Does your employer know when you file for unemployment with Washington ESD?

Yes, your employer will be notified when you file for unemployment. Washington ESD sends them a Notice of Application for Benefits within a few days of your claim. They have 10 calendar days to respond if they want to contest it. This is standard procedure - it's not personal against you.

Don't worry about what your employer thinks! You paid into the unemployment insurance system through your paychecks, so you've earned these benefits. File as soon as possible because there's a waiting period.

The employer notification is required by law. When you file your initial claim, Washington ESD automatically sends a separation notice to your last employer asking them to confirm the reason for separation, your last day worked, and your wages. They can contest the claim if they believe you were fired for misconduct or quit voluntarily without good cause.

I had the same worry when I filed last year. Turns out my old boss was actually relieved I filed because it meant the company's unemployment insurance rates wouldn't go up as much as if I hadn't filed at all. Weird how that works but whatever.

Honestly, if you're having trouble getting through to Washington ESD to file your claim or check on status, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you actually reach a human agent. They have a website at claimyr.com and there's a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. Saved me hours of being on hold.

just file already!!! your employer laid you off, they EXPECT you to file for unemployment. thats literally what its for. stop overthinking it

One thing to keep in mind - the sooner you file, the sooner your weekly benefit amount gets calculated. Washington ESD looks at your wages from the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters, so timing can matter for your benefit calculation.

My company actually has HR send an email to laid-off employees encouraging them to file for unemployment and explaining it won't negatively impact the company. Most decent employers understand this is part of doing business.

Quick tip - when you do file, make sure you have your Social Security card, driver's license, and your last few pay stubs ready. The Washington ESD application asks for a lot of specific information about your employment history.

I was worried about the same thing when I got laid off in March. Filed anyway and never heard anything negative from my old employer. In fact, my former supervisor gave me a good reference for my next job. Don't let worry keep you from getting benefits you deserve.

Something else to consider - if you're planning to do any part-time or gig work while collecting unemployment, make sure you report all earnings on your weekly claims. Washington ESD is pretty strict about that and you don't want any overpayment issues later.

For what it's worth, I used Claimyr when I couldn't get through to resolve an issue with my weekly claim. Really straightforward - you just tell them what you need help with and they connect you to a Washington ESD agent. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

Don't forget about the job search requirements once you start collecting benefits. You'll need to make at least 3 job search contacts per week and keep a log of your activities. Washington ESD can audit this stuff.

I've been collecting unemployment for 8 weeks now and my former employer has never contacted me about it. They were actually pretty supportive during the layoff process and told our whole department to file for benefits immediately.

One more thing - make sure you file your weekly claims every week even if you haven't received your first payment yet. Missing a week means you lose that week's benefits permanently. The system is pretty unforgiving about that.

honestly your employer probably has bigger things to worry about than your unemployment claim, especially if they just did layoffs. they're dealing with their own financial issues and probably expect most laid-off employees to file for benefits

I had a friend who was worried about the same thing and waited 3 weeks to file. Big mistake - she lost those 3 weeks of benefits because you can't backdate your claim start date. File as soon as you become unemployed.

If you do run into any issues with Washington ESD not responding or long wait times, I had good luck with that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier. Got connected to an agent in like 10 minutes instead of waiting hours on hold. Worth it when you need answers quickly.

Just wanted to add that filing for unemployment doesn't affect your eligibility for other benefits or job opportunities. Some people worry it'll show up on background checks or something, but it's completely confidential between you, Washington ESD, and your former employer.

Look, I get the anxiety about filing, but you've got bills to pay and you earned these benefits. Your employer will get notified - that's just how the system works - but they laid you off so they should expect it. Stop worrying and file today!