ESD waiting week payment confusion - does anyone actually get paid?
So I'm on my 4th week of unemployment and just realized I never got paid for my first week (the waiting week). My coworker who got laid off the same time as me swears she got paid for her waiting week, but when I called ESD the rep was super vague saying 'waiting weeks are typically unpaid but there are exceptions.' I checked my payment history and definitely see nothing for that first week. Has anyone actually received payment for their waiting week recently? Or is my coworker mistaken? I'm missing about $782 if they're supposed to pay it, which would really help with rent next month.
16 comments
Join the conversation
Emma Garcia
The waiting week is normally not paid - that's standard in Washington. Your coworker is probably confused or mixing up which week was which. The only exception was during part of the pandemic when they temporarily waived the waiting week requirement, but that ended years ago. The first week you file is considered your waiting week, and you'll get your first payment after your second week of filing (assuming you're eligible). This is completely normal and how the system is designed to work.
0 coins
Aiden Rodríguez
•Thanks for clarifying! My coworker is INSISTING she got paid for all weeks including the first one. Maybe she just counted wrong? I'll double check my payment history again but I'm pretty sure I see payments starting from week 2.
0 coins
Ava Kim
No one gets paid for waiting week!!! ESD keeps that money and its a SCAM if u ask me. they make us wait a whole week with NO INCOME after we already lost our jobs?? how is that fair??? my family had to borrow money that week just to eat
0 coins
Emma Garcia
•It's not a scam - it's actually written into Washington state law. The waiting week serves as a kind of deductible in the unemployment insurance system. Most states have a waiting week policy. The idea is that it helps prevent people from filing for just a week of unemployment between jobs.
0 coins
Ethan Anderson
During COVID they DID waive the waiting week and people got paid for it. This was approximately March 2020 through September 2021 (though exact dates changed a few times with extensions). Your coworker might be remembering from a previous claim during that period, or confusing which week was which on her current claim. Currently, the waiting week is NOT paid - this reverted back to normal rules after the pandemic emergency provisions expired. You can verify this on the ESD website under the FAQ section about waiting weeks.
0 coins
Aiden Rodríguez
•Ahhhh this makes so much sense! She DID have a claim back in 2020 for a few months before getting rehired. That must be why she's confused. Thank you for explaining this!
0 coins
Layla Mendes
Has anyone had any luck getting through to ESD to ask about this? I've been trying to call for 2 days and can't even get in the queue. Just disconnects me every time saying call volume too high. Frustrating since I have the same question about my waiting week...
0 coins
Lucas Notre-Dame
•I was having the same problem trying to reach ESD about an adjudication issue. After getting hung up on like 20 times, I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through in about 15 minutes. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 But honestly, for the waiting week question, the other commenters are right - it's not paid unless there's a special exception. The law changed back after COVID.
0 coins
Aria Park
i got paid for my waiting week last month!!! but then they took it back two weeks later and said it was an error lol. thanks for getting my hopes up ESD 🙄
0 coins
Noah Ali
•Same here! They deposited an extra payment then sent me an overpayment notice. Such a tease 😩
0 coins
Lucas Notre-Dame
To add some technical clarity - the waiting week is defined in RCW 50.20.010(5) as the first week of your claim where you meet all eligibility requirements. It serves as a sort of deductible in the UI system. The only exceptions where waiting weeks get paid: 1. During declared emergencies when specifically waived by governor's order (like during COVID) 2. For some shared-work programs 3. When specifically authorized by temporary legislation None of these exceptions are currently active in 2025. So no, you shouldn't expect payment for your waiting week under current rules.
0 coins
Aiden Rodríguez
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! This clears up my confusion completely. I guess I'll stop hoping for that extra payment to magically appear.
0 coins
Chloe Boulanger
actually my brother works at esd and he told me they sometimes pay the waiting week if your claim has special circumstances but you have to specifically request it by calling and mentioning the "waiting week hardship provision" not many people know about this...
0 coins
Ethan Anderson
•I've reviewed all the current ESD policies and regulations, and there is no such thing as a "waiting week hardship provision" that allows for payment of the waiting week outside of the exceptions I mentioned above. Please be careful about spreading misinformation that could cause people to waste time pursuing something that doesn't exist.
0 coins
Noah Ali
OK so waiting weeks aren't paid, but what about the last week when your benefits end? Do they pay that one in full? I'm about to exhaust my benefits next month and trying to budget.
0 coins
Emma Garcia
•Yes, your final week is paid normally as long as you're eligible and file your weekly claim. The waiting week only applies to the first week of your claim - all subsequent weeks are paid normally until you exhaust your benefits or return to work.
0 coins