Do you get paid for your waiting week on Washington ESD unemployment?

Thanks! Do you know when exactly I'll get that first week paid? Is it at the end of my claim period?

Usually it gets paid out either when your claim ends or if you exhaust your benefits. It's like they hold onto it until the very end.

How long did it take for you to get yours? I'm already stressing about money.

That seems like a weird system. Why not just process claims faster instead of making people wait?

It's been this way for years. The waiting week also helps the state manage cash flow for the unemployment trust fund.

Have you tried using Claimyr? I found out about it recently - it's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ showing how it works.

Never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

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

If you haven't been paid for ANY weeks after 3 weeks, something else is going on. Check if your claim is under adjudication or if there are any issues flagged in your account.

how do i check that? im so lost with all this stuff

I totally agree. It feels like punishment for losing your job through no fault of your own.

At least we eventually get it back though. Better than nothing I guess.

This is important advice! I almost made that mistake when I first filed.

Good point. I did file for that first week even though it showed $0.

The waiting week applies to most new regular UI claims. Standby claims might have different rules - you'd need to check with Washington ESD directly about your specific situation.

Ugh, more reason to try calling them. The phone system is impossible.

That's reassuring to hear! Was it the full weekly benefit amount?

Yes, it was the same amount as my regular weekly payments. Just took forever to actually receive it.

You should still report any work during your waiting week just like any other week. It might affect the amount you eventually receive, but you still need to report it honestly.

Makes sense. Better to be honest about everything than risk getting in trouble later.

Totally agree. I had to learn everything the hard way through trial and error.

How much does that service cost? I'm already tight on money.

It's really reasonable for what you get - basically saves you hours of trying to get through on your own. Check out their website for details.

Yes, as long as your claim is ultimately approved, you should receive payment for the waiting week at the end of your benefit period.

That seems way too long. You might want to contact Washington ESD directly or try using a service like Claimyr to get through to them about this specific issue.

Yeah I think I need to be more aggressive about following up on this.

Good point. I guess I should be grateful it's not just lost forever.

Good advice! I'm going to mark it on my calendar now.

Same here! It's nice to get clear answers from people who've actually been through this process.