ESD waiting week applied to second week instead of first - confused about how this works
I'm really confused about how the waiting week works with ESD. I started a new unemployment claim in May and filed for my first week where I had worked 30 hours at my part-time job. The system said I worked too many hours that week, which I expected. But then when I filed my second week (only worked 25 hours), it suddenly told me THAT was my waiting week! I thought the first week of your claim is automatically your waiting week regardless of how many hours you worked or if you qualified for payment? Did something change with the system or am I completely misunderstanding how this works? Really need this cleared up because I was counting on getting paid for that second week.
16 comments
Join the conversation
Sara Unger
The waiting week is actually the first week you're *eligible* for benefits, not just the first week you file a claim. Since you worked too many hours in your first week, you weren't eligible for benefits that week, so it couldn't count as your waiting week. When your second week came around and you were eligible (worked fewer hours), that became your waiting week.
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Ohhhh that makes so much sense now! I totally misunderstood. So basically I need to be eligible for at least some payment for the week to count as my waiting week? Thanks for explaining!
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
Same thing hapened to me! My 1st week i had like 32 hrs and didnt get the waiting week, had to wait till next week when i was under the threshold. Super annoying when ur trying to budget!!
0 coins
Tyler Murphy
•Right?! I was counting on that money for bills this month. At least I'm not the only one who got confused by this.
0 coins
Freya Ross
Just to add some clarification: In Washington state, the waiting week is defined as the first week you're eligible for benefits after filing your initial claim. You must meet all eligibility requirements for that week, including: 1) Being able and available for work 2) Actively seeking work 3) Not exceeding the earnings threshold (which is typically 75% of your weekly benefit amount) If you work too many hours or earn too much money during a week, you're considered "not unemployed" for that week according to ESD's rules, so it can't serve as your waiting week.
0 coins
Leslie Parker
•Does the waiting week ever get paid later? Or is it just a week you never get paid for no matter what?
0 coins
Freya Ross
•The waiting week is normally unpaid in Washington. It's essentially a "deductible" week that you serve once per benefit year. There have been rare exceptions (like during part of the pandemic when it was temporarily waived), but under normal circumstances, you don't receive payment for your waiting week.
0 coins
Sergio Neal
I've been having so much trouble reaching someone at ESD to explain exactly this! Been calling for days and can't get through. Has anyone had luck actually talking to a human there recently? I need to understand some other details about my claim too.
0 coins
Savanna Franklin
•Try Claimyr - I was in the same boat calling ESD for WEEKS with no luck. Used their service and got connected to an ESD agent in under 45 minutes! Totally worth it. Check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 and website at claimyr.com - they basically call ESD for you and when they get through, they connect you with the agent. Saved me so much frustration.
0 coins
Juan Moreno
The ESD system is INCREDIBLY misleading about this! I swear they do this on purpose to save money by confusing people. Nothing on their website clearly explains that your waiting week has to be an ELIGIBLE week. I went through the exact same thing and ended up having to wait an extra week for payment. It's ridiculous how they expect everyone to just know these random technical details.
0 coins
Freya Ross
•It's actually explained in the ESD Handbook (page 7), but I agree they could make it more obvious during the claim filing process. The system could definitely do a better job explaining why a particular week does or doesn't qualify as a waiting week.
0 coins
Juan Moreno
•Who reads a 30+ page handbook when you're stressed about losing your job?? They should have big flashing letters on the website that say "YOUR WAITING WEEK MUST BE A WEEK YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS" instead of burying it in documentation!
0 coins
Butch Sledgehammer
wait so when do u actually get paid then? is it the 3rd week after u file?
0 coins
Sara Unger
•If your second week was your waiting week, then assuming you continue to be eligible, you would receive payment for your third week. Payments typically arrive 2-3 business days after you submit your weekly claim (if you have direct deposit set up).
0 coins
Leslie Parker
Just curiosity but how many hours can you work in a week and still get benefits? I might need to file soon and I'm picking up gig work to try to make ends meet.
0 coins
Freya Ross
•It depends on your weekly benefit amount (WBA). You can typically work part-time and still receive partial benefits as long as you earn less than 75% of your WBA. Once you file, ESD will tell you your WBA and you can calculate from there. Make sure you report ALL earnings when you file weekly claims, even small gig amounts.
0 coins