Do I need a separation notice to file for unemployment with Washington ESD?

You don't need to wait for the separation notice to file your initial claim. Washington ESD recommends filing as soon as possible after becoming unemployed because there's a one-week waiting period before benefits begin. You can file online through the Washington ESD website even without the paperwork from your employer.

i filed without any paperwork when i got fired and it was fine. washington esd will contact your employer directly to verify everything anyway

Actually, you might want to try calling Washington ESD directly to get the most current information about filing requirements. I know their phone lines are usually swamped, but I recently discovered this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually gets you through to an agent without waiting on hold for hours. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Might be worth checking out if you need to speak to someone at Washington ESD about your specific situation.

The separation notice is mainly for Washington ESD to verify the reason you became unemployed. If you were laid off due to lack of work, that's pretty straightforward. If you were fired or quit, they'll need more details to determine if you're eligible for benefits. Either way, file your claim first and deal with the paperwork later.

DON'T WAIT!!! I made this mistake and lost almost two weeks of benefits because I thought I needed all the paperwork first. Washington ESD specifically says to file immediately after job loss. The separation notice comes later and is just for their records.

I work in HR and we always tell employees they can file immediately. The separation notice (we call it a layoff notice) is something we're required to send but it's not required for the employee to have it before filing. Washington ESD has all the employer information they need to contact us directly.

same thing happened to me last month, filed without any paperwork and got approved. the employer stuff comes later in the process

Just to add some technical details - when you file your Washington ESD claim online, you'll need basic information like your SSN, employer's business name and address, your dates of employment, and the reason for separation. You don't need the official separation notice document to provide this information. The notice your employer sends just confirms what you've already reported.

been through this process twice and never had any separation paperwork the first time I filed. washington esd makes it pretty clear on their website that you should file right away

I had a situation where my employer took forever to send the separation notice and I was worried it would hold up my claim. Ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to get through to Washington ESD and ask about it. The agent told me the employer paperwork doesn't hold up claim processing as long as I filed my initial application on time.

The separation notice is more important if there's going to be a dispute about why you left the job. For a straightforward layoff, it's mostly just confirming what everyone already knows. File your claim first, answer the questions as accurately as you can, and let Washington ESD handle the employer verification part.

definitely file asap! i waited like 4 days thinking i needed some form from my employer and then realized i was just wasting time. the whole point is to get your claim date established

One thing to keep in mind is that once you file, you'll need to start doing your weekly claims even during the waiting period. Don't forget about that part or you could have issues later.

honestly the washington esd system is pretty user friendly once you get started. dont overthink the paperwork stuff just get your claim filed

I had to use Claimyr again recently when I had questions about my job search log requirements. Sometimes it's just easier to talk to a real person at Washington ESD rather than trying to figure everything out from the website. The service connected me quickly and the agent was able to clarify exactly what I needed to do.

Bottom line: file your Washington ESD claim today. The separation notice is just supporting documentation that comes later in the process. Don't let the lack of paperwork delay your claim and potentially cost you benefits.