot and I always tell people the same thing - there's literally no benefit to waiting. Even if you think you might not need unemployment benefits, file anyway. You can always stop claiming if you don't need them, but you can't go back and claim weeks you missed.

Had to deal with this exact issue when I got laid off from my construction job. Waited almost a month because I was sure I'd find work quickly. Big mistake - lost almost $1,200 in benefits. Construction work is unpredictable and I should have known better.

Another thing to consider is that the unemployment office often has busy periods where claims take longer to process. If you file right away, you're ahead of the rush. If you wait and then lots of other people get laid off, you might be stuck waiting even longer for your claim to be processed.

I was hesitant to file because I thought it might look bad to future employers, but that's not really how it works. Unemployment benefits are there for exactly this situation - when you lose your job through no fault of your own. There's no shame in using a system you've paid into through your taxes.

Filing for unemployment was one of the best decisions I made after my layoff. It gave me the financial breathing room to be selective about job opportunities instead of taking the first thing that came along out of desperation. Take advantage of the system - that's what it's there for.

For anyone still on the fence about this - I tried calling Washington ESD multiple times to ask about filing deadlines and could never get through. Finally used a callback service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual person who confirmed that filing immediately is always the best approach. Sometimes you just need to hear it from an official source to feel confident about your decision.

Bottom line: file today, not tomorrow. Every day you wait is money you're potentially losing. The application takes maybe 30-45 minutes to complete, and then you're done. Much better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Just to add one final thought - even if you're not sure about your eligibility, let Washington ESD make that determination. Don't self-reject by not filing. The worst thing that can happen is they say no, but at least you'll know for sure and won't be left wondering 'what if.