Does the week between filing claim and first weekly certification count as waiting week with ESD?

The waiting week is always the first week you're eligible for benefits and certify for. So in your case, the week you're about to claim on Sunday will be your waiting week, and you won't get paid for it. The waiting week requirement means your first eligible week of unemployment is unpaid - it doesn't matter when you file the initial application, what matters is when you start certifying for weeks you're eligible for benefits.

ur gonna have to wait a week no matter wat. thats just how esd does it. kinda sucks but everybodys gotta do it

To clarify exactly how the waiting week works with ESD: 1. The waiting week is the first week you're eligible for benefits AND file a weekly claim 2. The timing of your initial application doesn't change this 3. If you worked through Friday, then Saturday-Sunday would be partial days of your first potential UI week 4. ESD weeks run Sunday-Saturday 5. You won't receive payment for your waiting week One important note: make sure you still file a claim for your waiting week! If you don't certify for it, it won't count as your waiting week and you'll just delay your payments further.

When I filed last year I was so confused about this too! Just to share my experience - I filed my application on a Wednesday, then did my first weekly claim the following Sunday. That first week was my waiting week and I didn't get paid for it. Then I got paid for all the weeks after that (assuming you meet all the eligibility requirements like job searches and stuff).

I've gone through this exact situation! When I applied last year, I learned that Washington state requires a one-week waiting period before unemployment benefits begin. This is basically a "deductible" week - you have to meet all eligibility requirements but don't get paid for it. If you worked until Friday and filed Saturday, the week you're about to certify for will be your waiting week. The frustrating part is that everyone who applies for UI in Washington has to serve this waiting week - it's required by state law. Oh, and if you're struggling to get through to ESD on the phone to ask questions like this (which I was!), I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a human at ESD. They have a demo video too: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 - saved me hours of frustration when I had questions about my specific situation.

Waiting weeks are THE WORST!! I just went through this whole process and ESD hasn't made it any easier to understand. They take FOREVER to process anything and then don't even pay you for the first week! Like we're all just sitting around with extra money to burn while waiting for them to get their act together!!

One thing no one's mentioned yet - make absolutely sure you complete your job search activities during your waiting week (typically 3 per week). Even though you don't get paid for the waiting week, you still need to meet all eligibility requirements including job search activities, or your waiting week won't count and you'll delay your benefits further.

I just remembered something else about my experience... Even though the waiting week is unpaid, I think they still counted my waiting week toward my total benefit year. So if you're approved for 26 weeks of benefits, the waiting week counts as week 1 of those 26, even though you don't get paid for it. At least that's how it worked for me last winter when I was on unemployment. Not sure if that's changed.