How fast do I get Washington ESD unemployment benefits after filing?

Thanks! So I should expect my first payment around week 3 then? That's cutting it close but manageable.

That's assuming no adjudication issues. Mine took 6 weeks because they had to verify my employment history.

Good point! I'll set a reminder on my phone for every Sunday. Don't want to mess that up.

Yes this is crucial! I forgot to file one week and lost that week's benefits permanently.

I had the same problem until I found Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to Washington ESD agents automatically. Check out claimyr.com - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows exactly how it works.

Interesting, never heard of that before. Does it actually work or is it just another scam?

It's legit - I used it last month when my claim was stuck in adjudication. Got connected to an agent within an hour instead of calling for days.

Have you checked if your claim is in adjudication? That's usually what causes longer delays.

How do I check that? My account just says 'claim under review' which doesn't tell me much.

Log into your SecureAccess Washington account and look for any alerts or issues that need to be resolved. Sometimes they need additional documentation.

That's reassuring to hear! I was pretty careful with all the employer details so hopefully mine goes smoothly too.

Wait what? Nobody told me about a waiting period. So I lose a whole week of benefits no matter what?

Yes, Washington has a one-week waiting period. It's standard for unemployment benefits. You still need to file that first weekly claim though.

The waiting period is so stupid. When you're unemployed you need help immediately, not in 3-4 weeks!

Have you tried using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier? I just signed up after reading about it here and got through to an agent this morning. They told me exactly what was holding up my claim.

Really? I'm willing to try anything at this point. The phone system is completely useless.

Yeah it's worth it. Finally got some real answers instead of just waiting in the dark.

Good point! I worked at two different restaurants in the past year so I made sure to include both on my application.

Tips can definitely complicate things. I had to provide additional wage documentation for my bartending job.

I feel you but complaining doesn't help. The system is what it is - better to figure out how to work with it.

Easy to say when you're not facing eviction because of their delays.

How many jobs do I need to apply for each week? I haven't seen that requirement spelled out clearly anywhere.

I believe it's 3 job search activities per week, but check the Washington ESD website for current requirements. They can change.

It's actually 3 job search activities per week, and they need to be documented in WorkSourceWA. Don't skip this or you can be disqualified.

Thanks for the encouragement! Really need to hear some success stories right now.

Same here - 3 weeks was exactly my timeline too. Hang in there everyone!

Easier said than done when you can't get through to anyone on the phone!

That's where services like Claimyr come in handy. I finally got through and learned my employer had disputed my claim - something I never would have known otherwise.

Exactly! Getting actual information instead of just waiting blind makes all the difference.

What kind of mistakes were you making? I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

I was reporting my job search activities wrong and not answering the work availability questions correctly. Small stuff but it matters.

That's good advice. Better to plan for the worst case scenario and be pleasantly surprised if it comes sooner.

Exactly. I made the mistake of assuming 2-3 weeks and got into financial trouble when it took 7 weeks due to adjudication.